My foodie card has received another crimp in it.

[hippywife]

I have diverticulitis. Very painful and nauseating. This is going to mean no more of many things that I dearly love. No more everything bagels. :cry: Probably no more adding fennel seed to my sauce. :cry: No more corn. :cry:

[WritersBlock]

1. oh no! :(

I'm very sorry to hear that... I understand it can be very painful. :(

[hippywife]

2. It is very painful.

I went to the ER last Saturday with pain and a 105 degree temp. I was sick all week from one of the anti-biotics and had to discontinue it after a few days because I just couldn't face another day of the incredible nausea and nasty taste it lent to everything, including water. I was also so muddle headed I have no idea how I got through my tasks at work or even drove to and from. I just know it was incredibly difficult and I started feeling better once I dc'd that med.

Until this morning. Now I'm having the pain again, but thankfully without the fever. I know most of what I should avoid but haven't gotten very practiced at it yet and foolishly ate a Greek salad for dinner last night.

I didn't believe the ER doc when he told me because I was also passing a kidney stone at the same time, but my regular doc confirmed it yesterday.

The real irony is that we had started eating so much healthier this past year, but I guess it's hard to make up for the damage years of abuse have caused. Sigh.

[yellerpup]

3. Antibiotics kill off all the good flora in your intestinal system

as well as the bad stuff. I had a crisis last year after I was given acid reflux meds (you name 'em, I got a scrip for 'em). A friend of mine is an award-winning drug researcher and she sent over a jar of pro-biotics (acidophlious). When I started feeling queasy, heartburny, or like I had another attack of (up to that point) uncontrollable diarrhea I dissolved them in a half glass of water and chugged them down. It took a few days, but my bowels started behaving normally for the first time in more than a year. As it turned out, I didn't have adic reflux at all, but a condition that was cured completely by laparascopic surgery. Latest research says that nuts and other high fiber foods are not the triggers for diverticulosis but actually help. My friend also sent a bottle of aloe vera juice that I hated drinking but it soothed my gut and helped me heal really fast. Not trying to be your doc, but I know you like to hear about alternatives. Antacids and antibiotics made me MUCH sicker and doctors hardly ever think to restore the intestinal flora that these products destroy. Good luck!

[Warpy]

6. Yogurt with live cultures does the same thing more pleasantly

It's one of those healthfoody things I do whenever I go on antibiotics. It really does help if it's a long course of antibiotics, which it usually is in my case.

Just read the label to find out whether that brand has live cultures or has had them pasteurized to death.

[yellerpup]

7. Good point.

I can't have yogurt, though, because I am lactose intolerant. The Probiotics have been like a miracle for me. I do keep the fridge stocked with good organic yogurt for Mr. pup, however. :hi:

[Warpy]

8. I'm lactose intolerant and I can manage yogurt

because all those little acidophilus bugs have eaten most of the lactose.

However, I only get ice cream when I'm constipated. It has all the advantages of milk of magnesia and none of the drawbacks.

[Tab]

11. Really? Not to turn this into a bodily function thread....

but I'm also lactose-intolerant. I find that the closer the dairy product is to liquid form, the more havoc it creates.

Therefore, from worst to best:

Milk
Yogurt
Soft-serve ice cream
soft cheeses
hard ice cream
hard cheeses

I haven't had milk since I was 16, so I don't care, but I like yogurt. It plays havoc with my stomach, though, except for the little Activia ones (with the supposedly good bacteria). I can't tell if they're okay simply because they're small, or because of the bacteria flora they carry.

I indulge in hard ice cream occasionally, because dammit I want to, although I'm quite happy with sherbet and sorbets, which don't carry a penalty. Hard cheeses, if I don't overdo them, are okay.

[Warpy]

14. Stick to yogurt with live cultures

which is what I do. Read the labels to find out which ones have them and avoid the ultra pasteurized stuff that doesn't have as much of the lactose gone and won't supply lactobacteria to your gut to break down the rest of it.

I can't tolerate ice cream. I can tolerate cultured products with live cultures, meaning health food store buttermilk and sour cream, too.

[yellerpup]

16. There are times when I can tolerate some dairy products like

high fat cheeses like brie or aged cheese like Parmesan, ultra premium ice creams rarely or yogurt even more rarely. I cook with butter and that doesn't usually affect me. Like you, I save the ice cream for the times I need a little help moving things through the system. I hurt my foot, for instance, and they gave me a prescription for Oxycontin when I went to the ER. After four days of no go, I had a snack sized ice cream bar and everything was fine after that. Milk, especially skim milk and mozzarella take about ten minutes from the time they hit my taste buds to make me double over. I am a good observer, but this is one little element of my physiology that I have never been able to predict accurately.

[Gormy Cuss]

4. Oh no!

Maybe in the longer term you'll be able to have some of those things again.

[Warpy]

5. You can still use the fennel seeds

Just buzz em up in a spice grinder first so there are no whole seeds.

The everything bagels are OK as long as you chew those seeds completely. Most people aren't willing to do that, though, which is why they say no more to anything with seeds on it. The best idea is to pick the offending seeds off first. They left their flavor behind, anyway.

The corn is more problematic. I'm afraid you'll have to kiss it goodbye forever.

Diverticulitis is nothing to play with but it won't damage the foodie card that much. I have food allergies like crazy and still manage to keep my foodie card because of the challenges of rewriting recipes to accommodate them.

[hippywife]

9. The way I'm feeling right now

I wouldn't risk the everything bagels. I've had kidney stones about 20 times in my life and this is every bit as painful...every bit. The pain pills are barely touching it so we are getting ready to go to the hospital. They will probably keep me for a few days. They wanted to last weekend and I said no. I'll not say no again today.

[Warpy]

10. Right, it's nasty

I haven't had that but I've had peritonitis, and even a morphine drip didn't do much except allow me to sleep through a lot of it.

[hippywife]

12. We didn't go.

The most amazing thing happened. I wanted to take a quick shower first and I started feeling a little better. I think it was the hot water on my body, I don't know why tho. The hospital is about 30 mi. away and by the time we got about a third of the way, the pain had reduced to some cramping. So I had Bill bring me home. I hope it doesn't spike again.

We stopped at the store to get things I can eat since I can't have whole grains. Wonder white bread, white flour tortillas, some special K and some milk. Yum. :eyes: But I'll not stray until I know it's safe again.

[Longhorn]

13. I'm glad you're feeling better and hope it's a permanent turn for the better!

:hug:

[hippywife]

20. Thank you, dear.

I have a totally new respect for you and others who undergo chemo. I couldn't even tolerate the one anti-biotic, it made me so very ill. I can't imagine what a whole regimen of such drugs would feel like.

I'm really glad you're doing so well. I really, really am. :hug:

[Longhorn]

23. You're very sweet to think of me when you're going through such an ordeal!

Your caring means a lot to me! :hug:

[Warpy]

15. Isn't the Special K whole grain?

A lot of Kellog's products are.

[hippywife]

18. Apparently not.

All the lists of what to eat during an attack show Rice Krispies, Special K, Cream of Wheat, even Cheerios. Maybe it's milled so fine that it doesn't matter? :shrug:

[Warpy]

21. That's probably it

because I know Cheerios are whole grain.

[yellerpup]

17. Good news.

Glad that you aren't in terrible pain. I hope you're able to get it all straightened out soon and be on the road to a full recovery. I couldn't swallow for almost a full year, and I know how it is when a person who loves to cook and be creative in the kitchen is restricted by diet. Be a good girl and let us know how that eggplant crust for pizza works out! :hug:

[hippywife]

19. I would love to

put this behind me and soon. I laid down for about three hours when we got home and was able to sleep. Not in as much pain but still quite a bit of pressure in the region and it feels like a big ol'knot.

Even tho I don't feel up to cooking (still nauseous) I'm fixing him his regular pizza tonight. He didn't get it last night. He takes such good care of me, I can hardly let him go without a good dinner tonight, something he hasn't had much of this past week.

Thanx for the hug. :loveya:

[yellerpup]

22. He does take good care of you,

and you deserve to be taken good care of. You can have a virtual hug from me anytime! Oklahoma has been on my mind a lot lately. I've been taking lessons in Cherokee on the Cherokee Nation website (Tahlequah) and thinking of the countryside. Hope your biddies are growing up and laying good, wholesome aigs for you. Heal quickly, heal completely. Be good to yourself! More hugs!

[sandnsea]

24. Oh, I'm so sorry you're sick

At least you have it diagnosed and can start making changes so you feel better. Does it ever heal enough so you can enjoy some of your favorites once in a while?

[sazemisery]

25. Sorry you are under the weather

Mr.sazemisery has diverticulitis also. It affects each person differently. Mr.sazemisery can eat corn but has trouble with some seeds and whole grains. You have to introduce things one at a time so you can isolate the culprits that cause a flare-up.

Hope you get to feeling better and keep a positive attitude.:hug: :pals:





edited for speling

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

26. I'm so sorry.

Big hugs and healing vibes on the way.

Mrwakemeup was diagnosed with diverticulitis and it turned out to be a food allergy.

[wildflower]

27. I'm sorry to hear this, hippywife

:hug:

[Stinky The Clown]

28. Oh man .... that sucks.

My aunt has had that for years. She gets by, but has to be careful.

[pengillian101]

29. I am so sorry to hear it, hippywife!

I have known a couple of folks who also had to deal with that. WHOLE seeds in ANY food seemed to be the worst offenders, as they deposit themselves in the natural pockets of the digestive system along the way and block things up. I am so sorry to hear of your painful ordeal.

Be well soon!!

:hug:

[hippywife]

30. Thank you to everyone

for you concern and kind words. Yesterday I felt more normal than I have in over a week, just a little tired and weak for the most part. Luckily, I'm on vacation this week. I planned this three weeks ago to stay home and do a deep cleaning on the house and to straighten up the garden. Husband says I don't have to do anything today but rest. I do have to do some things, tho, but will take it easy one more day.

Just another challenge, I guess.

[eleny]

31. Let me add my "shucks"

That sounds really awful. I hope you're feeling better after a couple of days. I know how you love your whole grains. But maybe you can find some good recipes where they're smoothed out for folks like you. Seems like there are recipes for everyone these days.
:hug:

[hippywife]

32. Something's gotta give soon.

Everything I'm allowed to eat is giving me heartburn. I really didn't remember what absolute fluffs of nothing slices Wonder white bread really were. Of course, until they hit your intestines and turn to concrete. :eyes:

[eleny]

33. Oh no!

Heartburn is another baddy. I take something for that every morning. I tried all sorts of methods to deal with it but in the end had to resort to a prescription and then not eat anything after a certain time of night. I don't mind that last thing as I used to like some coffee around 8 at night. I'm better off leaving that alone.

Be well and keep us informed on how it's going for you. :grouphug:

[wildflower]

34. Have you tried saltines?

I find them generally soothing...they're my go-to food for almost any GI issue, as long as I'm able to eat.