Colonoscopy/Diverticulitis

"matter" not mater, and he wante me to have another colonoscopy in one year, (take out the first "one"). Sorry 'bout the typos.

You don’t make enough doo doos. Go more often.

I also have some diverticuloses (plural). My gastro guy gave me a lovely photo of them and told me to come back in 10 years.

Psyllium, psyllium, psyllium. And be sure to take it with plenty of water. The doctor will be singing hosannas to your intestines a year hence.

Name the supplement.

It's called Super Cleanse and is put out by a company called Nature's Secret. It's major ingredient is Cascara Sagrada, which is a cousin to Senna. It's supposed to be for short-term use only, but whenever I've attempted to stop, the constipation immediately came back. I investigated the warnings of long-term use, and none were more serious than the problems caused by the constipation itself. I even brought it to my doctor and asked. He told me the older one gets, the more common it is for everybody to have to take something every night. He advised if this is the best product that works for me, I should continue using it. I also take a magnesium supplement which is supposed to help to combat one of the possible long-term side effects.

By the way, to the poster upthread, i did psyllium husks for a period. It was great -, until it wasn't. Suddenly it reversed and my constipation got worse instead of better, (which some do warn about). And this stuff works far better than the psyllium ever did.

Do you have your colonoscopy taped?

Not sure how helpful this will be to you as most people know what sets them off, but I do know some foods to avoid, as they tend to cause flare ups. Nuts, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, seeded Rye bread, and the herb rosemary that hasn't been finely ground - even when well chewed - can be small and hard enough to get stuck in the small pockets of the intestines and cause problems. I'm a third generation IBS/Diverticulitis sufferer. Hope you feel better soon.

My partner had diverticulosis on the left side of his colon, and he had several inches of his colon removed. He's been much, much better since then in terms of pain and other intestinal symptoms. The only downside is that, when he needs to "go" in the morning, he REALLY needs to go, so I make sure I'm not standing between him and the bathroom.

Been constipated since I was a kid. Finally figured it out about 60 years later. My body gates meat.

Plenty of fruit and veggies no more problems. Meat once a week.

First colonoscopy they gave me the same song as you. I wasnt cleaned out enough. Shame on me. Now, not so much.

R9 has he ever shit on the floor?

R7 - No. I don't care to see it. I insisted they give me as many drugs as is legal.

R11: Not when I've been around.

R8 I read up on that. It's theorized but there's no evidence. The most recent findings are most skeptical and conclude it is not an issue for most with diverticulitis. But thanks for the contribution.

I want to add, as far as I know, I'm not yet suffering any effects from the diverticulitis, and my doctor thinks my constipation is more likely due to the torturous colon and not the diverticulitis, (which might also be because of the torturous colon). But I read that a famous singer died from complications of diverticulitis, so it's why I'm asking about sufferers who may be reading this thread.

I read it can take 2 to 3 days to digest meat.

Anyway, I eat very high fibre diet and I swear, it's almost like Niagara Falls every day. Not the sloppy type. i don't eat meat, don't drink coffee or milk. i drink mineral water, hot ginger tea (made with real ginger), spinnach, broccoli, etc... No problems here. No processed food. If I do eat bread, it's the pure rye bread made with spring water. No salt ever and no sugar.

R9 I was also told it was on my left side. I forgot to ask my doctor something so maybe you know... When they do a colonoscopy, are they able to remove the bacteria as well or anything they find? Did your partner have serious symptoms, and if so, what were they?

I"m not sure what you mean by "remove the bacteria". Do you mean take a sample of the colon flora? Or somehow kill off bacteria?

My partner had a lot of discomfort frequently when he had the diverticulosis, and I believe he had diarrhea on a recurring basis as well. He's been much, much better after they removed those few affected inches of colon.

Sorry R17 is me.

I had a similar situation. First couple of colonoscopies I was told my prep was poorly done. So the next one I tried extra hard, but still no good. The last one I worked on the prep for four days. Started out mildly but then spent two days on the shitter. Finally they got a good view. I’ve got the tortuous colon, and it takes days for things to travel through. Haven’t had good luck with psyllium or Metamucil because sometimes it turns into concrete, which is agony.

R17 I'm not sure what I mean, lol, just wondering if they do anything while in there once they notice it. I also heard that most people who suffer symptoms of diverticulitis lean more towards diarrhea, which contradicts my situation. Again, thanks for your input.

R18 Your experience with the psyllium and Metumucil is exactly what I was referring to.

Try Benefiber, it's way better than Metumucil. No taste to it and no grit. I take two tablespoons every day and it works great.

I was just in the hospital for 3 days with an attack of diverticulitis. I didn't know I had the disease. It was horrible - my first time in the ER and the hospital. Now I have to go get a colonoscopy within 6-8 weeks, which I'm not looking forward too. I had one when I was 20, and that's how I discovered I wasn't a bottom. Now I heard they knock you out for colonoscopies, thank God.

I'm also hearing many, many conflicting things about what I can eat with diverticulosis. It's really frustrating not getting a straight answer about what I can and can't eat. I'll be damned if I wind up in the hospital again with another extremely painful infection. BTW, I'm 38, 39 in a month. Is this normal for someone my age? I always thought it was a middle aged disease.

I had this crazy friend who went in for a colonoscopy. Out came this doctor about 35 with an Italian background who looked like a movie star. She yelled, "He can't do this to me; he's too good looking. I want another doctor!"

For Diverticulitis you need to chew your food more thoroughly every time you eat. It helps, it works.

[quote] Plenty of fruit and veggies no more problems. Meat once a week.

You actually say veggies at 60 years old??

I just had a colonoscopy last week. He found one tiny spot of diverticulosis, which he told me was likely from red meat, which moves more slowly through the colon. He has there is nothing to worry about, it does not "spread," nor is there a cure. Divertisulosis does not develop into diverticulitis, which is inflammation of the colon. Unfortunately, their names are strikingly similar. Diverticulosis is a medical observation, not a disease. Diverticulitis is a disease.

As for prep, given your history, eat a small box of Dulcolax two days before you begin the Colyte. Four days prior, eat only low residue foods and no meat, nuts, popcorn, etc. And drink tons of water.