Diverticulitus?

My DH was in the Hospital. Went to the ER on friday came home Monday morning. He was diagnosed with Diverticulitus.

The Dr. said its common in people in their 40's and 50's but he is only 28.

Everything I have read said to avoid seeds and tomatoes but they are ok to have once in a while.

Well anyway does anyone have this?

Any insight would be helpful.

Re: Diverticulitus?

i dont, but i remember a pt saying that strawberries were the WORST. its just something that i always think of when i hear diverticulosis, so i figured i'd share.

Re: Diverticulitus?

Thanks Neen.

See we get such different info

The paper we got from the hospital says
"Foods such as nuts popcorn hulls and sunflower pumpkin caraway and sesame seeds should be avoided. The seeds in tomtatoes Zucchini cucumbers strawberries and raspberries as well as poppy seeds are generally considered harmless."

But then the nutrisionist came in and told him all of this was ok in moderation.

It just seems like everyone has different indo.

Message edited 1/8/2008 11:43:45 PM.

Re: Diverticulitus?

Re: Diverticulitus?

My husband has it. He was diagnosed at 28 and now is 30. Actually iot is a common misconception tha this is an "old persons" disease. It is not. A large number of the Vietnam Vets who died and were given autopsies were found to have it. He has had 3 outbreaks mostly after eating large amounts of seeds over a period of months. The attack will start as general stomach pain and then localize to the left side for him. He has been put on antibiotics and it has cleared up. The only way to cure it is through surgery

Re: Diverticulitus?

Posted by neenie

Posted by june262004
It just seems like everyone has different indo.

I think certain things probably affect people in different ways too. (just like how some people experience the side effects of medication and some don't). the $ucky part about that is that you learn through experience what things really affect him the worst (though, staying away from most trouble foods may help avoid really bad flares ups- but i really dont know much about it )

Re: Diverticulitus?

Re: Diverticulitus?

i have it and i eat as careful as i can but i cave in and then suffer.. all the foods i love(tommato, cucumbers, nuts) get's me sick for about 3 days , so i do my best to limit them. i can't eat salads, bagel with anything on them. but i do have to say when i was on a med(can't remember the name of it right now) it helped alot... i am so glad i got my health benfits(they just kicked in and am waiting on the cards in the mail) so i can go back to the gastro doc to start them again. hope he feels better soon

Re: Diverticulitus?

He really needs to watch foods with seeds. A co-worker got a seed from a hot Chili Pepper stuck in a plop that wasn't discovered until he needed a scope due to severe pain. The seed festered and caused an infection in the plop and he had to have a section of his colon removed.

You never know , so diet is really important to be aware of. His was a freak deal, but it happened.

So sorry your DH has this. My DD has ulcerative colitis since she was 14! SHe just takes notice of what causes problems and steers clear of it. Plus she makes sure she takes her meds everyday. She is doing really well right now by taking preventive measures.

Re: Diverticulitus?

I know at least 3 other people way below the target age that have all been diagnosed with this in the last few weeks. I think its wrong.
Something is up, there is a bug of some kind that the Dr's & PAs are calling diverticulitis IMO.

Re: Diverticulitus?

My grandfather and aunt have it. Neither of them eat any seeds at all. When my grandfather was first diagnosed nobody told him not to eat seeds so he did and as someone above mention, it got stuck and infected. He started bleeding and had to have a piece of his colon removed... safest bet is not to eat any!!

Re: Diverticulitus?

my co-workers son had it last year and finally needed an intestinal resection. He was 28.

It's very common now in younger people for some reason. I think that a lot of gut diseases are stemming from a lot of the crap we now eat and younger people are getting it.

Nobody knows what causes Diverticulitis but it's thought to be somewhat auto immune. (stemming from all kinds of things, ie; antibiotics, hormones, vaccinations..etc.)

Stay away from the things that bother you. It's different for everyone. Popcorn, cucumber seeds and nuts are the most troublesome in most.

For now until everything is healed up and he is out of a flare I would recommend staying away from all nuts, seeds and any other irritant.

Re: Diverticulitus?

My mom has this and I know she says that it is the worst pain she has ever felt in her life. She was just in the hospital recently for a really bad infection. The Dr. there told her that the no seeds thing is not true and is like an old wives tale. He says the attacks can be brought on by stress. Usually she stays away from all seeds though! Hope your DH doesn't have to suffer through another attack!

Re: Diverticulitus?

my mom has it--and was in the hospital in november for a week over it.

the basic issue is that when your intestine becoms inflames and you develope "diverticula" -- or pockets in the intestines that fill with blood or waste--and this causes severe pain and an infection. if it goes untreated.....it can require surgery to remove the inflammed areas.

the docs told my mom that she needs to avoid things that take a while to digest or don't digest properly at all in your system...like seeds.....any skin on vegetables (like potatoes), raw veggies, etc.

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OOOOOOO I hope he is better. Very painful, my uncle was in the hospital for this- how he found out- he passed out on the bathroom floor- aunt called 911- brought to hospital- bleeding from rectum- do tests- cant find the source of bleeding- do more and more and more tests- finally 2 days later find it to be diverticulitus.
Told to watch all nuts, even granola and watch the fiber intake as well!
even candy like snickers, anything with nuts in a whole.

Re: Diverticulitus?

the symptoms and irritation mimics crohns and colitis..it blows.