Diverticulitis Support Group

I agree. It seems like even many DRs seem to think that diver isn't possible when you are young. I'm 41, and they said I was about 20 years too young to have it, but the cat scan revealed otherwise.

I had never HEARD of it prior to being diagnosed.

I have just been diagnoised with this cannot understand the pain and also never really knew anything about this disease !!

One theory is diet. This disease is virtually unknown in Africa and Asia. I was first diagnosed in December and had my resection in March. The Dr said it would NOT go away and the antibiotics were not working for some reason. I am 53. The nurses in the hospital said it is VERY common...they see it all the time, and the patients are getting younger.

I Agree - never heard of it until it affected me.

My first flare was on my right side - which is not usual for the US - ( Scoutldr - you are not accurate: Asians get it but usually on right side, whereas the USA get it on left side.... as for Africa - I can not comment...) and IBS and all the other bowel/intestinal issues - I am learning (and sadly so!) that it is more common than I would have ever imagined............ wouldn't you think that JAMA and other research associations would start putting more emphasis on stuff like this???

Until you have Diver, or C. Diff., or IBS - NO ONE will EVER Know what it is like to be a slave to the bathroom and worry - not to mention the pain, gas, worry, discomfort and general lack of quality of life with these types of diseases - and, because they are
internal - no one aroudn you has a CLUE AS TO WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH - THE AGONY, PAIN, STRAIN, GAS, WORRY, ETC. I do hope there will be more studies and research in the future.

My Mom had diverticulous and only had mild symptoms. When I learned I have this disease in the hosptial, I first thought it was no big deal. The look on the faces of the nurses when they heard what I had said it all. They looked like they were smelling something foul.

Talking about your problems to your loved ones over dinner is usually not welcome.

They always say fiber is the problem, but the same people that eat less fiber, eat tons of other stuff, get more antibiotics for other problems, drink more soda, eat hormones in meat, eat bug spray on their veggies, and on and on.

We are in the dark ages of this disease.

They say dv doesn't occur as much in developing countries. Their theory is that developing peoples eat less processed foods, and they eat more fiber - fruits/veggies. This would kind of make sense to me. The reason for the lack of attention? I think it's because it is now rapidly becoming more common. We are eating less and less of the good stuff. In the fast paced world we live in, eating better usually means more food prep time. Eating fast means more crap in our food that we shouldn't have.
BTW - 31 years old, had sigmoid colon resection in august '08

im only 23 and have just had my first attack. dismal.

all i can say is i have always eaten a pretty healthy diet except for my love for sweets. i did eat tons of them as a younger person. i think a lot more research needs to be done by the docs/scientists. i wonder, as 4strikes does, why people who seem to live on fast food are just fine! perhaps we (divertic sufferers)are just prone to it as are people to bronchitis, ear infections, etc. in the end (no pun intended :0 ) we just have to deal with it and with the best that the medical community has to offer us. sigh...
i'm headed into surgery in the next couple of months and i just can't think about the what if's anymore. i just have to forge ahead.
i'll be writing for support then.
jemmyc77, you're wise beyond your years and with a kind heart!

Thanks vinalhaven. What has surprised me is that those of us that have the attacks can have total opposite diets. I eat almost no sweets, no nuts - hate 'em, but I do eat little fiber (one common denominator). There is a diverticulitis monster out there that does not discriminate according to race religion, color, size, shape, diet, amt of exercise, and so on.