I have a very dear male freind, I feel asthough he cuts my feelings off due to his illness, Ive only been aware of this illness recently.

My questions are

What can the emotional effects of diverticulitus.
What are the physically effects - short term or long tem.
Is this illness hereditary -i think he has ben aware for years and this has affected his relationships.
He has had surgery - will he need more.
How painful is it for him.

As a freind is there anything i can do to help. Also i want him to be part of my life whether as a freind or more.

OVM,

Diverticulars are mostly caused by not eating correctly and getting constipated. He needs more soluble fibre in his diet and it is not an inhereited illness.

And, when a diverticular gets infected -- it is about as painful as an appendicitis except it can be treated with antibiotics.

Once you get diverticular pockets -- they don't go away-- except with surgery.

I wish your friend well---Harry

Harry
Thank you for your reply
He has, i think, known about it for many years, possibly since being a child. (can you get it as a child) he has had surgery of which he will not say, he is very particular about his diet, fibre and health & fitness. Are there other complications that can occurr from this illness such to the liver, blood or kidneys. ive heard him complain but clams up....

Im concerned about his physical health, but mainly his mental well-being cos he cuts himself off from everyone. When he had his surgery he told no one and then after he recovered, he complained cos he went home alone to no one, no family or freind - but this is due to him closing up & not wanting anyone to know! He delt with it alone and i think became depressed,

Im sure like anyone with an illness - this illness affects his emotional and mental health, I like a few of his freinds want to be there for him but not to invade his privacy due to the nature of this illness- he is so stuborn about this.

Is there any advice that could be given to me to help him rather than him going in to his shell, dealing with it alone and then being unable to cope, and becoming more depressed.

i really do think he is depressed about it and has been for a long while

Just trying to be a good freind to a good freind
ovm

I was just diagnosed with this today after my colonoscopy. You explained it just as the doctor said. Great job!!!

hi i too just found out i have Diverticulitus my dr found it on a catscan i have had trouble with my bowels since age 38 im now 44 i have no pain i just get constipated or its loose i was wondering has anyone heard of that new fiber choise? i been taking metamusil tablets 2 at night sometimes it helps sometimes not ,would i feel better if they did have to do surgery on me somedays i feel just fine but i got worse after i found out i have thyriod disorder i eat chereos and i try to eat anything fiber but i was just wondering about that new fiber choise i have tried benafiber i was on zelnorm but it gave me diarea so does anyone know how i can help with this colon cancer runs in my family my sister has it and my father passed away from it 5 yrs ago .can this lead to colon cancer?
any advice would be helpfull i do see my new dr on the 23rd .
i was depressed but not from this i got depressed from my thyriods i suffered for a yr because my old dr never would take any tests my new dr found all this out .
thanks vickie45

Vickie,

You need to take 25 to 35 grams of fiber daily to have normal BMs and drink enough water daily-- 6 to 8 glasses. It need to be a combination of both soluble and insoluble fiber.

I have been using psyllium for 23 years twice daily-- and I use the powder type that you mix with water. I take about 7 or 8 grams daily. It is safe to take daily and it bulks up your stool and will help make you regular along with the other fiber you eat in your diet.

I like the powder type because it is well dispersed in the water. I use the orange flavored sugar free type from Wal Mart-- the Equate Brand.

Taking the Metamucil capsules requires too many to be of any help-- I think each one is only 500 mgm so to get 7 grams daily -- you'll need 14 capsule -- I think a little much to deal with.
The largest cap I have seen on the market is sold by the Vitamin Shoppe and it is 870mgrams per capsule. My wife takes 4 after breakfast and 4 after supper -- it seems to work fine for her.

As you know colon cancer is the #2 cause of cancer deaths is the US. Increasing your fiber intake will certainly help your probems with diverticulars as well as reduce your cancer risk!!

God Bless---Harry

OVM,
Once you get diverticular pockets -- they don't go away-- except with surgery.

Harry, it is not true. Diverticulars can go away. My GP said like what you said. "It won't go away, once is there is there!" But.....

2006, my CT abdomen said that I had multiple diverticula are seen in relation to the large bowel affecting most of the large bowel. 2007, the colonoscopy said she didn't see any, very normal, nice and clean. No biopsy.

I asked another Gastro Dr, she confirmed that I didn't have diverticula any more. As far as I know, it only there for ONE year. Now it all strinked and disappeared!

Pika,
Diverticulas can be very small to the size of a thimble and are pockets in the colon that have streached and lost their elasticity.

Once that happens -- the pocket does not regain it's elasticity back.

Have you ever had a diverticular that has become infected & inflamed and be treated with antibiotics and return to a normal smooth colon?

CT scans are a spiral X-ray that can be miss read??

Hi Harry:

Mine did not show up on the CT scans at all. They are not very reliable, that is why they recommended further teets. The Diverticulitis showed up on the colonoscopy. The antibiotics take the flare ups away. Like you said the pouch is still there and will always be there. The Specialist just told me to increase my fiber intake so I do not have another flare up.

Hi - How I wish I could believe Pika - that diverticula can disappear!! But, I agree with Harry that they cannot. I have numerous diverticula scattered in my colon. I have had two attacks - the first one was 10 years ago, and up until that time I had no idea that I had diverticulosis. When I finally went to a doctor (gyn because I thought it must be a pelvic problem), I was immediately told to go to the hospital for tests. They didn't tell me what they thought I had, and I was put in the cancer unit. Thankfully, they found on a CT Scan that I had a phlegmon (sp) attached to a diverticula, and after staying on IV antibiotics for 4 days in the hospital, I got over it. I had a high fever and sharp cramps in my lower abdomen, plus a vaginal discharge.
I think the cause was poor eating habits due to the stress of taking care of my mother. Sometimes all I ate for dinner was Popcorn!!!! However, I have read that an attack can come on for no reason sometimes.
The next attack was about 2 years ago, after I again started eating too many nuts. Needless to say, I haven't eaten nuts since then. That attack was rather mild and was cured by oral antibiotics taken at home.
My doctor said to take Metamucil nightly (the powder)and to take extra during the day if I become constipated. I also eat lots of fiber-rich food.
Did your boyfriend have a colostomy when he had his operation? If so, and if he has to wear a bag, perhaps that is why he is so self-conscious. He really needs to see a counselor or join a group, if possible, of people who have gone through what he has. There is no reason why he cannot live a perfectly normal life. Good luck! :)
I had been ill with a very low fever for a few weeks.

Hi Everyone,

I have had Diverticulitis attacks for around 17 yrs. I have had at least 10 attacks. I have had CT Scans, Colonoscopy, Inter Vaginal Ultra Sounds, and plain old exams....NEVER have I been told that this will DISAPPEAR!!!! I have been told just the opposite. I will have this for the rest of my life, even surgery isn't a promise that it won't come back.

FIBER, FIBER, and then more FIBER is the key, and even that won't help if the infection decides to start. Dr's are now saying that nuts, and seeds are NOT the cause, and that we can eat them. The POUCHES caused from Constipation and poor FIBER intake are the cause. Fecal material flows down, and what gets stuck in the pouches is what starts the process.

The only thing we can do is eat plenty of FIBER, and drink tons of fluids. I personally eat Irish Oatmeal twice a day, and have found that THIS is helping more than anything I have tried in the past....

Good luck,

Sid

Sid--
Very good Post

What is Irish oat meal?
It's not green is it-- LOL.

Harry

Sid - I realize that "they" now tell us that seeds,popcorn, etc. are safe for people with diverticulosis to eat, there is no doubt in my mind that the hulls of the popcorn got stuck in one of my diverticula and caused the infection.
"They" used to say that even seeds from tomatoes were bad for people with diverticulosis. But now they say just the opposite - that seeds add more fiber and so are good to eat. And I'm sure that is true for many, but I can understand why some doctors advise against eating them: they aren't digested, and they can easily become lodged in the diverticula and cause infection. There are so many sources of fiber which don't contain seeds and hulls, that in my opinion it's not wise to take a chance. :cool:

Harry,

Happy St Patrick's day to you.....:) No Irish Oatmeal isn't green....But a little food coloring would do it....LOL!!!!

Irish Oatmeal... You opened up a bag of worms here.....Ok.... MY FAVORITE.... It's McCanns Steel Cut Irish Wholegrain Oatmeal. Expensive compared to flake oatmeal. 1lb box is around $4.00 and a tin will run about $8.00. Takes around 45 minutes to cook. I make a double batch and refridge the rest for the week.

Dietary Fiber is 4 grams, 2 soluble, and 2 unsoluble... NOT much but the thing that I have found since eating this is this......Gross but what can I say.....My stools for the past year or so have been VERY thin in girth. I know way too much info.....LOL! But since eating this........My stools, are NORMAL again, and I very rarely have constipation. I also have IBS.....

I could go on, about how I make it, what I put in it, HOW much I love it, but I think you get the picture....

Sid

Hello! Im about to have a colonoscopy/endoscopy performed next week. How did the colonoscopy go for you? Did they put you to sleep/or were you awake?

rontiss1,

I has a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy at the same time last year. I was OUT :) It was SO easy/painless. The hardest part is the night before ("the cleaning out").

Not sure if it's different for everyone or not; but I got on the table, the put a wedge between my knees and a rubber stopper-like thing in my mouth, then injected something in my IV. I woke up in a recovery room and it seemed about 30 seconds later. No pain or any indication something happened afterwards.

Good luck... try not to stress about it, it was so much easier than I anticipated (and I read that a lot here).

hi all i wrote here last night about having Diverticulitus and my dr told me the same thing that it wont go away but i been taking the metamucil tablets 2 at night for like 3 days and im now going to the bathroom and its normal b/m and yes the reason my dr had the catscan done was cause i had lower pain i thought it was from my only remaining ovary but its fine and if the powered is better i will start taking that i use to take it long time ago but untill i buy it i will stay on the pills also have anyone ever heard of that new fiber choise its new you chew them like tums 90 pills are 15.00 but maybe metamucil is really better ,also what does a flare up feel like cause im not sure if i ever had that i may have if i know what a flare up feels like .so far i feel alot better since taking the metamucil tablets but i will switch if the powered is better and how often should i take it once or twice a day see i cant take it till at least 4 hrs after i take my thyriod meds which i take at 6am so if i take it like 12 or 1pm then again before i go to bed would that help or do i only need it once a day ?and yes the new internal medicine dr im going to may have me take a colonopcy however you spell it i had one a long time ago and everything was normal then.and happy st patty's day to you all .....

Hi Vickie,

Personally I have tried most of the fiber supplements...YUCK.... But you need to do what's best for you. If I had to go back to the supplements I would do pill or tablet supplements......I have a bad gag reflex, and thick things make me gag.....

I get ALL of my fiber intake from food. I eat mostly. Veggies, wild brown rice, oatmeal, salad, fruit, and sweet potatoes. I eat tons of this food a day. I get my protein from cheese, cottage cheese, chicken and tuna...

I eat NO processed foods, and very little (if any) bread, and pasta.

Exercise is important to keep things "moving" too I work out about 30 - 45 minutes 5x a week, on a treadmill, with a stepper, and 3 & 8 lbs weights, bands, stretchies, and workout videos and maintain a weight of 150 - 155 lbs.

Sid

Hello all, I like many of you am looking for ways to keep this from coming back. I've had 3 fairly severe attacks in the past 18 months (hospitalized once) and am still recovering from the last one. It's taking a long time to recover from this one and I'm on my third set of anti-biotics. I'd like to avoid surgery. Does anyone know of something or a combination of things that really work? Has anyone had surgery to correct this? How difficult was the recovery? There are so many products out there that I don't know what to try? Should I see some kind of natural doctor? My regular doctor just keeps giving me antibiotics and hardly talks about diet.

If there was a stamp that said STUPID I should have it on my forehead.I started bleeding off and on -on Feb23. I kept thinking I had an infection or something and it would go away. On Feb 27 I woke up to be totally wet. Turned lite on and was literally covered in blood. Stood up and passed out. Came to and knew I had to unlock my door for ambulance or family to come get me. I live alone. Passed out again, came to and crawled back to my bed and found my phone. My hound dog kept me alert the whole time by howling at me!! Called my parents to come get me. Went to the ER and no vitals were found. They finally found one on my ear and started to give me tranfusions and stabilize me. Then off to ICU. Got to experience the nasty gallon of GOLIGHTLY (rotten stuff) so I could have a colonoscopy. Dr. found a tear in my bowel and one diverticula and cauterized them. Thought that was that. 2 days later bled out again. So more Golightly and another colonoscopy. Could not see anything so Emergency Surgery that day and Surgeon found alot of diverticula on the underside of colon and removed 8". 12 units of blood, 4 plasma, 4 platelets and major IV's with vitamins here I am. Got neumonia (sp) while there and had to have lungs drained. Was in the hospital for 11 days total. I got out on the 10th of march and came back to work on the 13th. As for the question do I have to work, YES. Sucks but I have bills to pay and the hospital bill came and is $64,000 not including Doctors. From what I have been told I am very lucky to be alive. The ER doc said I had maybe 2 hours at the most before I would have died. I had no blood left in me. I feel like crap but it is Friday and I will rest alot this week-end. Thanks to everyone here, I love all the info that you are giving me. Thanks Dyana

Don - Sorry that you are having a diffcult time getting rid of this attack of Diverticulitis! What kind of tests have you had? Were many diverticula infected, or just one? I have had 2 attacks since 1995 - the first one was serious enough for hospitization, but I recognized the symptoms of the second one and luckily was able to take antibiotics at home.
Apparently, you also are aware of having an attack now that you know the symptoms. Many people have been helped with the operation to remove the part of the colon with the divertcula. You didn't say what you are taking now for fiber. I take the powdered Metamucil (psyllium) each night; and, I take more if I feel I need to. My doctor told me that this is the best way to stay regular and try to avoid future attacks. I also make sure to have lots of fiber-rich foods. We are fortunate that the foods now have the amount of fiber in them listed on the package. I try to get 25-30 grams of fiber daily.
However, if, despite eating lots of fiber and taking fiber supplements, you continue to have divertculitis attacks, you should talk with a specialist about the need for an operation. Good luck! :angel:

Hi Dyana,
I, too, was stupid and ignored all my symptoms, ending up in the hospital for almost a week! I was fortunate, though, and didn't have to have an operation. Since then I have had another attack but antibiotics taken at home cured that one.
You really must have a very strong constitution to have withstood all you have...I have read some of your earlier posts. You are very brave and have a positive outlook, which, I believe, is extremely important.
Good luck! :)

I never have diverticulitis attacked. No, I didn't have diverticulars. My new gastro dr said she'll have a look my CT films for me on the next appointment.

Dyana, do you have a CT abdomen? Are your diverticulars showing? Mine one showed multiple on CT but showed nothing at all in the colonoscopy! May be they're reading wrong. My body is very strange, I can said most of the tests that they are unable to interprete. Stress test - read all wrong. Echo - read all wrong. CT abdomen - read all wrong. X-ray chest - read all wrong. I don't know what I can believe to.

Hi, im sorry to hear that your friend tends to shut himself off from the outside world... This could be due to the way he has been treated by people/person in his past... i can relate to this as my ex couldn't cope with me being ill so he was quite negative towards me an emotionally abusieve when i had bad attacks of diverticulitis which resulted in me having 60% of my colon removed, then he couldn't accept the scarring... Still he is no longer in my life, as i have a new soul mate... Just would like to point out that Diverticular disease is not only caused by a low fibre diet but can be brought on by stress as i found out. Just stand by your friend and let him know that you care, if you have a re-occuring illness it does tend to get you down from time to time. Tessa

I just want to add that diet is really tricky with this disease. Some people have to stay away from any seeds (even poppy), lettuce, popcorn, nuts, raw vegetables...the list is long and I guess differs for everyone. Certain things will get caught no matter how much fiber you are getting and you have to avoid your trigger foods. It's some trial and error, unfortunately.

I'm new to this whole message board. I'm 33 and was told I had diverticulitus last Saturday in the ER. After five days I'm still feeling some pain but nothing nearly as bad as last Saturday.

Is this pain normal still after I have been taking antibiotics for 5 days?
I have not taken any pain medicine (vicatin since Mon).

I'm still in a little shock that I have this, I'm pretty fit and thought I was eating good, I always have been pretty well hydrated most of the time, so I don't know.

Thanks

Diverticuars are caused mainly by gettting constipated and developing a small pocket in the colon that gets infected by food particules stuck there.
It just has to happen once to produce the diver pockets. And once you have them -- they don't go away.
The infection can reoccur depending on your diet.

Here are some answers to some of the OP's original questions.

Emotional effects?

Well since it's most commonly found in older people, finding out you have it at a very early age could be rough for him. It might be hard too knowing that it will come and go when it pleases, and require those nasty meds to hopefully make it go away. Then there is always that question in your mind wondering if one day out of the blue it could rupture inside of you spilling the digestive contents into your abdominal cavity. Some thoughts he might be having is will I lose my job if I'm out with surgery, or have to keep missing weeks of work to be hospitalized on IVs.

Hereditary?

Yes. I was told there is a 50/50 chance to have it. Well my father and his identical twin brother both have it. I have 3 brothers, and so far I'm the only one who has it. Most of the articles I read say it's from eating this, not eating enough of that. The bottom line is I have had symptoms of this since I was a teenager, so how bad could my eating really have affected it? Another thing I constantly read is how it's usually caused from frequent constipation. I can count the times on my hand that I have been constipated, and it's usually from pain meds that did it. The best advice I can give you is don't eat the things that bother you. I have heard doctors say don't eat any seeds etc.., and then others say eat whatever you like. Certain foods always cause problems for me. It's not worth eating strawberries to me if it causes the pain that it does.

Will he need more surgery?

Well again this goes back to the emotional part. With this diverticulitis even after surgery it can come back in another section. I know people who have it that soon as they get symptoms they only drink wonton broth till it goes away. The problem is if it ruptures you have no choice for more surgery. If it just constantly is coming back then you have the choice of dealing with the nasty meds (flagyl), or setting up the time to get another surgery done if the bouts are that frequent.

Physical effects long/short?

Well short term usually is pretty painful and obvious that it's back. Sometimes it starts with feeling pain in the infected area a few seconds before you feel like you need to have a bowel movement. Sometimes if your holding number 1 long enough you will feel pain in your on your bladder (where the infected part is lying up against it). Sometimes you will wake up in the middle of the night with terrible pain and have to run to the bathroom. I can recall countless nights of being in the bathroom for 2-4 hours just feeling like your gonna die. I've learned it's better to stay there till you know that episode passed instead of making emergency trips from your bedroom to the bathroom.

The long term effects with me at least is it really never goes away. I still feel it all the time. It's not always painful, but it reminds me every now and then, every few weeks or so that it's still there and not going away. This current bout I'm dealing with wasn't as painful as the last ones, but the pain against the bladder was a new symptom. I have been off the antibiotics for about a week, and it's not better. The problem with me is I can't miss any work. So the only way I'll be able to get mine taken care of is if it becomes an emergency situation. I missed a good portion of the year early on with a lamenectomy, bone graf, and spinal fusion. If I miss anymore time time (like in the case of needing a resection) they will fire me. (back to the mental part again)

How painful?

I covered that on the last question. The mental, and physical toll depends really on the person. In a perfect situation we would go in and have a resection fixing the problem and go on with our lives. The reality is that
life happens. I can't go schedule surgery without losing my job. If an emergency comes, then there is no choice for me. I'm also planning on going back to school next semester, and worrying how it will effect me. If I have to go spend a week in the hospital, or get a resection done etc... It plays on your mind a lot.

Lat year I had diverticulitis, 4 days of IV antiboitics, then a week later it perforated and I had an emergency colostomy. Had that for three months and a reversal in Jan. My concern is that I still don't know what the symptoms are early in an attack and what to do to prevent a recurrence. Both my drs. say not to add fiber because my bowels move 6-8 times a day ( no diarrhea). They say I am eating alright, but I'm afraid to eat too much of anything. I have pain when my bladder is full and this is the first place I've seen that mentioned. I didn't know I had it until the attack, thought I had IBS or was lactose intolerant and maybe I am. How do I know which it is? I always have cramping and hurrying to the bathroom so have nothing to base a "normal" on. Am on Asacol now for what dr. determined is a flare-up again and its working alright. Have pain and fullness when I eat like its sitting just below the sternum and that scares me to. I just want to know what to do to prevent more problems, I can't afford to be off work for 4 months again!

I can't afford to be off work for 4 months again!

I hear you there. I was off 3 months earlier this year for major back surgery, and the diverticulitis is just like a time bomb for me. I pretty much can't miss any work until next year since I used most of the family leave act when I was out for my back. I'm still having dull pains in the area, and even had a brief painful attack where I was running back and forth to the bathroom. If I went back to my doctor I know he would have me get a cat scan, and probably make me go to the hospital for the IV. I just can't do that unless my body gives me no other choice at this point.

The bladder pain for me was a new symptom this bout. I haven't had that before. I usually have the dull pain when you walk, and the painful pressure before and during bowel movements. I usually get the night sweats too. When I had the bladder pain (when I held it too long before going number 1 at times).

I think in my case the part of my colon that is causing the pain is near to my bladder. When I let my bladder fill up too much it is pushing against that section irritating each other. Make sure you mention that to your doctor though. It sounds like if your having urinary tract infections, then this could be why.

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So Am I correct and reading some of the posts here that even tho' I had a resection that I can still have more attacks? I still do have many diverticula left. Wonderful, sorry about the attitude, I just hate the problems. Good luck to all. Dyana

Unfortunately, yes you can still have it come back. My Dad has had 3 surgeries for his so far.

I just want to add that diet is really tricky with this disease. Some people have to stay away from any seeds (even poppy), lettuce, popcorn, nuts, raw vegetables...the list is long and I guess differs for everyone. Certain things will get caught no matter how much fiber you are getting and you have to avoid your trigger foods. It's some trial and error, unfortunately.

you're right what you wrote about what we have to watch what we eat and drink. i have ibs, diverticulitus and am lactose intolerant. i had a colonoscopy and it and the doctor said no cancer:) but.... all this:(

I'm new to this whole message board. I'm 33 and was told I had diverticulitus last Saturday in the ER. After five days I'm still feeling some pain but nothing nearly as bad as last Saturday.

Is this pain normal still after I have been taking antibiotics for 5 days?
I have not taken any pain medicine (vicatin since Mon).

I'm still in a little shock that I have this, I'm pretty fit and thought I was eating good, I always have been pretty well hydrated most of the time, so I don't know.

Thanks
I feel for you. I'm 39 and just had a Sigmoid Colon Resection on 1/3/08. Before the surgery, I had an attack (perforation) in 2/2007 which lead me to the E.R. for a 4 day stint w/IV Meds. Then, once again in Oct. 2007 (abcess) which also required hospitalization. My elective surgery was scheduled for 1/3/08 which thank gosh they could still do the procedure lapryscopically because I wound up in the E.R. 4 days early with another rupture which basically exploded. There was tons of air in my abdomen-the infection went crazy.
Don't sit on this. Take charge of the situation now. With folks our age-it's basically a 2 strikes and your out. The chance of reoccurance is extremely high. They, then will recommend the elective procedure. I wish I would have done it after the 1st episode.
I didn't like having the surgery under these conditions at all! I was at the hospital for 10 days total. I'm starting to feel better and the staples come out tomorrow a.m. Although, I don't know how to eat anymore or what will be the best exercises to get me back into shape again. I feel UGH!!!

Hello all, I like many of you am looking for ways to keep this from coming back. I've had 3 fairly severe attacks in the past 18 months (hospitalized once) and am still recovering from the last one. It's taking a long time to recover from this one and I'm on my third set of anti-biotics. I'd like to avoid surgery. Does anyone know of something or a combination of things that really work? Has anyone had surgery to correct this? How difficult was the recovery? There are so many products out there that I don't know what to try? Should I see some kind of natural doctor? My regular doctor just keeps giving me antibiotics and hardly talks about diet.
I'm 39 and just had a Sigmoid Colon Resection on 1/3/08. Before the surgery, I had an attack (perforation) in 2/2007 which lead me to the E.R. for a 4 day stint w/IV Meds. Then, once again in Oct. 2007 (abcess) which also required hospitalization. My elective surgery was scheduled for 1/3/08 which thank gosh they could still do the procedure lapryscopically because I wound up in the E.R. 4 days early with another rupture which basically exploded. There was tons of air in my abdomen-the infection went crazy.
Don't sit on this. Take charge of the situation now. With being a younger age-it's basically a 2 strikes and your out. The chance of reoccurance is extremely high. They, then will recommend the elective procedure. I wish I would have done it after the 1st episode.
I didn't like having the surgery under these conditions at all! I was at the hospital for 10 days total. I'm starting to feel better and the staples come out tomorrow a.m. Although, I don't know how to eat anymore or what will be the best exercises to get me back into shape again. I feel UGH!!!

Vickie,

You need to take 25 to 35 grams of fiber daily to have normal BMs and drink enough water daily-- 6 to 8 glasses. It need to be a combination of both soluble and insoluble fiber.

I have been using psyllium for 23 years twice daily-- and I use the powder type that you mix with water. I take about 7 or 8 grams daily. It is safe to take daily and it bulks up your stool and will help make you regular along with the other fiber you eat in your diet.

I like the powder type because it is well dispersed in the water. I use the orange flavored sugar free type from Wal Mart-- the Equate Brand.

Taking the Metamucil capsules requires too many to be of any help-- I think each one is only 500 mgm so to get 7 grams daily -- you'll need 14 capsule -- I think a little much to deal with.
The largest cap I have seen on the market is sold by the Vitamin Shoppe and it is 870mgrams per capsule. My wife takes 4 after breakfast and 4 after supper -- it seems to work fine for her.

As you know colon cancer is the #2 cause of cancer deaths is the US. Increasing your fiber intake will certainly help your probems with diverticulars as well as reduce your cancer risk!!

God Bless---Harry

Harry
i have tried the powder stuff and the capsels and i drink water but just 3 glasses but im planning to start drinking 6 now also you say we need 25 grams of fiber a day right ,well this new chewable tablets of fiber choise is 2 grams per tablet so id have to take heck alot to make 25 grams in a day and the stuff was 13.00 for 90 tablets i think i wasted my money here,
also what is psyllium ? and you say you only take 7-8 grams daily so if i took some of that psyllium your talking about and drink 6 glasses of water it should help right?? also does Diverticulitus cause both like the constipation and the loose stools as well? plus sorry i know this sounds yukie but does any of you have the hard balls as well ? i have ate fiber cereal and certain foods but i do need to start as of today to drink the 6 glasses of water i drank 3 yesterday so by drinking the water will help wont it plus how much is that psyllium at wal-mart and is that the name of it?? and how long would it take to start working and how often would i need to take it like once or twice a day or 3 times a day i get pretty bad. and if they can ,can a dr fix this trouble with surgery and if so how sucessfull is it im terrifed about surgery the way it is because of my last surgery i had .and do you have any idea how we get this? and you know someone on the board said something about colon cancer well my dad died 7 yrs ago from colon cancer and my sister has had it since she was 25 but has been in remission shes 52 and its come back .and also im seeing a colon dr friday jan 25th because not only am i constipated and at times have the loose like stools im also bleeding down there as well and my stomach hurts like crazy everyday and i took stuff to help clean me out and sometimes that dont even help i took dalcalax 2 tablets i took for 3 days and just a little came out and the next day i felt worse so im seeing the dr but in the mean time im going to drink the water and also can a ulcer make you bleed down there if its a bleeding ulcer?? i had a colon /and scope done back in march 07 they found nothing .but i just started getting worse in the past couple mos.
thanks
vickie

Once more time, Jan 2008. My colonoscopy showed a clear picture. I didn't have one diverticular left. It has done by other side of the town.