Is Diverticulitis Associated With MC?

Post by **tex** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 11:37 am

Hi All,

It appears that diverticulitis is associated with a chronic inflammation pattern that is similar to the type of inflammation connected with MC, (and possibly other IBDs). Therefore, drugs that are used to treat IBDs, appear to be affective for treating diverticulitis.

The unanswered question, (in my mind, at least), is, "can dietary changes effectively treat diverticulitis, also?". I'm not referring to avoiding nuts, popcorn, seeds, etc. - I'm wondering if avoiding gluten, casein, soy, etc., can effectively prevent diverticulitis, by preventing the chronic inflammation pattern that's associated with diverticulitis. IOW, I'm wondering if diverticulitis is really a satellite issue of MC/food-sensitivities.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ ... story.html

Tex

jpembry · Post by **jpembry** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 3:46 pm

Yes, that is the correct question I would have also.

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 5:20 pm

I've wondered about this, too. A friend had surgery for diverticulitis this year, and I know this question is on his mind - he knows more than one gluten-sensitive person, so it crossed his mind before I asked whether it has\d crossed his mind. I am not in a position to ask what he's eating these days...

Sara

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 6:59 pm

Tex as always your spot on target and surprisingly timely in this post. I'm just getting my wits about me after surgery today for diverticulitis complicated with the formation of a fistula. This is a leftover from prior to treating the Crohns with meds

We decided that as part of a colonoscopy today the imagery would help make the decision whether to resect or not from an active diverticula. The previous surgery dealt with the jejunum in the small intestine

The thought here is that I should take care of the diverticulitis now as it has required antibiotics a couple of times this year and with a move to Oz hopefully coming up I should get this taken care of, so I opted for a resection.

I would certainly give a vote yes that diverticula and diverticulitis is a part of IBD's

I do hate hospitals though...

Good and timely thread tex

Joe

Post by **tex** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 7:11 pm

Whoa! Joe,

I wondered where you were, lately, but I was hoping it was somewhere more enjoyable than a hospital.

Those surgeries are coming way too often.

I hope you heal quickly,

Tex

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 7:37 pm

Interesting thought--I've also wondered about this, since my dad has diverticulitis and, as we now know, has at least one GS gene. I'm really hoping to talk to him over Christmas about trying GF for a month and see how he does. In my opinion, GF is less restrictive than the typical diabetic diet he's on, not to mention the nuts and seeds he can't eat...

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 8:43 pm

I agree with you Tex, I had them install a zipper just to make it easier LOL. This was semi planned as we know that the diverticula had been identified during my first colonoscopy, it wasn't until this year that they had become problematic. I've been on antibiotics twice now for this. To be honest what I'm really looking forward to are the results of the colonoscopy.

This time a section 9cm was removed which should remove this as a future risk factor.

Tex I did find a good choice of a directional cellular antenna for you, it's based on a grid design that is semi-parabolic in shape. I'll PM you the information.

Cynthia I hope you can convince your dad to try a GF diet it really does seem like a good choice especially with the diabetes.

Joe

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 8:53 pm

Oh boy, Joe, another hospital stay with surgery. This hasn't been the best year for you. I hope you are feeling well by Christmas.

I haven't considered that diverticulitis would be associated with MC. I don't believe that very many of us have had diverticulitis, have we? I know that diverticulosis is common for persons over 60, but not many of them actually get diverticulitis:

an unlucky minority, some 10 to 20 percent of those with diverticuli (the retired professor among them), at some point become ill with acute signs of infection and inflammation, a condition known as diverticulitis.

I've read that once you have an attack, you are more likely to get another attack. Each subsequent attack makes it more likely to get another one.

I used to get attacks fairly frequently and that was the reason I first visited a GI. My PCP thought I would be a good candidate for surgery. Luckily my GI wasn't in any hurry to do surgery and neither was I. Since I've been treating my MC, I've had just one attack which went away very quickly.

Gloria

Deb · Post by **Deb** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 9:02 pm

I have had a bit of diverticulitis for a number of years. At its worst it would wake me up for a bit at night but never anything too serious. I never made any dietary changes. I have had very few symptoms of it this last year and was just recently wondering if my diet change has been the reason. It just amazes me how much of all this "stuff" seems to be related.

Post by **tex** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 10:25 pm

Joe wrote:Tex I did find a good choice of a directional cellular antenna for you, it's based on a grid design that is semi-parabolic in shape. I'll PM you the information.

Don't worry about an antenna - that's not urgent. Concentrate on helping that new zipper to heal.

Tex

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 11:58 pm

Joe, glad your surgery is over, and that you are feeling OK.

I also hate hospitals!

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 8:57 am

Joe--like the zipper idea!

Hoping you won't need it next year!

Gloria--my dad has had two serious attacks that landed him in the hospital. They told him that if he has another one like that, they will have to consider surgery. Your experience makes me think even more that he needs to try GF. In addition to the diabetes and diverticulitis, he also has GERD and infrequent bouts of D (DOES THIS SOUND AT ALL FAMILIAR?? HELLO!). I have made a gentle suggestion (via e-mail, when I told my family about my test results) that, since my parents each contributed a GS gene, that a GF diet is something to be considered. The only response I got was from my mom, who skated over the whole thing with, "Sounds like you have a game plan!"

Post by **tex** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 11:34 am

Yep, my relatives are the same way, and apparently, so is the rest of the world - no one is gluten-sensitive, until they're backed into a corner, and can no longer ignore it.

Tex

Fish2575 · Post by **Fish2575** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 12:39 pm

Cynthia, I am curious, which type of diabetes does your dad have?

I was talking to my mom last night about my enterolab results. She had surgery about two years ago for diverticulitis and my labs showed one celiac gene and one gluten sensitivity. So I got one of them from her. I suspect the celiac one. I would bet her problems are related to gluten.

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 3:52 pm

Hi Fish!

My dad is Type II. His brother and mother were also Type II. When I was about 30 I asked my doctor for a full workup due to the family history. He told me that as long as I stayed active and kept my weight in check, I'd be fine--until I pointed out that my grandmother was never overweight, was an avid gardener who worked outside all the time and ate plenty of fresh veggies and very little processed food--and still became insulin-dependent in her 60's. I have a hunch the gluten is a key factor for our family. There is a genetic link between Type I diabetes and the celiac gene (DQ2), but I'm betting they eventually find a genetic link between Type II and gluten eventually!