Doc says take a break

(Rick Lawson) #1

I am currently battling a flareup of diverticulitis. This is the third flare in 18 months (on keto for 6 months), and I was hospitalized for the first one. It is quite painful, and I’ve been in bed for 4 days! After prescribing a high-powered antibiotic, the doc at the urgent care says that I need a low residue (high carb) diet for a few weeks to allow my gut to heal properly. He says keto is great for short intervals (3 to 6 months) but that I need a more “balanced approach” to weight loss.

Is this just typical SAD, medical school pablum? What If I just ate baked chicken and scrambled eggs few a few weeks for the sake of my gut? Just as good as mashed potatoes, white rice, and white bread he wants me to eat? Anybody fighting diverticular disease too?

(Jason Webb) #2

Prefacing that I have NO 1st hand knowledge or experience with this, but here’s an article proposing that it could be that chronic inflammation that leads to diverticulitis episodes and recommends a paleo diet. I’ve not pursued the links to the sources cited, just a quick bit of googling, but it’s a starting point.

https://chriskresser.com/how-to-prevent-diverticulitis-naturally/

(AnnaLeeThal) #3

I’m sorry you are suffering.

I don’t know much about diverticulitis, but zero carb (carnivore) is about as low residue you can get. So yeah, eggs and chicken sounds like it would fit the bill.

(Trisha) #4

So sorry you’re not feeling well. Are you taking a probiotic? That should help your gut after taking antibiotics.

(Larry Lustig) #5

May I gently suggest that you are dealing with an acute medical issue and that it is appropriate for you to remain under medical care and not appropriate for anyone who is not themselves a medical professional to offer you medical advice over the internet (and, in the case of a medical professional their code of ethics probably prohibits them from advising you without being familiar with your current medical condition).

That said, you could discuss with your doctor exactly what he is trying to achieve and whether it could be achieved with specific keto-friendly foods or, perhaps, with reducing your food intake (that is, fasting) during the recovery period.

But treat the acute disease first, without reference to your long-term dietary goals.

#6

Work with your doctor to get over this current situation you are facing. What I have noticed in your post is that you mention food…as in eating therapies. Have you discussed fasting therapies with your doctor? Again…all in discussion with your doctor.

According to the Mayo Clinic web page, lots of clear fluids and low fiber foods are used to treat your condition. Fasting would achieve both those two conditions (clear liquid and low fiber). http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/diverticulitis-diet/art-20048499

When I fast, my gut feels better upon re-feeding…I pretty much empty out the gut and start with a clean slate. Just thought I share this with you.

Again…all in discussion and consultation with your doctor.

I sincerely wish you the best in your recovery.

(Genevieve Biggs) #7

Your doctor’s advice makes me so mad. Fiber is the cause of diverticulitis, so telling you to eat more will NOT allow your gut to heal. :rage: :rage: :rage: I am mad for you. Seriously. I would advise the opposite–no plant foods until you get better.

Have you read Fiber Menace?

(Guardian of the bacon) #8

What Larry said ^^

I’d get a 2nd opinion. My mom had diverticulitis and was prescribed a very low fiber diet.

(Rick Lawson) #9

Thanks. I did clear liquids for 48 hours, and then slowly introduced soft foods. My doctor said no fiber for a few weeks. Then, after healing, increase to a high fiber diet. For now he says mashed potatoes, white rice, cream of wheat, white bread, etc. I heard “carbs, carbs, carbs!” I have lost 47 lbs in the last several months with keto, and I hate to gain a bunch of those hard-fought pounds back. But I will if I have to, to get my gut healed.
A year ago the doctor that treated me in the hospital said, “You need to consider surgery to remove that 8-inch section of colon, so that you don’t have to fight this for 40 years.” (I’m only in my 40’s) I might have to consider it!
Again, thanks for the advice. I’m in search of a new family doctor, so I’ll look for a keto friendly one!

(In a #ketomarriage with @peggaloon) #10

I’m sorry you’re going through this. My mum had an outbreak in 2014, and was hospitalised. Keto hugs and sympathy x

(Robert Dobson) #11

I suffered symptoms from Diverticulitis from age 30 until it perforated my colon and put me in the Mayo Clinic ICU with sepsis at age 39. The surgeons had to perform a resection and create a temporary ostomy while I recovered and the inflammation in my internal organs subsided for 4 months until putting everything back to normal. I could have died. It’s not something to play around with. Get the resection done before a perforation occurs and does you in.

#12

Since the poster has not been back I would assume he followed his doctors advice. I did notice that this was not a gastro specialist but an urgent care doctor. I can only hope he got a second opinion.

I do believe everyone should listen to their health care practitioners, especially when it comes to infections and potential surgery. On the other hand I cannot help feeling that most conventionally trained doctors have not learned much about nutrition. I do not know about diverticulitis but I have seen up close the poor nutrition advice given to most diabetes patients

(Rick Lawson) #13

Well, I ended up having the resection surgery. Now diverticulitis is behind me! I am planning on going back on keto in January. I have gained back a lot of weight, but my problem is not that I can’t lose the weight. I just have usually gained it back. This time keto for life!

(Dan Dan) #14

Welcome back :grin:

Merry Christmas :innocent:

“May the Force (fat adaption) be with you”

IF/EF Keto WOE is Self-Discovery :wink:

Good luck and much success in your journey in IF/EF Keto WOE :grin:

#15

I had the same issue, had surgery (18” removed) in 2013, no attacks until 3 weeks ago after 4 months on Keto. It was a really bad attack, no hospitlization but took forever to feel better. I didn’t tell my doctor about Keto-didn’t want her to say to stop, but my “gut”instincts told me there was probably a correlation. I was doing high protein, low fat, low carb previous and did great on that plan. I think all the fat was too much and my body wasn’t dealing well. I actually lost weight on the low residue diet. I think I’m going to do a refined Keto, still low carb but not forcing the fats so much, and reducing cheese. I would postpone surgery as long as you can, my surgery helped initially but in 2016 had another operation for all the scar tissue that the first surgery created. That was not fun and more surgeries create more scar tissue, it’s a viscous cycle. Good luck to you!

#16

Oops, my reply below is a little late! I know many people who have the surgery and are cured for life, I just happen to be one of the unlucky ones! Glad to hear you’re doing well.

(Rose Marie Lee) #18

How did you know it was perforation??? I’ve been sick for a week help! I don’t wanna take anymore Antibiotics

(Robert Dobson) #19

I learned it was a perforation after growing discomfort and pain over the course of two days at work led to me visiting an ER. The doctor ordered a CAT scan of my abdomen which revealed the perf, and alarmed us to the fact I was becoming more septic by the minute.

(Rose Marie Lee) #20

Oh no

(Russell Wall) #21

I had two bouts of diverticulitis in 2017 exactly one month apart. The second one showed that I had a perforation. I went on a low residue diet after coming out of the hospital and lost 44 lbs. I slowly introduced more and more fiber into my diet and over a period of time I gained all of my weight back. I went on keto JumpStart through Drew Manning and have lost 55 lbs since July 1st. The past 3 days I have had a flare up and I went to my general practitioner this morning because my gastroenterologist is on vacation for 10 more days. My general practitioner prescribed me 7 Days of Cipro and Flagyl and said that if it doesn’t get better within that time frame, I will need to go and have a CT scan done and take more action. I definitely do not want to get off of the keto lifestyle. I think that I am going to try to modify it as well by eating less red meat and being very strict. My doctor’s all agreed that seeds and nuts are a myth to people with diverticulitis however if anything was going to be omitted from my diet forever they all agreed that whole corn would be the item. If any of you have similar issues I would greatly appreciate your input.