IC combined with DD

[Boni]

Oh, Joy.

Somehow I have managed to stack Diverticulitis Disease on top of IC. How do we spell pain? This has moved the word flare to a whole new level for me!

Came down with this two weeks ago out of the blue, had no idea of any problems.

Wheeling me into the emergency room doubled over in pain they asked me if I have any other problems. When i explain to the intake nurse I have IC, why do I get that look that says, "Huh?"

Long story short, I have been on pain meds, high doses of antibiotics that would stop a plague in it's tracks and nurturing my bladder so it doesn't get angry or jealous.

Has anyone out there had this terrible DD happen to them along with IC?

What in the WORLD am I ever going to be able to eat now?

arrrgggh.....

[rangerwife75]

I was just diagnosed with diverticulitis too (as in an hour ago!). Wondering how you adjusted your diet? I have zero information as this came as a total shock to me.

Would love to see how your life has been with IC and diverticulitis over the past 8 months or so.

[Boni]

Sorry it took so long to reply toyour post.

Diverticulitis is a strange condition. It comes on you at rare times and the flare ups are awful. It's very scary. I have NEVER had pain like that in my colon and combined with IC it's gets even scarier.

I haven't changed my diet too much, but I do avoid spicy foods and foods that cause gas, like broccoli. If I get gas it hurts really bad. Generally the diet for IC is the same as DD except you must be careful with veggies because they can cause gas. We with IC need to stay alkaline and veggies take us there, so it is a balance.

Try not to take Vicodin or any drugs for pain that are constipating drugs, and many of them are. My GI doc gave me something called Hyosamine for pain and it works if I get spasms in my rectum or colon.

Try to stay calm. I have found that stress aggravates it. I'm trying yoga and I'm amazed at how relaxing it can be and helpful.

Good luck. Hope some of this helps.

Boni

[rangerwife75]

Thanks so much for replying.

Last Wednesday, the pain came on very suddenly and was severe. All I had eaten was a turkey sandwich without condiments so I was racking my brain trying to figure out what in the world caused my IC to flare like it did! I immediately thought IC when it struck but the next day realized it was concentrated on my left side.

Everyone who I've said something to says something along the lines of "my grandmother has that" or "you aren't suppose to get that until you're OLD"....I'm 35. Well, leave it to me. I wasn't SUPPOSE to get IC either but what can you do?

The doctor finally called me back and told me to stick to "mushy" white refined starches and soft meats with no more than 1g of fiber per serving. So I've been eating white rice, mashed potatoes (no skin), scrambled eggs, white bread, etc. I'm going to double my weight! haha

After I eat, the pain intensifies again. Does that mean I'm eating something wrong or that's just part of this? He has me taking Cipro and Flagyl with Lortab for pain (taking as little as possible - had one in the past few days). I'm using the heating pad around the clock. I don't feel like I can take these meds without food but the food causes pain!

After an attack, how long do you wait to start adding back foods with fiber?

My husband is a pastry chef and I keep getting all these conditions where food causes pain. How cruel is that?!

[Boni]

Yes, the pain is horrible. I thought I had the flu and I kept lying aorund waiting to get better and kept getting worse. Finally, I asked my husband to take me into the ER and I had to be in a wheelchair I couldn't walk. They simply said Diverticulitis take the cipro and whatever. Not really any nutritional information. You will find that people are real vague about what to tell you to eat. You do NOT want any lettuce at all right now. Just soft creamy foods until it calms down. Like mashed potatoes, pudding, stuff like that. I lost 8 lbs.

The antibiotics are like horse pills but they will knock down the infection. WHat was tough for me was while i was in the ER they wanted me to drink the barium stuff and wait 2 hours before they took the scan. Well, there is no way I am going to drink green citrus liquids with an IV hooked up to me and not have to pee like a race horse in 10 minutes, but, I did ok.

I learned that when we get sick and have to go to the hospital it's not like normal people. IC cripples you. You have to do an end run around everything because of the possibility of a flare. It's like a huge secret that you live with but when it comes time to share it with the world you just wnat to throw up your hands and yell, ITS TOO COMPLICATED....

Once you gag down all those antibiotics, you will feel better. Don't eat lettuce or anything that will cause gas or this dreaded rumbling that will take place in your guts. Just eat soft foods easy to digest. Your intestines are in a state of flux.

It's very hard to find anyone who will tell you what to eat. Lots of diets differ just like with IC. Basically, get a good doctor who can help you and coax you through this and who is sensitive to IC at the same time. You will be talked into a colonoscopy soon.

HAng in there.

Boni

[Boni]

ps: I waited a couple weeks before I added my foods back in. I eat whatever I want now.