My sensitive stomach

[Crankin]

Some of you may recall the medical odyssey I went on, about 10 years ago, with a variety of symptoms, mostly GI and others, just too diffuse to write about here. MY rheumatologist said I had fibromyalgia, but I still do not totally believe it, as I never had any of the "brain fog," or total exhaustion that goes with it. Really hard exercise sometimes does set off a weird intense exhaustion, but it does not happen consistently enough for me to do anything but take extra rest days.
So, in the course of this whole thing I saw a gastroenterologist on and off between 2005 and 2007. I had lots of tests, but basically, he told me it was stress... this with a family history of colitis. On one of my visits to the ER (where I am sure they called me a frequent flyer), a nurse told me it sounds like diverticulitis. The doctor sort of mentioned this in passing, but was insisting it was stress or a "gynecological problem." I had all of the tests for that, too.
So on Monday, I started feeling really crappy at work. It wasn't just the usual stomach pain, which presents in weird places, but I felt a little nauseous, too, and weak, a bit dizzy. The pain got worse that night, but I got up yesterday and went to spin. Bad decision. I was thinking I had a UTI, but noticed I was feeling worse after eating, particularly certain foods. I got an appointment to see the doctor (they nicely told me they get anyone over 60 in that day, if they think it's a UTI) after work, which thankfully, I could leave earlier than usual. So, no UTI. I saw a different doctor, not my PCP. She was pretty thorough and looked at me and said I have classic diverticulitis. And gee, the a**hole specialist of yore never tried treating me for it. Yes, there's an established protocol of antibiotics and diet.
I am allergic to Penicillin and the 2nd line of treatment was Levaquin. I said a big no to that, with it causing achilles collapse in endurance athletes, so I am on Bactrin for 10 days. There's a second drug they usually give you with the other, but she said it causes a lot of side effects and I may not need it. The worst part now, is the low fiber diet. I can do this maybe one more day... there is not a morsel of white flour products in my house and I am about 80% vegetarian, so I eat tons of veggies, beans, fruit. I love spicy stuff, too. I broke down and bought some jasmine rice to go with my plain chicken and mashed butternut squash for tonight. But, tomorrow, I will start adding some of the things I normally eat back in, staying away from things like broccoli.
I feel better, not perfect, but 90% improved. I was starting to get really anxious this morning, so I went to yoga and then, since it was so warm out, I went for a 30 minute walk. Just really pissed that I have had this, pretty much since I was in my 20s and no one ever treated it.

[ny biker]

Wow. How frustrating, in more than one way. At least you are feeling better now. I hope your diet doesn't end up too restricted. I will say, having recently had to give up Diet Coke cold turkey due to a hiatal hernia, that it's easier to stop wanting formerly-favorite foods and beverages when those foods and beverages clearly make you feel sick.

[Crankin]

I agree, NY, but if I had to eat a low fiber diet forever, it would mean giving up *everything* I eat. Like all of the spelt bread, whole wheat pasta, quinoa, brown rice, beans, most fruit and just about every vegetable known to mankind. Salads and wine. Nooooo! She said I could start adding the stuff back in so I will probably stay away from the cruciferous veggies for awhile, as I know they bother me. She gave me a sheet with foods that are ok or not ok for the diet and sample meals. It looked like a menu from the 50s.

[Catrin]

Glad that you found there IS a treatment for it, and I hear you about the frustrations from having to change your diet for a bit. May it only be temporary and you can add some of your favorites back in once you figure out those veggies that your body accepts.

I remember when I realized I needed to give up all grains, psuedo-grains, and beans - but it made me feel SO much better so quickly that it wasn't as difficult as I thought it might be. Lo these 5 years later I can finally sneak in the occasional slice of sprouted bread (and it MUST be sprouted - my body will tell me if the label lies), or very small serving of white rice (brown is still verboten). I CAN eat most veggies however, and that's a different ballgame entirely. NOW I'm amazed when people tell me how restrictive my diet is - it's far from that.

[Pax]

Crankin, that just stinks. We eat similar to the way you do, when I saw and old coworkers approved food list for her diverticulitis all I could think was "I'd starve". Hope you heal up quick.

[Crankin]

Well, I had an orange with breakfast this morning and so far, so good. I wonder what they tell a 100% vegetarian with this issue? The diet didn't even mention tofu or soy products, that's how old fashioned it seemed. I don't eat a lot of bread at all, but I do have all whole wheat cous cous, pasta, etc. Yesterday I had a piece of matzah for a snack, as I was desperate. Thankfully, DH likes to eat it year round, so we have it in the house.
I am staying away from the crunchy veggies and fruits until I finish the meds, but adding in other stuff slowly.

[Pax]

My coworker was a morbidly obese smoker who took the guidelines as permission to eat nothing but absolute garbage. She is just about the sickest person I know who is still upright.

[ny biker]

Um, I looked up diverticulitis on the Mayo Clinic website. They say that the immediate treatment is a liquid diet with antibiotics, so the infection can heal. But then they have this exact opposite of what you are describing.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-c...s/con-20033495

Time for a second opinion?

[wnyrider]

I think this might explain Crankin's treatment: https://www.bowelcanceraustralia.org...icular-disease

"Traditional advice was to eat a high-fibre diet.

However, it is now thought that a low-fibre or low-residue diet can ease the symptoms when there is a flare up or suspected inflammation.

This reduces the likelihood of waste matter brushing against and irritating the affected bowel wall."

You pretty much have to listen to your own body when following different recommended treatment plans. Sometime we react positively to the wrong treatment. I know my body doesn't always follow protocol! I am not at all suggesting either one is right or wrong. It is what it is.

[emily_in_nc]

Bummer, Crankin! I would be just as frustrated as you since we eat very similarly, from the sounds of it. And doubly frustrated to think that you may have had this for decades and never been diagnosed.

One of my besties growing up had diverticulitis and had to be on a SUPER low fiber diet. Back then, that was how they treated it. Forever. So perhaps it's for the best you weren't diagnosed back in the diverticulitis dark ages! I am out of touch with her now but remember reading somewhere that doctors had totally changed their tune and now recommend a high-fiber diet. I can see where they might recommend low fiber for a flare-up, though, just to let the intestines rest. Just like when our dog has GI problems!

Hope you're feeling much better soon.

[Crankin]

Yes, she suggested this until it gets better, not forever. I am not doing well with it at all, in that I made roasted pepper/ricotta soup for dinner. It was puréed, so no real effect. I had a spelt roll with it, too. It's hurting a little more today, but I don't feel sick like I did when I went in. The thing is, I've had this kind of pain for months on end in the past, and then eventually, it goes away. Will try to be better for about another week, but we shall see.
I have to go back to see my PCP as a follow up from my physical, so I can talk about it then. Overall, the "BRAT" diet seems to be the cure for a lot of GI symptoms. I've had several clients have to do it for awhile., and it seemed to make no difference in any of the cases!
Pax, your comment made me laugh. I can see someone like that sitting eating pudding and mashed potatoes. Picturing having to do this feels like a prison sentence.

[ny biker]

How often have you had the pain in the past? It's interesting that you already seem to be doing what's recommended to prevent flare-ups, in terms of diet and exercise. It would probably be worse otherwise.

[Crankin]

When I really think back, this started when I was in college, maybe HS. I was extremely healthy, except for allergy stuff until I moved away from MA at age 15. My stomach has always reacted in some way to stress and I have close relatives with colitis, hiatal hernia, ulcers, you name it. I would say I go for months without any symptoms or I eat something and I can specifically trace it to that food, most notably Brussel sprouts and broccoli. However, I can eat those things most of the time. My feeling now is that it's a combination of things. I suspect the increased vegetarian/Mediterranean diet, increased endurance exercise, which can set off an inflammatory process, and wine. But since I don't do all of these things together all of the time, I am just going to be more aware. My problem is when I go away, like the past 2 weekends, I am often doing some intense sports thing, followed up by lots of eating and maybe a glass more of wine than I usually do. I am concerned about my trip to Spain; as you know, part of traveling is experiencing the food of a different culture. So, 9 days of the bike trip (7 days of riding, 1 hiking) with the eating drinking, and hot temperatures are a bad combo. I have spent the first couple of days of every trip I've done being in the bathroom a lot, even missing the olive oil factory tour in Baeña, Spain. Now I get it. I've always said I don't restrict myself when I go on these kinds of trips, but I am going to have to be more diligent. This, plus the fact I may have to eat red meat, which after 2 years, not sure how it will affect me. It gets to me when I see other participants just eating and drinking the night away, and then getting up early and riding 50 tough and hilly miles the next day.
So, I am feeling pretty good today, after a somewhat crappy night of slightly increased pain. I couldn't fall asleep because I read too long and when I finally did, i had bad dreams about both of my granddaughters and the government! That is not usual for me. It may have been the soup I made. But, I had a mango with my breakfast, no problem and had some tuna, with a small amount of spinach, as a test for lunch, and I feel fine. The good part is that I am finally down to the weight I want to be at...

[Crankin]

Feeling much, much better, probably 95% or more. I don't think it's the grains that bother me. I started eating normally today, but so far, have not had any veggies except some sautéed spinach on my breakfast bowl. I nixed the Mexican food or Vietnamese food for dinner tonight and we are going out to a brew pub, with some better choices for me.

[Pax]

Glad you're feeling better! GI issues really take the shine off of life.