Some 30 years ago i was diagnosed with this problem.
My doctor and I discussed alternative approaches.
Surgery was mentioned. I asked what the odds were.
50%
Not good enough for me.
Doc agreed.
What induces the condition is very likely habitual dietary behaviour (commonly referred to as "lifestyle" by the chattering classes).

I was edging up to 40yo at the time and my Doc had been treating me since i was 7. We knew each other pretty well.

He told me that there were no answers. It was probably diet related and I should go away and do some research. He guided me in the general direction of diet, and fibre intake in particular.

After some panicky research (I was worried about bowel cancer) I targeted a major component of my "lifestyle" at the time. Excessive daily over consumption of beer.

I quit drinking beer for over 12 months and nearly all of my symptoms disappeared.

Since then I have also reduced my carbohydrate intake considerably, especially sugars, starch.

No probs at all.

Yes I do still drink beer, a lot less than I used to back then.

It is interesting to see posts using laxatives. They are very probably right.

Diverticula problems are associated with excessive pressure being exerted on gut linings.

Beware beans! And constipation.

Cheers.

Peter,
Do you think some diverticulitis could be down to gluten sensitivity ?

Not sure about gluten sensitivity, or indeed lectin sensitivity.

Certainly diverticulitis is stretched pockets of lower intestines.

I did not have and still do not have constipation problems.

There were certainly pressure problems, the pain can be excruciating.

Urban myth associates diverticulitis with middle aged women.

I was not one then and still am not one now.

I would not look at gluten sensitivity as a high priority as a causal factor in diverticulitis.

I suspect that factors that inhibit the passage of boluses (bolii?) allowing the build up of liquid and gaseous pressure are involved.

As far as I know the possible effects of gluten do not extend to this.

At that time I was leading a very sedentary "lifestyle" and I think that was part of the situation.

Hi,

Have a good look at the website: www.greattastenopain.com. It has helped many people with this problem.

Karin from Body & Mind Therapies

I was diagnosed with diverticulosis last year after a colonoscopy and the main advice given me was diet and fluid intake before considering surgery. Having suffered much sporadic constipation I had tried all the normal methods like metamusil to little effect. Then a friend suggested Alpine Tea, a herbal remedy that works better than anything. Even to the point of only needing half a cup a day(recommended in the evening) as a whole cup kept me 'too busy' the following day. So alongside a healthy fibre-rich diet I have avoided any more talk of operations!

"fluid intake" - Interesting Jona. I have found since drinking bottled water i.e. boiled then bottled and kept in the fridge, and drinking far more than ever before, my gut problems have almost vanished I usually drink a mug of warm water in the mornings anyhow but have found I like the bottled water so much better I also drink a large glass of that when taking my morning pills and potions.

I heard on the radio recently, possibly ZB on a Sunday morning we should give our insides a "good shower" in the mornings.

I don't know when our water will be absolutely cleared to drink so will continue boiling it I think thus also drinking more of it. Will look out for the Alpine tea also

I had experience abdominal pain from my mid-twenties and the cause was never really investigated. I was constantly unwell and would end up in hospital , was given nil by mouth and would then be sent home as the pain would settle. My blood tests would reveal raised white blood cells. After an xray for back pain the doctor remarked that my heart was enlarged. A nurse explained that constant infection can often cause the heart to become enlarged. About this time I started to have raised blood pressure which was treated with medication. Two years later I was visiting my daughter in Whakatane and became very ill with extreme pain. I was admitted through emergency dept and was given anabolic antibiotics that was normally given to people with gangrene. My white blood cells were very high. After five days they let return home and sent a letter to my doctor so I could be referred to a specialist as the doctor at whakatane suggested I may have diverticulitis. It was 9 months before I received an appointment to have a burrimeal xray which revealed I had tears in my colon. Diverticulosis is when there is pockets in the bowel with risk of bleeding which my grandmother had to receive 6 units of blood after this happened to her. Diverticulitis is inflamation of the bowel which can cause the bowel walls to become thin and perforate- which happened to me and can kill you because you can develop septicemia. I was a thalidimide(My mother was given this for morning sickness in the 1950's) baby and although I did not have any deformed limbs it has been found that some of these babies have had issues with the bowel and intestines with narrowing in some portions. I was bought up on home grown fruit and veges so I believe a lot of my issues were genetic. I was to receive a full illieoscopy and a bag but my surgeon was able to save enough bowel to rejoin to the rectum. I had abcesses the size of tennis balls attached to my abdominal wall. I developed hernias and have just had my third lot of major surgery to repair these . My abdominal muscles had split and moved around into my back. My diverticulitis I manage with metamucil, at least three litres of fluid a day and I stay away from foods like chillies, peppers, cabbage, bread, sugar as it encourages inflammation. I would encourage anyone to always have reoccurring pain investigated. At one point I was told in my thirties that I had depression. I asked a doctor at some point if the problem could be my bowel and was told I was too young to have bowel problems and that the tests can be quite expensive.

Don't "they" just love to put everything down to depression.

What a hell of a thing to have had happen to you, hope you on the upward track now.

I think its their answer to everything that they havent got an ananswer for!

I was diagnosed with diverticulitis about 15 years ago and would have bad bouts of infection requiring antibiotics every couple of years. My son discovered a great website called Great Taste No Pain about 6 years ago and since then by following their advice on food combinations I have had no major flare ups requiring medication. I still get little niggles of pain but am thrilled to be able to keep it all comparitivley under control. I would recommend taking the time to read this website. I would also hightly recommend their Carrot and Cilantro Soup which is a wonderful soother for an inflamed or upset digestive track.

The website again is: www.greattastenopain.com

I hope this helps some of you out there with this condition. A little change in eating habits far outweighs surgery.