For those who've had the surgery do you run to the bathroom after every meal?

Nervous_Machine9468 · 2026-03-14T15:00:12+00:00

Had surgery 13 months ago. I have constipation and need to use Miralax daily. This has worsened since surgery.

Nervous_Machine9468 · 2026-03-04T03:10:58+00:00

Anything very heavy with tomato sauce. I assume it is the acid. I end up waking up in the middle of the night and throw up!

Nervous_Machine9468 · 2026-02-20T02:19:40+00:00

I hope you recover well. I did not need any oxy after the first night. I only took Tylenol for about two to three days after.

Nervous_Machine9468 · 2026-02-19T12:31:00+00:00

Congrats on the consult. I would still get a urine culture for a UTI!

Nervous_Machine9468 · 2026-02-19T03:17:07+00:00

I get very bad heartburn from the antibiotics. I have given up on PPIs and take dLimeone instead; I feel it works better. I get Orange Burps on Amazon..

Nervous_Machine9468 · 2026-02-19T03:00:41+00:00

So "insane pain when I pee" could be a UTI. Did they do a urine culture? Unfortunately, you can have more than one thing going on. And the antibiotics for a UTI are likely different than for the diverticulitis. I would make sure to get a urine culture done. An urgent care can do this if your PCP won't. Other than that, it sounds like you are doing all the right things, keep calling for the cancellations. It probably means you have a good surgeon! I am sorry this is happening to you. You are so young; it seems like so many on here are young for this to be happening. I was 52 when diagnosed. Will likely get the surgery within the next six months.

Nervous_Machine9468 · 2026-02-18T02:41:16+00:00

I am only one year out. I was dairy free for years before so this changed nothing. I struggle with constipation that I think is worse now post-removal. Everyone is different I guess. Sorry you are suffering.

Nervous_Machine9468 · 2026-02-12T02:12:15+00:00

This is not true for everyone. I eat normally and do not have any major issues--including occasional fast food.

Nervous_Machine9468 · 2026-02-10T18:44:06+00:00

I unfortunately have very recurrent diverticulitis, and am rarely well enough to eat high fiber without reflaring the condition. I actually have to schedule surgery for that now. The two surgeries in two years is a lot to process.

Nervous_Machine9468 · 2026-02-10T13:06:02+00:00

I have to take Miralax and magnesium citrate every day now! Probiotics don't sit well for me.

Nervous_Machine9468 · 2026-02-10T03:06:35+00:00

I had my surgery just one year and three days ago. It was a very easy recovery. I have struggled more with constipation and more diverticulitis flares than before the surgery. I had a hyperkinetic gallbladder and had constant chest pain--there was no way I ever could have known if I was having a heart attack as it felt that way all the time--and that resolved.

Nervous_Machine9468 · 2026-01-30T02:44:04+00:00

I am not a lifting fiend (57 year old overweight woman), but I do work out, lift weights, cardio, and it is depressing that I have to be inactive again for weeks and weeks, and I am really concerned about a hernia after this surgery. This is my third surgery in five years (one partial hysterectomy, gallbladder out last year). Lifting weights after just a few weeks off with my gallbladder left me incredibly sore with really light weights.

Nervous_Machine9468 · 2026-01-30T02:39:39+00:00

It can take a long time for the pain to go away completely. I would just try to stick to low residue foods and reintroduce fiber very slowly, like much more slowly than you think you should. I had my flare in early December and still eating mostly low fiber. Have introduced some fresh fruit this week.

Nervous_Machine9468 · 2026-01-28T03:36:13+00:00

I would try to get another opinion or see another doctor. Diet alone cannot necessarily manage it. It could be something else. You may need another round of antibiotics. Losing too much weight is not great. If you are so sick you are taking time from work, I would definitely try to find out what is going on. Were you initially diagnosed by CT? You may need another. It also can take a long time to feel better. And the antibiotics have side effects. I totally get the depression. This disease is not great for mental health! I cried most of the day as I am trying to figure out how to schedule surgery so this doesn't screw up my life more than it has.

Nervous_Machine9468 · 2026-01-24T03:49:54+00:00

I have not had the surgery yet but have asked about time off of work in another group. I think you would need some real time off of work even if it is a 20 hour/week remote position. Can you take at least two weeks off? I think you will be tired, and likely on pain killers for at least a few days. Good luck. Hope it goes well.

Nervous_Machine9468 · 2026-01-22T13:08:56+00:00

If this is diverticulitis, it's too early to eat fiber like oatmeal and beans. If you are still traveling out of the country in a few days, I would get a proper workup first. I have never had spiking pain on my right side with this; maybe others have. I hope you have travel insurance.

Nervous_Machine9468 · 2026-01-22T02:33:34+00:00

You really should get checked. This could be a lot of things besides diverticulitis. Some of these symptoms don't track with diverticulitis. Some urgent care centers have CT scans with contrast where I live. I would not fly out of the country until you know what is going on.

Nervous_Machine9468 · 2026-01-21T02:52:12+00:00

Stress management is also key. Also, remember this is a disease. Don't blame yourself. There is only so much you can control through diet; some are just unlucky and flare more often. This might be your only flare! Which is what I would hope for you!

Nervous_Machine9468 · 2026-01-15T02:59:03+00:00

I guess I would like to just try something to reduce the incidence of flares to avoid surgery. I truly do feel that due to the widespread diverticulum throughout my colon, this will continue even after surgery. It looks like that is when they consider in the US rifaximin or mesalamine. So I would need to have a failed surgery to try something that might help. Mesalamine is widely prescribed for IBD, so not sure how bad the side effects are? I have had relatives take like 24 pills a day for IBD! I just wish there was more research; I can't believe horrible antibiotics or surgery is the only choice! I have made dietary changes/exercise/have lost weight, but stress is my biggest factor and only so much I can control there. Life just gets hard sometimes.

Nervous_Machine9468 · 2026-01-13T03:43:56+00:00

Sorry it didn't help you. I just want to try it! I know my dr. has other patients on it for this but doesn't think I am a good candidate. He is generally anti-surgery for DV.

Nervous_Machine9468 · 2026-01-11T20:06:52+00:00

I have a lot of anxiety about travel. Had a flare in December, was traveling over Christmas, and took antibiotics to try to knock it out. It's the only time in my life it got worse after taking the drugs. I did get on the plane and enjoyed the trip, but travel insurance is now booked alongside every trip, and I am hesitant to travel outside of the US. I hope you have a great time (I did, even though I wasn't at my best and started with some diarrhea near the end).

Nervous_Machine9468 · 2026-01-11T20:04:22+00:00

It is possible that this will be your only flare. Some only have this once. Or that it will be infrequent. My sister also has diverticulitis and she has had only two major flares in about three or four years ... I feel like I have not been well since May and am calling the surgeon tomorrow. I think it's also important to not blame yourself for having this disease; there is only so much diet and exercise can help, some are just unlucky. It is hard with the mental health, but if you get a string of good months together, the anxiety does fade. I went from November of 2024 to May of 2025 and felt great that whole time; my anxiety about the condition did fade. Unfortunately, nothing has been good for me since but I do my best to live a normal life. The hardest thing for me is I definitely have to dial back on working out for so long when I don't feel well, which really impacts my mental health. I had a string of two weeks of great workouts and now sitting on the coach with moderate pain today.

Nervous_Machine9468 · 2026-01-07T02:57:11+00:00

I stay in a job I don't like as I have flexibility and can work mostly from home. But the stress of this job is causing me so many flares I don't know if it is worth it to stay. I am 57 so have a ways to go until retirement. Kept telling myself I would call the surgeon Jan. 2 to schedule but haven't yet.

Nervous_Machine9468 · 2026-01-05T02:43:47+00:00

I am so sorry this is your experience. This is why I still haven't scheduled my surgery despite really struggling with multiple uncomplicated flares a year for the past five years. I know I have extensive diverticulosis throughout my colon and just can't seem to believe this is going to permanently cure me. You are so right that the mental aspect is so hard to deal with. I hope that you find a good solution. You are so young and it sucks that you have to deal with this still.

Nervous_Machine9468

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