They told me I have it many years ago, doesn't bother me. Not supposed to eat seeds, popcorn, and things I guess. I just eat what I feel like, no problems. Thank goodness.

Sue

Spent a fun filled week in the hospital with it when I got an infection. I removed all fast food and that helped. Also NO nuts ever, small seeds like from strawberries are fine. I am very careful of what I am eating though.
TMI you don't need metacmucil if you are eating correctly.

I do, I drink one glass every day also, this is caused by lack of enough fiber in American diet - most Americans will have this by the age of 65, unfortunately. I was very surprised that I got this as I have always been a person who had a high fiber diet - but evidently not high enough. I got it very early in life, surprisingly so.

Diet: Nothing that contains seeds or nuts (jellies, jams, fruits with seeds, anything with nut bits or whole nuts are out) no popcorn. That pretty much covers it. If the seed gets into the pocket, it causes an infection to fester, is very painful and can hurt your overall health. Recently it was reported that this specific no -seed diet didn't seem to make a difference in how those with this disease gets along, but then another report came out that said that yes, it does make a big difference. My doctor told me it was up to me, be safe and stay away from seeds and nuts or take my chances. I play it safe, it's not like I feel terribly deprived or anything.

I once ate some bread which had rye seeds in it and paid the price a week later.

It won't bother me to rid my diet of seeds and nuts if it helps. At xmas I ate a bowl of nuts and was really sick from it, now I know why.

Go to web.com and type in Diverticulosis and they will give you a bunch of information to review and discuss with your Dr. My friend has it and now is facing some serious surgery and he does try to watch his diet. Also watch soda pop or anything with carbination.

Be sure to really look at processed foods you buy, you would be surprised at how many contain little nut bits or seed bits. Grape jelly is fine, strawberry jam is terrible. Smooth peanut butter is fine, chunky is really bad. If you buy whole grain bread, be sure you can't "see" the grains within the bread or on the crust at all. Oats are fine, though.

You will get very used to really looking at what you buy and it will become second nature.

I was never, ever big on buttered popcorn until I was told I couldn't have it anymore. Now, every time we go to the movies, I get resentful I can't have a bag of popcorn. It's silly, I NEVER got popcorn before, why do I wish I could have it now?!?

I bring along a baggie of oyster crackers and pretend it's popcorn *LOL*

I never had any signs of diverticulitis, then one night I woke up with severe pains in my lower left abdomen. Long story short, ER, admitted, test after test, eventually had colon surgery. Diagnosis was abscessed/perforated colon. Nothing to do with diverticulitis.

My surgeon said he doesn't subscribe to the seeds-in-a-pocket theory. Told me to eat anything I wanted to, and I have not given up nuts, popcorn or anything because of that. That was over 5 years ago. No problems since. Everybody has to make there own choice and decisions.

Sue

Was diagnosed with it about 3 years ago. I'd rather give up chocolate than seeds and nuts--but I'm very careful not to ever eat seeds/nuts, etc if I can help it. I don't even eat strawberries unless I first cut off the skin and seeds. You want to watch anything that can 'go through whole'--even fruit and vegetable skins can be a problem sometimes. Ever since I've removed all those things from my diet, I've felt much, much better. Before my diagnosis, I'd been having regular problems that I was putting down to age or stress. Now, I hardly ever have digestive upsets, so it's obvious that the diverticulosis was causing the previous problems.

The one thing I truly do miss? One of my absolute favorite desserts?--pecan pie. But I've found a way around that. I put the pecans in the blender and process until completely smooth (pecan butter), then add the other ingredients and process some more. Pie still tastes the same, it just doesn't have the crunch.

You can find other ways to add some texture to your foods, though. Instead of nuts on salads, there are always: croutons, broken crackers, fried mung bean noodles. Or I take a little grated cheese on a piece of parchment and microwave until it starts to look toasted. Let it cool, peel off paper, and crumble. You can also bake oatmeal until it's toasted and crisp to use as a topping for ice cream, salads, etc.

I completely agree with Sue - a family member also has it and eats whatever she wants with NO problem whatsoever. I figure that if you eat the stuff and end up with a problem, you know that you are "one of those" who must avoid this stuff, if you don't have a problem then, enjoy! :)

I feel for you Sue, I woke up with an blocked bowel (it kinked) and had to have emergency surgery - was terribly ill for a month, in the hospital for three weeks and lost 20 pounds in 20 days.

A dreadful time, it took me a long time to fully and completely recover.

I've been in the hospital several times with a kinked or partially blocked colon and was eventually diagnosed with diverticulosis. This started after by colon cancer surgery over 7 yrs. ago.

Diet is important and I try not to push my luck, but do cheat once in a while.

My Mom has it and the doctor told to take Metamucil, never take any other substitute. There is something special about it but didn't explain what.

Oh boy, do I feel everybody's pain. I know some studies say no nuts, popcorn, etc. and some don't, but I rarely eat nuts and NEVER eat popcorn. The thing that has helped me the most is not eating CORN. 14 mos. ago I had an attack and went to my doc's PA. She told me no corn and I haven't had a kernal since she told me that. I have never gone this long w/o an attack, so that made me a believer. When I've had diverticulitis it has taken a week out of my life. It's miserable, you can't stand up straight and you have to take those anitbiotics which don't really settle well w/ me, so that was a double whammy there--feeling bad from the meds. Try eliminating corn. Remember changing diapers when you had fed a baby corn? Remember the kernal was in the diaper? They don't digest. Bless your heart, but lots of people have this, you just have to see what works for you. Now that I've bragged about going 14mos w/o an attack I'll probably have one tomorrow. Geez!!

Thanks for all your advice, it makes me feel better.

Vannie, how long have yu had diverticulosis?? It sounds like diet is the key to keeping it under control.

I now have to have barium also, since they couldn't complete the colonoscopy because of the diverticulitis I have to go the other route. My concern of this is, if they find Polyps with the barium test how do they remove them.