Hi, my husband was just told he has Diverticulitis and he has been LCing for about 4 weeks. I know the doctor is going to recommend going off Atkins and getting on a high fiber diet. Has anyone else faced this and what did you do?

JoAnn

Hi JoAnn,

I have just recently been diagnosed with "moderate" diverticulosis. I have had several episodes of diverticulitis (means the pockets, or divertuculi, are inflamed at the time, causing pain and/or diarrhoea) for which I rest my gut with just clear fluids until it settles. (Easier said than done! )

I had assumed for several years that my symptoms were caused by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Interestingly those symptoms dramatically decreased since low carbing. My flare ups earler this year were following surgery, when the gut had been "handled."

Generally, I just make sure I have plenty of vegies and I take a tablespoon of psyllium husks every day. My gastroenterologist said that was fine.

My fibre count is usually around 15 to 20. When I eat more fibre than that, I actually get more pain - particularly if it's all at once.

Have your husband's symptoms worsened since LC?

I hope all goes well with him.

Rosebud

My husband has this also, he takes his psyllium husk capsels twice a day. Since doing this he has had no reoccurance of the pains.

Hi, thanks for the good advice. I just came back from the hospital, my husbands pain is no better tonight, will see how he does overnight with antibiotics. We have not been taking any fiber suppliments, I will go tomorrow to pick some up. Will let you know how he does and what the outcome of this episode will be. He did tell the doctor how much better he felt LCing and the doc said that Atkins had nothing to do with this episode, probably just a build up over time. He is in alot of pain and has an infection at the moment. I love Atkins and have been on this plan for 6 weeks now. We both have not gone off once. Thanks again for responding to my question.

JoAnn

Hi JoAnn,

I wouldn't add the fibre until his pain has settled.

In fact, he might find his pain settles a bit more quickly if he rests his gut by just having fluids for a bit. He can have clear soups and sugar free jelly (oops, you'd call it jello ) and lots and lots of water. Some folk (wearing my nurses hat now) even wind up in hospital having IV fluids until the episode settles. Diverticulitis pain can be pretty ferocious - please give your husband my heartfelt sympathy. I know only too well how it can feel.

And I'm very glad that your doctor is not suggesting he go off LC!

Rosebud

Hi Rosebud,

Thank you for your reply.

My husband is in the hospital and is on IV's for now until the pain subsides, possible surgery if infection does not start responding to medication. He has not had anything since Sunday except for one tsp of vegetable beef soup (broth) and 2 tsp of sf jello. At the hospital he is only being given ice chips otherwise nothing by mouth. They were hoping the antibiotics would kick in over night, but no change so we will see how today goes.

I'm off now to the hospital and get the fiber for myself and will wait until this episode is over and he is home and better.

Thanks again and have a good day.

JoAnn