My mam has diverticulitis. Its really painful. Can she prevent it?

Answer 1

I'm a RN and I can appreciate the pain your mother is experiencing due to Diverticulitis. Diverticulitis is the inflammation of diverticula in the intestinal tract. These inflammed outpouches of the colon are caused by the stagnation of small amounts of feces/stool in the little distended sacs of the colon. As a result the individual experiences considerable pain. Symptoms may also include increasing constipation, mucus in stools, gripping abdominal pains at intervals, etc. which may lead to chronic intestinal obstruction. As a result of the undigested food particles, bacteria, inflammation with edema/swelling, the bowel becomes irritable, spastic, and highly susceptible to infection. Diverticulitis is treated with antibiotics, a high fiber low roughage diet, bulk additives such as Metamucil, stool softeners such as Colace and mineral oil. Anticholinergic drugs which reduce colonic contractions such as Pro-Banthine may also prove helpful. Good luck to you and have your mother just persevere until she finds a treatment protocol that works for her. It may also be helpful for your mother to see a Gastoenterologist who specializes in this disease.

Answer 2

hi, Im a pharmacy dispenser and have recently read about this problem.

A diet high in fibre is said to help, there have also been recent studies using Aloe Vera juice. Apparently it tastes pretty nasty, but you only need a small amount each day, about 5-10ml (two teaspoons), and every single one of the people who tried Aloe Vera reported improvements. They were tested on people with diverticulitis, IBS, colitis etc.

Get her to check with her doctor with regards to aloe vera. if he isnt any help (a lot of doctors are not trained in herbal/natural remedies) check out your local health food store. They should be able to help.

Or have a look on the internet under aloe vera or diverticulitis and see what you can find.

Its definitely worth a go, I told one of my customers about it and she has been using it for 2 months and says there is definite improvement.

Hope this helps.

xx

Answer 3

Ummmmm, I imagine she has diverticulosis...which is the condition, and diverticulitis is when it gets out of whack. I'm thinking that certain foods that you eat can cause it to act up.

Answer 4

Treatment for diverticulitis focuses on clearing up the infection and inflammation with antibiotics, resting the colon with a liquid diet plus a pain reliever or a drug such as propantheline (Pro-Banthine) to control muscle spasms, and preventing or minimizing complications. Acute or repeated attacks with severe pain or severe infection may be serious enough to require a hospital stay and possibly surgery.
High Fiber Diet Recommendations
High Fiber Diet for Diverticular Disease

This diverticulitis diet is a high fiber diet for managing diverticulosis, and for reducing effects of diverticulitis. The increased fiber (the American Dietetic Association recommends 20 to 35 grams daily, including 6-8 grams of soluble fiber) in this diverticulitis diet plan produces more bulk in the stool, reducing pressure in the colon and assisting the more regular and complete elimination of waste, thereby preventing the formation of further diverticula.

Build up consumption of fiber in your diet gradually - rapid fiber increase may result in gas, cramping, bloating, or diarrhea. There are other benefits in having different kinds of fiber in a balanced diverticulitis diet: it helps to protect against cancer of the colon and rectum, and assists in preventing heart disease and a number of other health problems. Foods containing fiber also tend to comprise nutrients like vitamins A, C, and E and selenium, useful in fighting cancer.
Increase Fluid and Fiber

Anyone with diverticulitis who increases their fiber intake under this diverticulitis diet plan, should drink at least 1.5 liters (3 pints) daily. Insoluble fiber needs fluid to form stools that are easily passed. Medical advice may be to take a fiber product or supplement such as Metamucil daily (for soluble fiber from psyllium), and to use a cholesterol-lowering spread or margarine containing plant sterols. Fiber supplements provide about 2 to 3.5 grams of fiber per tablespoon, which is mixed with a quarter liter (8 ounces) of water before consuming.
Should Seeds Be Eaten?

Until recently, many doctors suggested avoiding foods with small seeds because it was believed that particles could lodge in the diverticula and cause inflammation. However, this is now a controversial point and no evidence supports this recommendation. So the seeds in tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, strawberries and raspberries, as well as poppy seeds, which are part of your diverticulitis diet, are generally considered harmless.
Diverticulitis Diet Guidelines
Foods to Eat

* Breads and grains (6-11 servings daily)
* Bread, pastas, pizzas, pancakes, muffins, bagels, pita bread (use whole-grain, whole-wheat flours, and add 2-3 tsp of unprocessed wheat bran to, or substitute oat bran for one third of all-purpose flour in homemade breads, muffins and other baked goods)
* Whole-wheat, whole-grain and bran cereal products
* Buckwheat and stone-ground cornmeal
* Rye bread
* Whole wheat crackers or crisp breads
* Oatmeal, oat bran, or grits
* Barley, dry
* Wheat germ
* Whole wheat pasta
* Brown rice

Eat raw or dried fruits and raw vegetables if possible - chopping, peeling, cooking, pureeing, juicing, and processing fruit and vegetables may reduce fiber content.

Vegetables (3-5 servings daily)

* All vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, greens (such as beet greens, kale, collards, Swiss chard and turnip greens), green beans, green pepper, onions, peas, potatoes with skin, Romaine, snow peas, green snap beans, pole beans, broad beans, spinach, squash, sweet potatoes, turnips.

Fruit (2-4 servings daily)

* All fruits such as apple, apricot, banana, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, dates, fig, grapefruit, nectarine, orange, peach, pear, pineapple, prune.

Milk/dairy (2-3 servings daily)

* Increase fiber in yogurt or cottage cheese by adding fresh fruit, whole grain or bran cereals.

Meat/meat substitutes (2-3 servings or total of about 180 gm or 6 oz daily)

* All beans and peas such as aduki, baked beans, black beans, fava, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, lentils, lima beans, pinto beans and split peas.
* Smooth peanut butter and other smooth nut butters.
* All meat (increase fiber in meat dishes like meatloaf, casseroles, by adding 2-3 tsp of unprocessed wheat bran or pinto beans, kidney beans, black-eyed peas, or oatmeal), poultry, fish, and eggs

Fats and snacks

* Whole-wheat pretzels, baked tortilla corn chips or trail mix made with dried fruits.
* Cakes, breads, and cookies made with oatmeal or fruit.
* Bean dip

Foods to Avoid

Any hard or difficult-to-digest foods, such as nuts, corn, popcorn hulls, and sunflower, pumpkin, caraway, and sesame seeds.