Anyone with diverticulitis?

[theferry]

I will be having a sigmoidoscopy soon for pain in my lower left had side of my abdomen. I have a feeling it might be diverticulitis from everything I have read. It flares up every so often and seems to react to when I’m stressed. My question is whether you’ve found stress makes the symptoms of diverticulitis worse?

DH has it. Stress may be a factor but the main thing that helped was cutting out red meat and eating smaller portions (his used to be ridiculous) and eating more slowly. I hope you feel better soon.

@CasuirDubh many thanks if you don’t mind me asking—how was it diagnosed and has there been any treatment? Or just left to self manage?

He had a colonoscopy which diagnosed diverticulur disease. When it gets inflamed it's diverticulitis. He really suffered with it. It was very severe.

Basically he was told the main thing is to avoid constipation at all costs. The tips he was given around red meat, eating less and more slowly really helped but he said they said anything that will stop constipation should help.

There wasn't any treatment other than that but he hasn't had a flare up since, and as I said he was in a bad way before he addressed the diet issues.

thank you. That’s very helpful.

I’ve found that drinking plenty of water (2-3ltrs), increasing fibre (slowly), eliminating sugar and eating a cleaner, non-inflammatory diet and intermittent fasting to give the gut time to work have all helped.

I agree completely in regard to stress. I consciously avoid unnecessary big emotional swings - no need for outrage or anger. It’s actually been life changing to just calm the fuck down and chill!

I was hospitalised with a bad flare, and it was the best thing that could have happened. Gave me the kick up the arse to sort a few things out. It’s been small steps but I’m so much healthier now, and feel better on every level.

@MrsForgetalot thanks, that’s helpful. My diet is shit so I could definitely improve it. I’ll have to wait to see what the tests come back as, but diverticulitis matches a lot with how I’ve been.

I have it - I was diagnosed after being hospitalised with an inflammatory mass, they saw this through a ct scan, and my inflammatory markers were sky high. They weren't sure whether it was appendicitis or diverticulitis and put me on intravenous antibiotics. I've since had 2 colonoscopies and another ct scan to check it's cleared up

I was told by the hospital consultant to eat high fibre and low carb and smaller frequent meals ie no big gaps. I take various things to keep me regular like inulin powder and kefir, figs too.

I've had it for years. Stress definitely contributes to a flare. I drink plenty of water and take stool softeners and probiotics. I still have occasional flare ups, some needing iv antibiotics but generally do OK.

I've also had it for years.. diagnosed with a colonoscopy.
I'm veggie so meat wasn't on the menu, but unlike many I was told not to fill myself with too much high fibre...for me it makes things much worse and I get flare ups and even partial blockages which are horrible.