The Benefiber mixture, or any natural form of fiber, like beans, cause a lot of pain & also require me to stay close to a bathroom.
I know very little about my family of origin except one cousin has multiple flare-ups of diverticulitis. All said I should now return to my normal diet. One suggested I dissolve 2 tablespoons of Benefiber in a pint of liquid & drink daily. I thought I ate plenty of fruit, vegetables, beans & legumes & whole grains, but I guess not. All said eat more fiber, one suggested eating Grapenuts cereal.I tried, but I can't handle the taste or texture. Some said avoid nuts, popcorn, seeds, others said that info is obsolete. Since then, I have been seen again by the PAC, my family practice MD, a dietitian & a surgeon. Spouse had to be very assertive to get an appointment for me with a PAC. That works, but Flagyl is especially hard on my system.īecause of covid, staffing or whatever, it was very hard to get care. The treatment is Bactrim & Flagyl & clear fluids and low-fiber diet during a flare-up. The episode in 2019 was diagnosed by my urologist, because I also have kidney stones & I thought that was what was causing the pain. Exercising regularly and drinking enough water (up to 8 cups a day) are also recommended.I am still recovering from my third "flare-up". A high-fibre diet helps to prevent constipation and formation of diverticula. How is diverticular disease prevented?Īlthough the cause of diverticulosis or diverticulitis is unknown, a low-fibre diet increases your chances of developing diverticular disease. However, people who do not improve with treatment or who develop rare complications may require surgery. If you have severe diverticulitis, you may need to be admitted into hospital and given antibiotics and fluids through your vein, and stronger painkillers. Sometimes your doctor may prescribe antibiotics, and if necessary, mild painkillers. If you have mild diverticulitis, you may be treated at home with bowel rest by having a low fibre or fluid only diet. You may need a colonoscopy, a barium enema or a CT scan of your abdomen. To diagnose diverticulitis, your doctor will talk to you and examine you. See your doctor if you have such symptoms.
Other conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, have similar symptoms. The symptoms may be mild to severe, depending on the extent of the infection and complications. blood in the stool from diverticular bleeding.
a change in bowel habits, such as constipation or diarrhoea.The most common symptom of diverticulitis is pain, which can be mild or severe, on the lower left-hand side of the abdomen.
This can lead to complications, such as an abscess next to the intestine. Diverticulosis is usually diagnosed during bowel cancer screening or screening for gut problems.ĭiverticulitis occurs when the diverticula become inflamed or infected, caused by bacteria trapped inside one of the bulges. If you have such symptoms, you should see your doctor. However, some people may have symptoms such as mild cramps, bloating, constipation or diarrhoea. Many people with diverticulosis do not experience any discomfort or symptoms. People who have diverticula that are not swollen or infected are said to have diverticulosis. One in 3 Australians aged over 45 have diverticular disease. Diverticular disease is linked to a low-fibre diet, and is more common as people age. These pockets are called diverticula and often do not cause any symptoms. Diverticular disease is a common condition where small bulges or pockets form in the wall of the large intestine.