Diverticulitis...

[drivencrazy]

Anyone have info about this? My hubby was told that he has this and we have been doing some research on line about it, but would like to hear first hand from someone that has (or had) it or knows someone with it.

Thanks

 

[Abbie]

I've had it and it was very painful! I've never eaten popcorn again since that was one particular item the dr. said often exacerbates an attack. The drugs I was given cleared it up quickly.

That said, don't ignore it! My next-door neighbor's mom just passed away from an untreated case.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

I have a friend who has ended up in the hospital a few times because of this condition. I know that one of his triggers is cashews. I know he won't eat popcorn either. After an attack he has to eat a diet of soft foods for a few days before he can ease back into a normal diet.

 

[december]

My grandmother is 88, and has it. She's been hospitalized twice this fall with it. Very painful. My advice is as soon as he has a flareup to head straight to the dr's office! I had a teacher in high school who lost a sister to the disease my senior year. It can be very serious.

 

[Cool-Beans]

You need to follow up. It can be not such a big deal or it can kill you. I told a friend of mine this and he kept ignoring it until his intestines opened up. He spent a ton of time in the hospital (he was on a vent for like two moths) and in rehab, but he made it.

None of it was pleasant for him. And he was so upset about his ostomy bag. He said, "Bean, look at this." and showed it to me and watched for my reaction. Of course, having seen them a million times, I just said, "I know. I've seen a gazillion of these. It is no big deal. And you're really lucky about where it is..." and went on to explain just why he was lucky - something to be thankful for.

He asked about girls. Lots of guys do. I was like, "Well, some people are going to gross out at it, like you do. Most people haven't seen a million of them and kind of gross out at a bag of poop hanging off of someone. But they'll get over it, just like you will. It just isn't THAT big a deal. Better to be alive with the bag than dead without it."

But, you know, better to follow up with the doc than spend months of your life suffering and end up with an ostomy bag...or dead.

You make the call.

He said he'll listen to me next time. (And I swear I never said "I told you so!" It was totally unprompted.)

 

[drivencrazy]

My hubby went to the ER on Monday after being in "pain" for 3 days, yes, after his co-workers told him he should go...... he was there for about 6 hours and told to watch what he eats and follow up with his Doctor in a few days- they did give him all kinds of meds to take as well.

So then Wednesday he did go to his doctor and she is going to put in for him to get some more work ups done. . . To see if more needs to be done or if the meds should take out this bout and go on from there.

But since he isn't feeling well yet (the doctor said it will take around 7 days on the meds for him to feel better) I just don't know what he can eat.

I know once he is feeling better that fiber is a good thing, but the papers he brought home say "no fiber" and/or "low fiber" till he is cleared from this bout. It also says no fresh fruit or veggies, milk, red meat..... the list goes on.

So what can/should he eat till he is feeling better?

I know that we will be changing our diets to eat better, shouldn't take something like this to wake us up to that, but we do try!

We will deffently stay on top of this and see the doctor when needed! I kind of like having him around!

 

[Pixiedust34]

I've never heard of this condition until yesterday, and this morning it was weird to see that word pop up on the Disboards!

My MIL (80-something y.o. & greatly affected by a stroke as in needs 24/7 care-- lives in a nursing home out-of-state from us) was taken to the hospital yesterday for vomiting blood. They did some tests and determined that she has diverticulitis. According to my BIL who was at the hospital with her, you can generally treat this with antibiotics. They are giving her IV antibiotics.

She's already on a pretty restricted diet, so I don't know if they'll have to restrict it even more.

I hope that your dh will be feeling better quickly.

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

My dad has this and has been hospitalized numerous times. He actually had a few feet of his intensines removed - no bag though he was lucky. His last bought of it was to have scar tissue removed from a surgery years ago. The scar tissue swelled and caused a hernia - the only was to fix it was surgery. He is very careful with what he eats. Nothing with seeds - cukes, popcorn (regular corn he can have), deseeded tomatoes. He has learned to eat properly and the only reason for the lastest surgery was b/c of the scar tissue. May sure your husband follows the drs orders to a T. It is very painful when the blockages occur. My dad never shows pain, but when those attacks came on he was a crying screaming baby - very scary.

 

[JimmyPicker]

My MIL has it.

From what I understand, you shouldn't eat anything that's hard to digest. Tomatoes have those little seeds, they can get stuck, causing an infection. The sesame seeds on a hamburger bun, same thing. Popcorn, any nuts. I think even lettuce was a no-no because it's hard to digest.

He will be able to eat a more normal diet once this episode passes. And the doctors will probably reccommend that he takes a daily dose of fiber, as getting constipated can cause another attack.

 

[paintnolish]

My dad had a really bad attack a few years ago. He was in and out of the ERwith flare ups. He lost a lot of weight and ended up having 6' of intestines removed. He is fine today, though. He watches what he eats.

 

[oybolshoi]

I have Crohns disease and am very familiar with diverticulosis - don't let him eat anything that could further aggravate that pocket of infection. Until he feels better and everything has cleared up keep him on a very bland diet and stick with easily digestible foods ... scrambled eggs, soup, cream of wheat, yogurt, pudding ... things like that. No spices and nothing with nuts or seeds or kernels and no fiber! He should probably avoid caffeine too because that can hinder the healing process.

Once he starts feeling better he can gradually re-introduce other foods into his diet but should pay close attention to anything that acts as a trigger to start it all back up again.

Hope he feels better soon!

 

[C.Ann]

I'm another one that ended up in the hospital with this.. The pain was HORRENDOUS.. They were continually knocking me out with shots of demerol..

In my case, the culprit was corn on the cob.. Since then I have never eaten corn again; any kinds of seeds; any nuts; anything at all that could get "caught" in the pouches and cause a flare-up..

It's also very important not to become constipated (causes more pouches in the intestines to "bulge"), so once your DH gets the all clear from the doctor he may suggest that he use Miralax every day..

The reason he's on a restricted diet right now is so that his intestines can settle down and clear out.. (I had a liquid diet for 5 days in the hospital - after 3 days of nothing but IV's and antibiotics..)

The most important thing to remember is that this is VERY, VERY serious if ignored (or mismanaged) and can result in the need for a colostomy or even death.. PLEASE tell your DH that this is nothing to fool around with or "blow off" once he feels better..

I hope he feels better soon.. Boy oh boy - do I remember that PAIN!!!!

 

[The Mayor]

I have a friend who has ended up in the hospital a few times because of this condition. I know that one of his triggers is cashews. I know he won't eat popcorn either. After an attack he has to eat a diet of soft foods for a few days before he can ease back into a normal diet.

That would be me...cashews, peanuts, popcorn, tomatoes, cucumbers, poppy seeds...I've had 3 bouts with it and it is very painfull and uncomfortable...because of the inflamation in the colon you cannot poop which causes more discomfort...my doctor puts me on 1000 mg p/day of Cipro and 500 mg of Flagl antibiotics, soft, bland foods and clear liquids for about a week...after the antibiotics kick in and you can poop again you start feeling better...usually after a couple of days...next flair up and I have to have surgery to remove the part of my colon that has the diverticuli...about 6 inches in lenght.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

That would be me...cashews, peanuts, popcorn, tomatoes, cucumbers, poppy seeds...I've had 3 bouts with it and it is very painfull and uncomfortable...because of the inflamation in the colon you cannot poop which causes more discomfort...my doctor puts me on 1000 mg p/day of Cipro and 500 mg of Flagl antibiotics, soft, bland foods and clear liquids for about a week...after the antibiotics kick in and you can poop again you start feeling better...usually after a couple of days...next flair up and I have to have surgery to remove the part of my colon that has the diverticuli...about 6 inches in lenght.

Dude, your secret was safe with me. You said "poop" twice.

 

[drivencrazy]

This stinks.

They really didn't tell him what he CAN eat.

All they said was NO fiber, fresh fruits and veggies or milk (dairy) lay off the red meats and no fried food till he's feeling better, then to watch the seeds (nuts, berries with seeds...)

So, I really don't have a lot of the info that I need to help him... tonight he had some grilled chicken. He is out with the girls so I really don't know if that made things worse or not.

Do you think that he shouldn't be eating right now?? Should he do the liquid diet for a while, till the meds kick in and he is feeling better?

I really wish the doctor would have said more (or that I had been there with him to ask more)!

I think we maybe taking another trip soon if things don't start feeling better for him!

Thanks

 

[drivencrazy]

Dude, your secret was safe with me. You said "poop" twice.

OK, now I have to go there........ he said that "it's not normal" but he still is going some....................... I didn't ask more than that! I don't think I even asked that much, but somehow I got the info!

 

[SwedishMeatball]

OK, now I have to go there........ he said that "it's not normal" but he still is going some....................... I didn't ask more than that! I don't think I even asked that much, but somehow I got the info!

Well men just aren't shy about bodily functions.

 

[BusyMom2Three]

My dad has this and has been hospitalized numerous times. He actually had a few feet of his intensines removed - no bag though he was lucky. His last bought of it was to have scar tissue removed from a surgery years ago. The scar tissue swelled and caused a hernia - the only was to fix it was surgery. He is very careful with what he eats. Nothing with seeds - cukes, popcorn (regular corn he can have), deseeded tomatoes. He has learned to eat properly and the only reason for the lastest surgery was b/c of the scar tissue. May sure your husband follows the drs orders to a T. It is very painful when the blockages occur. My dad never shows pain, but when those attacks came on he was a crying screaming baby - very scary.

My friend's mom has this and I was surprised when she said she doesn't eat tomato sauce, but it often has some seeds from tomatoes in it. She scrapes out the centers of any produce with seeds in the middle. She also does not eat anything whole grain/whole wheat. Whereas most people would say it is healthiest to eat whole grains, in her case it is not since the body has to work harder to break it down and digest it.

Best wishes to you & your DH!

 

[The Mayor]

This stinks.

They really didn't tell him what he CAN eat.

All they said was NO fiber, fresh fruits and veggies or milk (dairy) lay off the red meats and no fried food till he's feeling better, then to watch the seeds (nuts, berries with seeds...)

So, I really don't have a lot of the info that I need to help him... tonight he had some grilled chicken. He is out with the girls so I really don't know if that made things worse or not.

Do you think that he shouldn't be eating right now?? Should he do the liquid diet for a while, till the meds kick in and he is feeling better?

I really wish the doctor would have said more (or that I had been there with him to ask more)!

I think we maybe taking another trip soon if things don't start feeling better for him!

Thanks

Check out this link...http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diverticulitis-diet/HQ00548

 

[The Mayor]

Dude, your secret was safe with me. You said "poop" twice.

Don't call me dude