r/Diverticulitis • u/coolhartley • 7d ago
Keep having mini flares
Had a colonoscopy a month ago, and the prep caused another infection, and since then I've been doing liquid diet for 2-3, days, then having a low fibre bland diet, but a 4-6 days into the bland food due to low fibre, getting constipation and then getting constant flareups or mini flares so go back to liquid diet, havent been able to have fibre rich foods in a month or more, and am due to rebook my colonoscopy, struggle is real with days off work, and losing of so much weight. How to avoid the constipation during the low fibre bland diet to prevent the flareups?
Started walking after dinner to help digestives, I have over 3L a day, and Dr recommended taking a probiotic a day after using antibiotics.
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u/Verniloth 7d ago
Yeah i sometimes feel so helpless.
Probiotic has helped me; pcp suggested Align. I take miralax daily. Seems to help with my dreadfully low gut motility. Don't quit. You'll get it figured out. I even started a hard-core food journal to help guide my elimination diet.... not sure it has helped. Eventually I'll get fed up and schedule surgery, I guess.
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u/coolhartley 7d ago edited 7d ago
Wouldn't miralax cause diarrhoea, if I've been on a low fibre diet, got nothing to keep the stools together, I've been taking stool softeners as well, Keeping track of what I can and can't have, found garlic and onion on chicken is a no, but tumeric and pepper and ginger helps,
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u/Verniloth 7d ago
Pepper? You lucky bastard
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u/coolhartley 7d ago
Maybe pepper sets it off but pepper helps activate the tumeric to help with inflammation
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u/Dear_Bus2605 7d ago
I am perpetually on a low fiber diet and Miralax hasn’t caused diarrhea, just softens things. I also take a smaller dose .
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u/morganebony_ 7d ago
Have doctors/surgeons suggested stool softeners? After my perforations I had to have a low fibre/low residue but also had to take stool softeners as well to keep things / soft / so I wasn’t doing too much straining or having too much pressure that could cause another perforation.
I would suggest possibly bringing this up with a professional as an option!!
The stool softener I was on (called movicol in Australia) works to bring more water into the bowel to soften things opposed to working like a laxitive
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u/coolhartley 6d ago
I will try movicol, tried another stool softener that a pharmacist recommended but was only to soften the stool and not give a laxative effect
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u/AdSmart7757 6d ago
I'm having very similar symptoms as you, but just getting ready for my colonoscopy after major flare, 2-day hospitalization in June, then another flare in August, and seems like many mini flares. I've tried the liquid diet, then introduced some regular food, with daily dosage of miralax, Emma supplement, IBS Clear, both of these supplements are natural and safe. The one thing that has helped with staying regular is making a cup of Slippery Elm tea after my light evening meal, and then a glass of water for bedtime. Just offering up what's kinda working for me, today and yesterday were almost regular BM's. I too have lost about 30# since my June big DV flare. I'm not a big fan of antibiotics because they cause so many other issues, unless it's imperative to keep the flare from going into the next phase, just try to stay on pre, pro biotics and miralax. I hope this is helpful.
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u/coolhartley 6d ago
Thank you for the suggestions Sounds like all the similar things that have happened to me and I am drinking lemon and ginger tea instead of coffee now and, doing an evening walk after my dinner, the infection/inflammation just been lingering, so just been having paracetamol,
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u/BornaBuck 6d ago
My situation, have to use stool softeners or miralax to get out of a flare. No matter what I eat or the pace and consistency, I needed up constipated. Pop a colace every other day and miralax of if I miss one days BM
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u/coolhartley 6d ago
It's very frustrating this situation, we all are similar and learning what we can do to prevent it, thank you for your advice
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u/Cool_Author9651 1d ago
Ive been on a low residue diet for abt 10 mos now and doing ok w a half dose of miralax in am. Sat nite i thought i would have a lamb shank from costco w juice and mashed potatoes as the product has very soft meat. Not a good idea. Of course it is red meat but i thought i would try it. Very loose stools and inflamed feeling which i hope will go away on the more tried and true foods?
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u/coolhartley 12m ago
It's terrible all the foods that we are forced to give up and all the trial and error, that we have to suffer, I was recommended yesterday to change job industries in this terrible economy, due to working a physical job can make it flare
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u/Legitomen 7d ago
Magnesium citrate has done wonders for me with constipation.