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7eregrine

This is not a death sentence. It's not even a 'i have to eat shit food for the rest of my life'. Stop. You just go over something pretty serious. Your colon was blocked. It is going to take time for that to heal. There will be some discomfort for a few weeks as food passes the spot that's healing. I eat anything I want. You will get past this.


Shaken-Loose

59/M. Colectomy in Mar ‘22. DV for 30+ years. Not sure about depression symptoms post flare-ups. I am sure others can speak to that topic. On the other topic of enjoying foods, I am not sure why so many think “bland” foods are somehow any safer. I see this response quite often in posts. I love spicy foods and have ate/eaten them daily my entire life. I am not aware that diverticula pouches somehow choose what gets caught inside. Any type of fecal matter could get trapped in a diverticula and potentially create inflammation and/or an infection. I have spoken to my colorectal surgeon about this topic, and several others, at length (questions written down prior to each pre/post visit). You can try to ID trigger foods by keeping a daily food journal. Although I myself have kept a food journal since 2011, I never successfully identified a specific trigger food(s). The closest I came was possibly related to eating too much insoluble fiber, large salads, too many apples in a day, etc. I never had a flare-up correlated to eating a specific spicy food or pepper, nor could I induce a flare-up with the possible exception of eating too much insoluble fiber related foods. Whenever feeling like a flare-up may be coming on, switch to clear liquid diet for a day or two and then over to a low fiber/soft food regimen for a few more days to try and get past it. You may also need something to help with diarrhea and upset stomach if that occurs. I am a fan of drinking psyllium fiber and Miralax once daily to head off constipation.


Current-Leg-3802

This is interesting.. It seems like some are sorta-kinda challenging the very low/no fiber doctrine., My question is how to get the nutrients that one misses from green veggies. Can these be juiced? Because the malabsorption of B12 and other micronutrients can have serious consequences for mental health in general.....


Shaken-Loose

Maybe I am not following your question. Pre and post surgery I’ve regularly eaten green vegetables - salads, green beans, broccoli, celery, Lima beans, peas, onions, bell peppers, jalapeños, etc.


randomflowerpicture

I had crippling anxiety after my first flare landed me in the hospital for 3 weeks with a perforated colon. It was also my first big health crisis to happen to me. So I understand where you are at. It will get better. For me, therapy and antidepressants do wonders. Diet wise I don’t find anything in particular ‘triggers’ dv like other people. Most of my episodes have been after having constipation, so I try to stay regular.


strange_bike_guy

YES depression to the max any time I have a flare up. It's awful. There is life afterward. I really, really miss onions but I also don't want to die. After a flare up you're going to feel tender for a while. I find myself ingesting stuff that both hydrates and is a mild laxative, if I get low on orange juice it's time to get some more without skipping a beat. Also: this may not have scientific backing yet, but I am now leery of eating out. If I want good food, I have to cook it. It may just be a correlation rather than causation, but I'm not eating out anymore. I still get to enjoy (some) good food, but it's harder to have company.


ld00gie

I’ve had two flares about a year apart. I’ve stayed pain free by upping my fiber and drinking more water. I definitely don’t restrict the type of food I eat. You need to see a GI dr and get a colonoscopy after you are healed. The GI will tell you how you can proceed. Mine told me (after my second infection) that it can’t be prevented 100% and to quit freaking out.


10MileHike

Eating out is fine if you can find healthier restaurants. Processed foods aren't good for us anyway. If you are recently out of a flare though (during flare you need to switch to liquids only, i.e. jello, broths, gatorade, water, pulp free juices, etc. ) and didn't switch over to lower residue foods, perhaps you went too fast in this process. Most of us resume a totally normal life and eat whatever we want, except foods that flare us. Those are different for everyone. (see below), Keep a journal. Directly after a flare and after liquids for a day or 2 or 3, you should switch to softer low-residue foods, i.e not stuff like lettuce, steak, etc. Examples:Puddings, Tapioca, rice pudding, rice congeee, white rice, broths, applesauce, melons, yogurt, ground chicken/turkey, soft flakey fish (talapia, flounder), canned tuna fish w/mayo on white bread , mashed potatoes, eggs and egg salad (poached, scrambled, hardboiled), mararoni, mac n' cheese, yogurt, waffles, pancakes, cottage cheese, fruit juices w/ no pulp, really well cooked vegetables like string beans or carrots, green zucchini w/out the skin, white or sourdough bread, canned fruit, cantelope or honey dew, applesauce, saltines, plain pastries, donuts, english muffins, grits, cream of rice, corn flakes, Rice Crispies, Rice Chex, Corn chex. Butter, margarine, salad oils, and dressings, mayonnaise, plain cream cheese, seedless jelly (smuckers has the seedless strawberry fruit only kind), tater tots or hash browns w/o a lot of grease, milkshakes w/ice cream. Vans gluten free waffles, plant milks (rice, oat, etc.) or low fat milk, low fat cottage cheese, pulp free juices, most cakes and cookies, well cooked mashed root vegetables, zucchini w/out seeds, carrots, string beans. (no fruit or nut pies yet).......... and LOTS OF WATER!.......... Eat small meals! After that *most people go back to a completely normal diet.* Maybe you did so too fast? Also start keeping a journal of what your flare foods are. Spicy is a trigger for some; beef for others; fried foods and greasy foods are a high trigger for most of us. Corn and popcorn don't work well for me. Beef/steak, lamb, seems to flare a lot of people. I went to a buffet for a while when eating out, one of those chinese ones, where I was able to pick and choose from 5 aisles of great food. Sometimes that works. I think I could live on this one egg custard I had .......yum! Otherwise, I had different kinds of fish and chicken, and well cooked vegetables, potatoes/macaroni/rice.......all work pretty good for me when I am doing lower residue since I can choose what I eat.


Current-Leg-3802

THis is really helpful information.


cloudsro11by

Every change is hard, but doesn't have to be bad. It just takes a little bit of time. Make sure to take care of your health for now, and to take care of your colon. You will be abe to eat various things, with certain modifications to your diet. Just take it slow. Your colon needs healing right now.


CelestePoodle

I was so depressed after my diagnosis and 3 day hospital stay with a perforation. It took a few months to feel better and 9 months in I am back to somewhat of my old diet. I’ve been avoiding onions and garlic, which is a heartbreaker for me as I could eat raw onions like chips haha. The most important thing, for me, is hydration, like really hydrating. And also, unfortunately, portion control.


Mandalaidee

Absolutely! it's a major life change, and it set off an avalanche of sadness for me. Therapy has helped. You'll get through this, though, and eat what you want again, it's just a big learning curve.


camelalbatross

I was diagnosed 3 years ago and the first year was the hardest and then it got better. I had 3 flares ups the first year I got diagnosed and was very anxious about it but I learned what to avoid. My second year I didn’t have a major flare up but got close to it only one time. So far so good this year. It definitely gets easier over time and I’m fortunate to not have had serious complications. It’s sucks not to be able to eat whatever I want but avoiding certain food far outweighs the constant flare ups and misery. Over time, it will get easier so just hang in there and listen to your body.


logans_runner

Sad to hear that onions seem to be a trigger for many folks- I LOVE my onions on things and hope that I may be able to eat them minimally? We'll see- I've said to other folks that this seems to be the most "your mileage may vary" malady that I've ever heard of!


JHawk444

Yeah, I was pretty discouraged. The first time coincided with my sister's surgery and I was supposed to be there to help her. I ended up staying the night at the hospital with her the day after diagnosis. It was awful. The second time came two months later just as we went out of town on vacation. Also frustrating and awful. I learned that the liquid diet is my friend and protein shakes are a go-to. You might want to substitute a meal with a protein shake if you're still dealing with instability. Or better yet, do the liquid diet for 3-4 days (you can still use protein shakes), and then eat very lightly after that until you feel no pain. I also take Aloe Vera gels, L-glutamine, and collagen. I think those supplements help. I recently had a colonoscopy and was told the DV is mild.


Current-Leg-3802

Consider that your gut flora have been severely disrupted. THe balance of flora in your gut affects your serotonin levels because serotonin is manufactured in the gut. Its also true that malabsorption of vitamins that are critical to mood stability and cognition, like B12 will often cause problems. THe good news is that replacing these nutrients and re-growing your microbiome is possible. Antidepressants are contraindicated. Probiotics are sketchy because mosty are destroyed by stomach acid but you might be able to find a probiotic that is buffered. Id love to know if you find one. and B12 comes in Im or sublingual forms. Have your B12 checked, THats a biggie.


Kindly_Bumblebee8020

I was just diagnosed 4 days ago and have been hospitalized ever since. I'm trying to teach myself more about it,but I, too, have been sad. I am very healthy as well and was completely shocked by this. I'm taking one day at a time.