Newly diagnosed

Posted , 10 users are following.

Hi ive been recently diagnosed with diverticular disease and i am currently having an attack of diverticulitis.

Should i be eating a high fibre diet right now? Is it good to take a fibre supplement? And does anyone have any tips for trying to avoid future attacks?

Thanks

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  • Posted

    Have you been advised to eat fibre? I was diagnosed two years ago and got a pamphlet advising me to eat fibre. This advice was the same as the recommendations we used to give to patients when I trained as a nurse in the sixties.I have always eaten veg and fruit and found this advice unhelpful to say the least. My own GP said new research has shown that we should avoid foods which have been stored or dried  This includes rice, pasta and cereals. That seemed more sensible as since then I have found that rice sets me off a day or two after eating it  and i can not really toletate too much roughage in the form of leafy veg or corn kernals. My diet is pretty bland these days. Trial and error I'm afraid. Hope this helps . Evelyn
    • Posted

      Thank you, yes a high fibre diet was suggested. I was thinking of taking fibre supplements. Im on antibiotics at the min but pain was subsiding then flared up badly yesterday. I think it must have been something i ate.

      Thanks for your reply

  • Posted

    Hi I was advised to drink clear fluids when I have an infection for a few days then go on a soft diet for a few more days. Also low fibre until it had subsided then go back on the high fibre. It's all do confusing to start with but the best thing I was advised was to keep a food diary to see if you can tell what are your trigger foods as everybody is so different. Hope you soon feel better x
    • Posted

      Thank you, yes its really confusing! Im struggling to know what to eat!

      I will try the food diary thats a good idea thanks

  • Posted

    Easily digestable foods and clear liquids when having an attack then slowly introduce more fiber foods when feeling better,then high fiber and lots of water to keep things moving.Lepicol a high fiber supplement when you are better is very good from Holland and Barrett that includes a probiotic.Hope you feel better soon.
  • Posted

    If you are having an attack you should be eating a soft diet i.e. white bread, soups, scrambled eggs etc. and paracetmol for pain. Once the attack is over gradually eat more fibre. The aim is not to get constipated. I find if I drink a glass of prune juice and dried prunes this keeps me regular. Somebody advised on here to take Ultra Maximum acidophilus from Holland and Barrett which I have been doing for the past two months and it has made a big difference, so I would recommend that you take one of these a day. Hope this helps
    • Posted

      If you can stand the pain I would hold off on any painkillers. My very first attack of diverticulitis started after having to take painkillers (including paracetomol) for 2 weeks after a motorbike accident. I found a paper from 2 gastro consultants at Dundee saying NSAIDS and paracetomol can provoke attacks. Aloe vera juice can help with inflammation. Are you taking an antibiotic? Beware of fluoroquinolones like Cipro - they can have very nasty side effects. Any antibiotic will destroy the good bacteria so a probiotic is essential.
    • Posted

      Thanks for reply, the pain is managable today so no pain killers, ive started taking probiotics too. The advice here is great!
    • Posted

      I was told to avoid aloe Vera juice as that can be an irritant. Strange how Drs can't even agree on what's best for us sufferers x
    • Posted

      I have very little faith in doctors. They have no idea most of the time about how the drugs they dish out work or how they can devastate people with their side effects. My gastro says that it is a myth that pips, nuts seeds etc bring on attacks but every single flare up I have had has been after indulging in seedy fruits. They know zilch about nutrition and swallow what the drug reps tell them.
    • Posted

      Yup, you meet some doctors who poo poo the food avoidance lists; but WE learn the hard way!!!  Avoid seeds; nuts; pips and skins like the plague and that includes dried fruits and the seeded middle of bananas.  Take Holland and Barrett's Acidophilis 20billion EVERY DAY.
    • Posted

      Keep taking that 20 billion Acidophilis Stella - having been ill for months and months and months; I have been well since July last year when I began to take it (keep it in the fridge).  It is a miracle pill for me..>!!!
    • Posted

      I am ok with nuts as long as I chew them up well. Skins seem ok too. But my first attack came in fig season, and subsequent ones after strawberries, cherry toms and frozen blueberries. The perils of a productive potager!

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