Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to The New Coffee Room. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Diverticultits - recipes and advice
Topic Started: Jan 14 2006, 05:41 AM (580 Views)
Fish
Advanced Member
Hi everyone :wave:

Long time no post ... although I have been lurking!

My mom is in hospital with an attack of acute diverticulitis. Diverticulitis is a condition where weak spots develop in your intestine. These develop into little bags. Things get stuck in the little bags, it gets infected and then you get very sick. Eeeeeeeuw!

We hope she'll be coming out of hospital on Monday, when she will also be able to eat again. For those of you who cook, does anyone have any ideas for delicious soft food that's kind to dodgy insides? I am not good on the cooking front but I would like to be able to look after her properly when she comes out.

For the medical bods out there, does anyone have any advice about diverticulitis? I am meeting with my mom and her doctors on Monday morning to discuss long term solutions. She frequently gets diverticulitis attacks. They come on suddenly and incapacitate her completely, although this is the first time she has been hospitalised. I believe the diverticuli can sometimes be closed with lasers, or otherwise you can operate out the damaged part of the intestine - but I think my mom's diverticulitis is too bad for either of these. Yesterday they were mentioning a stomata (?) which I believe involves a colostomy bag. Eeeeeeeuw, again. Is there anything you can suggest, or that we should definitely avoid?

With many thanks.
~Andrea.


Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
apple
one of the angels
i love rice pudding.. slowly cooked atop the stop w/ milk and sugar - here's a fancy recipe

Creamy Rice Pudding Recipe
Creamy Rice Pudding Recipe ingredients
1 quart rich milk
˝ cup rice, scant
1/3 cup sugar
Grated yellow rind of˝ lemon
A pinch of salt
instructions
To prepare this Creamy Rice Pudding Recipe, first wash the rice thoroughly by putting it into a dish, pouring hot water over it, and whipping it with a batter whip, then pouring off the water, repeating the process till the water remains clear. Be careful to grate off only the yellow part of the lemon rind. Put all the ingredients into a pudding dish. Cover the dish, set in the oven, and bake very slowly till the rice is tender. The pudding should be stirred occasionally during the cooking. When the pudding is nearly done, the cover may be removed to allow the top of the pudding to brown.

Success in making this pudding depends entirely on the baking. It should be bake slowly, until the rice is thoroughly tender, but not too long; for if baked too long, the pudding will be too dry. It is best served the day after it is made, and should be of a rich, creamy consistency when cold; some might enjoy it served hot. One-eighth package of raisins may be added to the pudding, if desired.

it behooves me to behold
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
sue
Member Avatar
HOLY CARP!!!
So sorry to hear about your mum, Andrea. Hope all goes well for both of you.

I would think (non medical opinion here) that sugar would be a bad thing, but I guess you'll find out from the doctors. Lots of plain, healthy yogurt, maybe?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
AlbertaCrude
Bull-Carp
Hi Fish. About 25 years ago my father had acute diverticulitis that ruptured the lower bowel and peritonitis set in. At that time he had to undergo emergency surgery and have 14" inches of bowel removed and a colostomy for three or four months. After the three months or so the surgeon went back in and put all the plumbing back together. He has never had a relapse since and he is now 86 years old.

I can't say that his diet changed much at all since the operation, except that he makes certain that he eats plenty of salads.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
***musical princess***
Member Avatar
HOLY CARP!!!
I'm sorry to hear about your mam Andrea. :( I hope you are both doing ok. :hug:

Soup is always a good thing. :smile:

x
x Caroline x
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
bachophile
Member Avatar
HOLY CARP!!!
great. finally a subject which right up my alley.

diverticulosis is the condition, (which is extreemly common in the western world with its high meat low fiber diets) which the colon, usually the left colon, develops outpouchings (diverticules) due to high pressures developing within the colon and the muscular wall thinning with age.

diverticulitis is the condition in which one some of the diverticules makes a small perforation and local infection. chronic diverticulitis can cause intermittent crampy pain and discomfort due to the repeated inflammatory attacks constricting the caliber of the bowel.

Posted Image

treatment-first case, usually bowel rest and antibiotics, unless u have full blown peritonitis like AC's dad which would need emergency surgery.

However, repeated attacks is certainly a reasonable indication for elective surgery to remove the offending piece of bowel. also, statistically, after having more then 2 attacks of diverticulitis, the chance of recurrence goes up very high (above 50%) so it just gets worse, not better.

also, planning elective surgery obviates the risk of having emergency surgery which most likely would involve a colostomy. elective surgery can be done without. also, if u have a skilled surgeon, it can be done safely laparoscopically (what u called laser, but its still abdominal surgery).

if she really refuses surgery,( or she has medical issues which could make surgery more dangerous) the only other alternative is to follow a strict high fiber diet, to increase stool bulk and possibly decrease the incidence of perforation, although this is only in theory, and the risk of recurrence remains high.

anyway, thats what u need to know about diverticular disease. ill be happy to answer any other questions u may have.

"I don't know much about classical music. For years I thought the Goldberg Variations were something Mr. and Mrs. Goldberg did on their wedding night." Woody Allen
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
DivaDeb
HOLY CARP!!!
Hi Bach,

I have a really young friend (late 20's) who's already having problems with diverticulitis, he was hospitalized last year with an attack. They told him to avoid nuts, popcorn, sesame and caraway seeds, stuff like that. Is that correct? I do know he misses the nuts especially.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
George K
Member Avatar
Finally
Nuts are anathema to diverticulosis. Avoid, avoid, avoid.
A guide to GKSR: Click

"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... "
- Mik, 6/14/08


Nothing is as effective as homeopathy.

I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles.
- Klaus, 4/29/18
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
bachophile
Member Avatar
HOLY CARP!!!
yes nuts and seeds are a no no. the theory is they dont digest and get into the colon and maybe get stuck in a diverticule and cause infection.
"I don't know much about classical music. For years I thought the Goldberg Variations were something Mr. and Mrs. Goldberg did on their wedding night." Woody Allen
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
AlbertaCrude
Bull-Carp
Interesting. I should tell my father about that as he likes peanuts. Mind he is one tough old cout- since the diverticulitis, he has had a heart attack (23 years ago) and surgery to remove colon cancer when he was 82 years old. Somehow telling him not to eat peanuts would be redundant.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Jolly
Member Avatar
Geaux Tigers!
The only minor quibble I have with Bach's excellent explanation is that sometimes the surgery is not strictly elective, given multiple and worsening attacks.

Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do....
The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.- George Soros
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
bachophile
Member Avatar
HOLY CARP!!!
yes semi elective would be a better way of saying it.

but thats still very differemt from emergency surgery which can be quite an episode.
"I don't know much about classical music. For years I thought the Goldberg Variations were something Mr. and Mrs. Goldberg did on their wedding night." Woody Allen
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
George K
Member Avatar
Finally
We praise the ColoRectal surgeon.

http://www.savefile.com/files.php?fid=9218519
A guide to GKSR: Click

"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... "
- Mik, 6/14/08


Nothing is as effective as homeopathy.

I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles.
- Klaus, 4/29/18
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Optimistic
Member Avatar
HOLY CARP!!!
Hmm, something's telling me NOT to open that link. . .
PHOTOS

I must have a prodigious quantity of mind; it takes me as much as a week, sometimes, to make it up.
- Mark Twain


We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
-T. S. Eliot
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
bachophile
Member Avatar
HOLY CARP!!!
just bend over and crack a smile....
"I don't know much about classical music. For years I thought the Goldberg Variations were something Mr. and Mrs. Goldberg did on their wedding night." Woody Allen
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
George K
Member Avatar
Finally
bachophile
Jan 14 2006, 04:47 PM
just bend over and crack a smile....

"Eighteen holes a day!"
A guide to GKSR: Click

"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... "
- Mik, 6/14/08


Nothing is as effective as homeopathy.

I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles.
- Klaus, 4/29/18
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Fish
Advanced Member
THANK YOU ALL so much for your responses and Apple for your rice pudding - I will try it when my mom gets back! You have no idea what a comfort you all are. :hearts:

Bach ... is there anything we should be asking the doctors when we see them?

~Andrea.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
AlbertaCrude
Bull-Carp
bachophile
Jan 14 2006, 01:13 PM
but thats still very differemt from emergency surgery which can be quite an episode.

Yes, if I remember correctly about five + hours to remove 14" of exploded intestine and thoroughly clean the entire thoractic cavity.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
bachophile
Member Avatar
HOLY CARP!!!
AC u mean the abdominal cavity. if a perforated colon contaminated the thorax, that would indeed be a catastrophic situation. but u meant abdomen (peritoneum)

as for questions to ask docs...

u havent told me how old mum is, but she will need a full colonoscopy before deciding any course of therapy, just to make sure she is not harboring a cancer, (God forbid) which can mimic diverticulitis.

then, the issues to discuss are;

diet

consider elective surgery (when the current bout dies down)

if so, laparoscopic or open (very surgeon dependent)

thats about it i think.
"I don't know much about classical music. For years I thought the Goldberg Variations were something Mr. and Mrs. Goldberg did on their wedding night." Woody Allen
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
George K
Member Avatar
Finally
bachophile
Jan 14 2006, 06:57 PM
if so, laparoscopic or open (very surgeon dependent)

Slight disagreement:

[size=7]EXTREMELY[/size] surgeon dependent.
A guide to GKSR: Click

"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... "
- Mik, 6/14/08


Nothing is as effective as homeopathy.

I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles.
- Klaus, 4/29/18
Online Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Create your own social network with a free forum.
Learn More · Register Now
« Previous Topic · The New Coffee Room · Next Topic »
Add Reply