Diverticulitis Support Group

Briwood,

You should maintain a low residue diet during an episode. Google "low residue", you will find a few sites that list what you can and cannot eat. Do not take metamucil.

Also Google "high fiber diet". Once you have recovered and are feeling OK, then you should start moving to a high fiber diet. But not all at once. Add a few grams of fiber a day each week.

So the first week you might have three or four grams per day. The next week you have seven or eight. The next week ten or twelve. You get the idea.

If you browse through the discussions here at Daily Strength, you will learn a lot about diverticulitis.

Best of luck.

FarFromMe

Hi Briwood...I was diagnosed with diverticulitis after spending 3 days in Emergency. I was on anti-biotics and IV and by the third day I was feeling fine. Was sent home and was told I could eat anything, except nuts. I have read on sites and found that high fiber is recommended. Now I would like to know why FarFromMe said "no metamucil". I have been experiencing loose stool which is not normal for me as I am always constipated....so I was going to start on metamucil. I eat tons of fruits. I also heard not to eat raw veggies, cook them a bit, like brocoli, cauliflower, carrots.

When I had attacks I just stopped eating for as long as I could. Then no seeds like tomatoes, pickles,cucumbers or popcorn things like that. pudding and Jello are ok but you don't want to eat anything that might get stuck in those tiny pockets in your intestines because that's what causes it to begin with. Once your feeling better, 25 grams of Fiber a day. I know that sounds impossible but I just found a great tasting cereal called FiberOne with 13grams a bowl, so just two bowls a day should really help keep it away. Hope this helps.

When I said "Do not take metamucil," I meant not to take it right away (while on a low residue diet).

As you increase your fiber intake, I don't know any reason why you can't include metamucil among your fiber sources.

Sorry for not being clear.