Diet for Diverticulitis

[challena]

I became sick 10 days ago with abdominal pain and had a CT scan 2 days ago. I was dx with diverticulitis. Right now I am on a semi-liquid diet and BRAT diet with no dairy until the symptoms pass (no pun intended). My doctor said I should no longer eat food with "husks" like popcorn.  Has anyone else heard of this?  And what foods have husks?  I thought a high fiber diet was suppose to help but don't beans have husks?  Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated especially if you say I can still eat popcorn because it is my favorite.  Now...I am craving popcorn....dang!

[maryks59]

I have had three flares of diverticulitis in the past six months.  Each have gotten worse.  I have been on metamucil three times a day and watch what I eat.  I still have gotten flares.  My doctor says that things that do not digest are likely to cause problems but, no one knows for sure.  I have gotten sicker each time.  My doctor is doing a colonoscopy and he believes that I should have the surgery.  The younger you are with onset the more likely surgery will be needed.  Not an easy illness but, after my last attack on Christmas Eve and almost landing in the hospital I am ready to hear surgery will fix it.
Good luck and make sure you go to the doctor each time you have an onset.  You sure do not want to perforate a bowel  as this is life threatening.

[ohiogirl]

I believe it's not that these foods cause Diverticulitis, but the seeds and grains that our bodies don't break down into mush get caught in the cavaties that are in your digestive tract.  So, foods like popcorn, nuts, corn, strawberries, raspberries...etc. anything with a seed, bean, large grain that won't break down can get deposited into the 'holes.'
I know of people who have been cleared to eat these foods again after letting the digestive tract "rest" and heal up.

Good luck to you!

[maddie1701]

Doctors say the darnest things. According to them you should also avoid tomatos and strawberries too. However, the studies that have been done it, has been inconclusive. They cannot prove that this causes issues. I have heard different information from ED dr. and my PCP, and they were contradictory. I eat pop-corn almost daily, and the only times I have diverticulitis is when I haven't eaten it for a long time (like right now. Yeay, BRAT diet. Not).

[challena]

Yikes!!! Thanks for the tips though.  

[mtdoramike]

Popcorn has a hard type of husk, which is hard for your digestive system to break down. I have been told to also stay away from nuts all together for the same reason. I have bouts of diverticulis at least twice to three times a year for the past 3-4 years and eventhough I stay away from those foods, I still have a bout of Diverticulitis about every 4-6 months. I will mostlikely have to have surgery to avoid more bouts in the future, but not looking forward to it.