Much needed advice

I have fybergel mabevarine and a probiotic tablet everyday. This helps me a lot. If you eat apples take the skin off   No seeds skins corn red meat isn't good for me I do eat chicken and fish   I try to stay away from vegetables that gives wind. No fizzy drinks or chocolate if I have tomatoes I take the skins off and de seed them I love salad but i can't have cucumber pepper unles I roast them and peel them   After all this Don't for everyone is different. Good luck hope you feel better soon 

Usually you ease into a high fever diet after your symptoms resolve. Yes duxeryicultis only refers to when the sacs are infected when they are not you have diverticular disease. I take bebefber three times a day and a probiotic. The secret is being sure you can empty your bowels everyday. I was diagnosed last sept and have had 5 hospitalizations😔 I think I am finally getting a hold of eating small amounts, keeping fiber up etc. but it’s been a battle. 

Diverticulosis occurs when small, bulging pouches (diverticula) develop in your digestive tract. When one or more of these pouches become inflamed or infected, the condition is called diverticulitis.

I was diagnosed after a colonoscopy 4 years ago and luckily only had 3 flare ups since then. My specialist told me to carry on with normal normal diet and not to cut anything out as it's now been dispelled that pips seeds etc can bring on an attack so that us what I have done. 

He did say not to get constipated and to eat enough fibre so that this doesn't happen. Also if you do have a flare up then cut out the fibre and eat a very bland diet until it heals. Almost 80% of older people have diverticular disease without even knowing it it's only when it flares up and gets infected it becomes a problem. When I go on holiday I phone my GP and she gives me anti biotics to take just in case and for peace of mind but I have never had to take them on holiday yet.Everyone is different so it's a bit of trial and error. Good Luck

i was diagnosed with diverticulitis in May after severe pain. I had a colonoscopy which show up inflammation, I have since stopped eating red meat and stick to chicken and fish making sure that I chew my food carefully. I try to eat smaller portions of food now which helps with digestion, I also found that although not totally constipated my stools had hard lumps which seemed to cause me pain and after asking for advice on this wonderful forum I was advised to take fybergel regularly which I have done and now im absolutely fine as my stools are no longer lumpy.

Hi Tammy

I've read through the advice given by others here and it is all good.  As you are USA based the soluble fiber equivalent to Fybogel is Metamucil.  It should be taken daily mixed with 12oz water and chugged down quickly before it thickens.  It will bulk and soften your stools and make them easier to pass.  It is important to keep your bowels well emptied each day, so nothing gets stuck in the diverticula pockets, which can lead to infection and diverticulitis.  It is also important not to strain - that doesn't help your bowels either.  You may find your number of bowel movements increases.

As for fiber, the best kind of fiber is soluble, not insoluble.  You can get lists of which is which online.  Some people can happily eat skins like apple, potato, tomato or pepper, and others cannot, and have to remove them.  I peel apples and tomatoes, but eat potato an pepper skins.  The best kind of fiber I find is cooked vegetables chewed well or blended into soup.  Some people find bran cereals like All-Bran very harsh on the stomach and instead have Bran Flakes.  Or sprinkle some on your cereal of choice. 

However I find my diverticula are irritated by gluten/wheat products and full fat, so I have gluten free bread and pasta, and low fat or non-dairy substitutes.  The point is, everyone is different, and you have to find out what affects you and what does not, by trial and error.  I advise keeping a food diary and noting what affects you.  And getting the fiber balance right is important - there can be too much of a good thing.  If you are eating plenty of vegetables with your dinner, and taking Metamucil, I would question whether you need Benefiber as well.  No doubt other forum members will have their opinions.

You seem to be recovering from your attack, but should be aware that the pain can linger for weeks or even months.  I does not necessarily mean you are having an attack of diverticulitis.  If you think you may be starting an attack, just switch to a liquid only, no fiber diet for a few days to see if things settle, then slowly reintroduce soluble fiber, although if you are worried it is best to consult your doctor.  The medications can have really nasty side effects as you have discovered.  I hope you are one of the lucky people who recover quickly and get things under control.  I went 6 years between my first 2 attacks, then a further 4 years, so it can be managed.  Good luck.

Hi Tammy, You would think ? I do , with all the prescriptions the Doctors hand out-----a little" layman's" explanation could be had to help us from being confused.

      I have a severe case of Non-Inflamed DIV- Here is what helps me the most , Water , water, and more water and I do not like water-Tuna in oil--straight out of the can-- No red meat Unless shredded to smithereens, no pork-no seeds, pecans/nuts. That's just me.. Good luck and invest in Charmin" and Advil.

If you are still having pain, you should be on LOW FIBER diet.