another newbie here....CC and diverticulosis!

[doranna]

I was just diagnosed with CC about a week ago. I had issues all my life (I'm now 52), about 7-8 weeks ago D started and progressively got worse. I was up every night. Went to the gastro specialist, all tests were normal. So, had to have the dreaded colonoscopy. He said I had moderate-severe diverticulosis and my colon looked OK. Biopsies showed CC. Now I'm on Entocort and it's helping. I guess I'm curious about a few things....anyone have both of these problems? How do you manage both with diet? Fiber is good for one and not for the other. I also carry a high pressure in my eyes and am worried about the steroids affecting them. I feel like I grew very old in the last 2 months. Any help would be appreciated!

Thank you,
Doreen

[Jan]

Welcome to the site Doreen. Sorry you had to find us.

I understand your dilemma over fiber. I had a lot of problems with fiber in that it created much diarrhea for me. Hopefully the Entrocort can help bring that under control so you can add fiber back in. There are different kinds of fiber so maybe you can find one that doesn't bring on the dreaded D. I would suggest you keep a diary of how different foods affect you to help you find a balance.

As far as your eye pressure goes, Entrocort doesn't create the side effects that other steriods do. Only about 15% is absorbed into the rest of the body. It is designed to work in the intestines.

Good luck on your journey. Ask any and all questions.

Jan

[hoosier1]

Hi Doreen,

Having two problems... I think I can relate.

Whenever I try fiber, I get a serious rebound effect.

I think, IMHO, that you want to stay on a low residual diet. I have been thinking about experimenting with Citrucell in small doses. Perhaps you could try that. But I have found that fiber is pretty abusive to my LC (which I think is really the beginning of UC).

For the pain of your diverticulosis, I wonder if Bentyl would help? I think I read on another board that others get much success from it. Plus, it has a tendency to bind one up a bit.

Good luck. I sure hope you find the balance you so deserve (that all of you deserve).

Rich

[tex]

Hi Doreen,

Welcome to our internet family.

anyone have both of these problems? How do you manage both with diet? Fiber is good for one and not for the other. I also carry a high pressure in my eyes and am worried about the steroids affecting them. I feel like I grew very old in the last 2 months. Any help would be appreciated!

I had both. I say "had", because I no longer have a colon, (due to an unrelated problem). Since fiber will keep an MC flare going indefinitely, it is not an option in the diet, if we're going to effectively control MC. For that matter, I never could see that fiber was much of a benefit for my diverticulitis, anyway.

I controlled my MC by diet alone, so steroids were not a problem.

When my MC was active, I swear that I appeared to age 15 to 20 years, during a period of about 3 or 4 years. Every time I looked in the mirror, I looked older.

Again, welcome aboard.

Tex (Wayne)

[tex]

Rich,

FWIW, "binding up" is probably not a good idea with diverticulitis. Diverticulitis involves putrefying pockets of fermenting "stuff", and the sooner one get's it out of the body, the better, since it can cause perforations, and all sorts of bad things, if it sticks around long enough.

Tex

[Gloria]

Welcome to the board, Doreen!

A diagnosis of diverticulosis does not guarantee that you will have a diverticulitis attack.

50% of people are thought to have diverticulosis by the age of 50, while 70% probably have it by the age of 80. Experts say that three-quarters of people with diverticulosis will never experience any symptoms (asymptomatic diverticulosis). The remaining quarter who do have symptoms have diverticular disease.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/152995.php

I was diagnosed with diverticulitis before I had MC. I avoided seeds and set out to greatly increase my fiber intake. I began making and purchasing bread with as high of a fiber content I could. I used soybean flour, whole wheat flour and seeds, etc. I believe that all of that fiber and gluten irritated an already sensitive colon and probably helped promote my MC. The other factor that likely contributed to it was taking two different antibiotics when I had a diverticulitis attack.

You may be one of the 75% of people with diverticulosis who will never experience any symptoms. I'm not a doctor, but I would recommend that you focus on the disease that is causing symptoms.

I am not eating high-fiber foods because they irritate my colon. Most of us with MC must avoid all high fiber foods, including nuts, popcorn, and salads because they aggravate our MC. The gut has to heal and putting high fiber into it is similar to putting sand on a wound.

Please read as much as you can on this board - there is a lot of material and experience here. You have found the most informative and supportive group for MC on the Internet. We are here to help you. No question is embarrassing to us; we've probably experienced similar symptoms.

Gloria

[ant]

Welcome Doreen, form Hong Kong. This is the best place for advise and support. I hope you can be guided to remission. As I am sure you have read it takes time and for many of us quite I few ups and downs. But things do get better.

All the best, Ant

[MBombardier]

Welcome, Doreen!

I feel the same way you do--my body has let me down, and I no longer feel half my age, but more like drawing up a rocking chair. When I had my colonoscopy in September, I was diagnosed with a pre-cancerous polyp and diverticulosis as well as CC. In my own health care, I am more concerned about the CC, as the diverticulosis is not causing me any problems. However, I am concerned about the CC manifesting itself as constipation, as it sometimes will do for some of us. If/when that happens, I will start back on the fresh fruit for as long as it takes the fiber in the blueberries and whatever else I throw in my smoothie to work.

Again, welcome! This forum is an amazing place to learn, and has helped me immensely to live well (even in the few weeks I've been here) with this disease.

[GRB]

I'd like to join everyone else in welcoming you Doreen. I'm new to this as well and I've found so much help here. I was lucky to find this excellent group of people early in my disease and have been helped so much in learning how to live with my CC.

Welcome.

[Gabes-Apg]

Doreen

welcome to the group, gday from australia



I too have had digestion issues all my life, although the diagnosis of MC is not what anyone would want, knowing what i have and all the wisdom of the wonderful people here means I can manage it.

lots of us have varying medical issues with the MC (and varying symptoms caused by the MC) the simpliest way to explain it is, there is no right way or wrong way, there is your way.
what works for one person may not work for another, there will be lots of learnings as you figure out what works best for you.

I am 11 months post diagnosis, using diet only to manage the MC.

good luck absorbing all the information

take care

[MaggieRedwings]

Welcome Doreen!

No experience with two problems at the same time but I am sure with all of the information you have already received you will be able to start on a journey to better health. No fiber for me as it is something that really sets a flare off. I would deal with the CC first and let the diverticulitis rest for a while - it may never surfact if you are one of the ones where it just stays in the background.

Again, welcome and feel free to chime in on any questions, suggestions, etc.

Maggie