Divericulitis?

Question

Have you suffered from it? What do you do to avoid further attacks?

Answer 1

long-term antibiotics as preventative therapy is not generally recommended. When to intervene, and after how many attacks, is not carved in stone; it depends on severity, at to some degree on how the xrays look, as well as general medical condition. What you describe sounds like there's the potential for developing (or already having) a fistula (connection) between your colon and bladder, which can become a bigger problem. Two hospitalizations certainly puts you in a category where surgery is to be considered. Most attacks of diverticulitis occur in the sigmoid colon. Many people have diverticula throughout the colon; but if they are concentrated in the sigmoid, then the chance of recurrance is low. Prevention consists mainly of high fiber diet. The old idea of avoiding seeds, etc, has been pretty much disproven. If you've had the attacks despite high fiber and while not being constipated, then there's not much reason to believe you won't have more. No surgery is risk-free; but it's much better to have colon surgery electively than during an emergency due to perforation, etc. If you have a competant experienced surgeon, the chance of problems in recovering from the surgery is very low; and the loss of the sigmoid colon should have no adverse effect on how your bowels or digestion work.

Answer 2

yes i have it all you can realy do is eat lots of high fiber foods