Diverticulosis/Diverticulitis/IBS?

[vanhorn101]

I have had Irritible Bowel Syndrome for ten years. In the last year I have had bouts of sever pain in my left abdominal area. In November I was given a sigmoidiscope and barium enema and was diagnosed with Diverticulosis. I was told to eat more fiber but not given any other guidelines. Since that time I have had severe abdominal cramps similar to menstrual cramps, nausea, gas, and bouts of acid reflux. My doctor prescribed Donnatal for the pain but I don't know what to do about the cramping. It is miserable. Should I not eat the fiber because the cramping is a symptom of Diverticulitis? I have an appointment with my doctor next week but I don't think he will be much help since he didn't even discuss his findings from my testing with me, just mailed me a brochure to read. What do you think my problem is? Or is it all in my head?

[Wowwweee]

dear VanHorne;
My father has had diverticulitis for the past 25 years and had several bad attacks way back when. He has not had any attacks for atleast 20 years. What he was told to do was to stay away from all pits, seeds, nuts, etc.
Since Diverticulitis is a forming of pockets in the Colon you want to make sure nothing can get into the pockets to cause them to become infected. Secondly, he was told to keep stress under control as it can cause the Diverticulitis to become irritated.
He also was perscribed Donnatol and to this day keeps them on hand just for a safety precaution.
I know he eats Bran in one form or another(cereal, Bran muffins, etc). Try Bran but take huge amounts. Start slow and build up a tolerance for it. Make sure you drink plenty of water in order for your bowels to work properly. Eating Bran without drinking sufficient
water could make you quite constipated.
Follow these simple rules and you'll be just fine.
Take your donnatol if you have to( Donnatol slows down the digestive system having a calming effect on the intestinal tract) so use a half pill. You may at sometime have to take 2 pills. They give you dry mouth and make you tired. They are a combination of Belladonna and Phennabarbitol.

[Wowwweee]

Dear Vanhorn 101;
I didn't finish my 1st reply to you. The Donnatol will take care of the cramping. My Father was told to take Donnatol for a full month when he was first diagnosed. Of course he didn't have to.
I'm sure you'll do just fine. Oh by the way, my father doesn't eat tomatoes or corn because the tomato seeds or the kernels can lodge in the pockets. Just use common sense about what you eat and you'll be okay.
I'd like to know how you progress. If your Doctor isn't giving you much help I would think of changing Doctors.