I was diagnosed with diverticulitis back in January. I had a few surgeries for it and have an ileostomy bag, which will be reversed next week. I had severe abdominal pain and a ruptured bowel, so I needed to have surgery on it. Everything is looking better now, so I'll be having the reversal of the ileostomy. I'll have to watch what I eat so my diverticulitis doesn't act up too bad. Please send me some prayers and hope for the best and for a speedy recovery!

I had it for six months. Trips to bathroom 12 times daily. Went to emergency. Started lemon water in AM half hour before breakfast. Eureka! I was soon cured and latest colonoscopy shows clean colon at 88 years old.

I was diagnosed with diverticulosis back in 2012. No problems whatsoever with seeds or nuts. I have antibiotic and food allergies, so I started a food journal again to see what was setting me off. Every time we had pizza, submarine sandwiches or any meal with lots of bread, I had blockage and pain. I do not eat any cereals, oatmeal, grains anymore and I do much better. I eat mostly meat and vegetables, very limited processed foods, no crackers or dry salty snack foods. I had surgery a little over a year ago, they took out a large benign mass in the colon and I have done well since that resection.

You seem like a doctor who truly cares. Thank you for this video. You explained diverticulitis far better than my ex-gastroenterologist.

Was diagnosed after a fistula. Surgery is scheduled for next month. Pain is extreme, but trusting God that it will be well with meds and lifestyle changes

Got diagnosed a month ago, I'm in my 30's. Was in extreme pain all over the place, CT scan show the abscess had burst and i had multiple pockets of puss all over the pelvic region. Luckily a week in hospital with heavy meds and my body cleared it. They wanted to originally have key hole surgery to drain them but they happened to be too hard to get to without much more major surgery. I normally never go to the doctors and suffered for 4 weeks which is how it got this bad but now I know to get straight to my GP if I have similar trouble. Thanks for the vid, I have been watching a lot of them to learn more and while this condition sucks it is manageable.

BEST advice I’ve heard, and I’ve been sick on and off for over a year. No one in our very small town(s)/area has given me advice like this. I’ve been to a PA who has diverticulitis (she hasn’t really helped me deal with it), 2 family doctors who give me zero advice and put me on antibiotics (3 times in 6 months), and a gastroenterologist that just keeps giving me tests and never tells me exactly what to eat and doesn’t refer me to a dietician like I need. THANK YOU, Dr Cooper for clearing a lot up for me!!

Thank you so much! This video was very informative especially for someone that’s against medicine

The last two times I had an attack, which was not as severe as some of you posting...I roasted a few heads of garlic and eat 4 or 5 cloves twice a day. That took care of it after a week of lessening pain.

I appreciate the focus on this topic. I have it with other conditions ( kidney stones former and GERD) and it’s hard to navigate what to eat.

Thank you doctor for your great contributions. Really appreciated. Everything, content, tone, etc.

Been through it several times... Best advise ive seen..... thx

Amazing revelation...thank you very much indeed for the updation. Lots of physicians advise not to eat seeds and nuts. I am a yoga teacher. Now i have new client with diverticulitis and given him 2 sessions. He got good relief..Thank you for the incredible discourse 🙏🏻

Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

You are awesome Dr Cooper! You make me feel better every time because of your soothing and carrying spirit. Who else could make a pocket of puss sound like not a big deal?

This was so helpful. I haven’t found any good or true updates info on the internet till now. I couldn’t sit for an entire month and had to be off school and work and we didn’t know what it was. We treated with some benzodiazepines to help with the stress and muscle relaxers and I eventually felt better. It was so scary :( I wish I had this video in march. Thanks for making it

Great video. Filled with a lot of information

Takes a special person to be a G.I. provider. you have a beautiful smile….

Hi Mark, Thanks very much for making this informative video. I really appreciate your efforts. Hopefully I can get my issues under control. I am starting FODMAP this week. I am guessing Christmas and New Years will be a little bit quiet, but I really do not want another bout of inflammation like I have just had. Anyway again thanks very much.

Had an attack of Diverticulitis out of the blue, was sent home with antibiotics, a follow up CT scan 1 month later showed an abscess that they couldn't drain, bowel perforation, large local lymph nodes and fat stranding. The doctor said to let nature take its course and wanted to wait for swelling to go down before I had a colonoscopy. Never had a normal bowel motion since, have passed blood, blood clots, mucus and mucosy poop. Now am feeling better other than constant soft stool sometimes with mucus or blood and another month on another CT now shows I have adhesions to the bladder and womb, an ovarian abcess and a bowel to bladder fistula, have a sigmoidoscopy tomorrow as they suspect a tumor, am scared, doctor keeps telling me im young to have this gone from mild to very complicated.

I had a colonoscopy in mid July - dr says you are fine , you have ALOT of diverticula but it’s pretty common - nothing to worry about. Not even two months later - i am at work , I have a left side cramp and suddenly the chills really bad . Went to ER because the chills and cramping got worse. WBC was high and they do a CT scan - I get admitted and have Diverticulitis with a 2.4cm abscess and fissure. I have to stay and be on antibiotics for 5 days - surgeon says that if it was a tad bit larger he would have did surgery . Never knew I had any of this going on and suddenly I have this / now no matter my healthier diet , more fiber etc I am constipated a lot and nothing seems right now. Wondering if something happened during the colonoscopy and if they should have just did the surgery because i am so uncomfortable no matter what i do . 😢

That was a good video. Thanks.

How about pain in the left hip area when having diverticulitis ?

My doctor gave me a high fiber diet and it made things 100% worse, I went down hill fast, after years of dealing with this I found that nuts and orange juice are the worst things to eat for me, and high fiber diet was a no go, I tried a all meat diet for a few months and so far that has helped tremendously, also doing a 3 day fast every once in a while, everyone is different but this is what helped me

I’m at hospital now in so much pain hope you are ok xx

Funny, the NSAID is the only thing that helps my inflammation and pain with diverticulities, plus antibiotics. I had pain that was horrible for 2+ weeks because I thought it would just go away. I had to go to urgent care and got a CT the next day to dx me. Although, some say it's because of bad diet, I had a healthy diet and still got it.

Thanks for this great video. Towards the end you referred to the 'right' types of foods - got some examples? Also, what's your view on taking a pro-biotic if you have diverticulosis (and are trying to avoid future flare ups!)

I take apple cider vinegar capsules and super enzymes after every meal and it has helped immensely.

Thank yor very informative

Just had my 3rd Diverticulitis attack in about 5-years. I cannot imagine even slight pressure on my Abdomen from an Ultrasound not making me scream out in pain! I will take a CT scan thank you. It is more thorough also.

I just got diagnosed 😭 was in the hospital for a couple days they said I had a abscess but wasn’t big enough to drain gonna try and watch what I eat thanks for the video!

Diagnosed with diverticulitis back in 2012. Was hospitalized for a week on pain killers and antibiotics. Recently do to family stress I had a flare up. Was prescribed 2 antibiotics. Cause the pain lasted over a month.

Thank you so much

Thank u for posting this video. I have had frequent uncomplicated diverticulitis . cutting out sugar, fatty meat, most alcohol plus drinking kefir helled me a lot. Severe stress seems to bring on diverticulitis too.. What are your thoughts on that?

Thank you for your kindness ! It has been a trial after my gall bladder taken out two and a half years ago! Now I have been diagnosed with severe diverticulitis! Not fun! Some days many trips to the bathroom gawd awful pain and so much gas! My stool full of mucous!!! I may have surgery very soon!

Great information here! I’ve had my colostomy for a while now after having a very bad case of diverticulitis that had me hospitalized for almost a month. You brought up a very good point with the pain medication and antibiotics that I now have a question about. Prior to my surgery and hospitalization I had been treated for what I was told was only a hernia at the time. I had previously had a small case of diverticulitis that had gone away entirely and I wasn’t having issues. Months later I’m dealing with the hernia situation and my doctor put me on traumadol for the hernia and that alone. I ended up back a short time later feeling more pain than before and this time with a fever. Not long after that I was hospitalized at a different hospital. My question is could the traumadol have made things worse?

Hi I was diagnosed with diverticular disease 2 years ago had bad flare up in Dec 2023 was hospitalised CT abnormal have to have colonoscopy done through general anaesthetic as I have a looped sigmoid colon and could not have it done through sedation, am very unwell so tired right sided dull aches ongoing, kleenprep failed, any advice would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

Thanks for sharing this information. I was diagnosed with uncoplicated diverticulitis last month and I had repeated soft flare up 2weeks after i finished antibiotics. The pain is manageble but i have severe GERD in mean time. What the best medicines for GERD in this cases? I am 37 is pretty depressing.Thank you!

Does anyone feel the pain in the lower back?

Hi Dr., i was dx with diverticulitis in May 2023 with my 10 yr colonoscopy. Told back to come back in 10 yrs. I got the report., thru hospital My Chart. My GP read it to me, later via phone exactly as per report, geez not his way of saying it, the report. Obviously he didnt know. Not first time ive had issues with him, . I have seen or talked to him since. Weve clashed with symptoms on many other diseases, illnesses over the yrs too. But since there is a huge shortage of doctors in my country and i need my meds, i have to hang on to him for that only. I try to take probiotics, vit d, prunes, dates for constipation, IBS.

I have it right now and Im 99.9 percent sure that it was brought on, by eating a whole bunch of pistachios the night before. Spent the last few days with painful constipation, directly followed by severe, bloody diarrhea. Starting to feel better now, but I distinctly remember laying on the batroom floor, praying that I wasn't going to end up like Elvis.😮. I REALLY thought I was about to die. I have been in several life threatening incidents, but the two times in my life, that I felt like I was touching the hem of the Grim Reapers robe, was when I was sitting on a toilet with my pants around my ankles...😆

Use poke leaves drops and liquid kelp take one drop of each , increase drops one extra each day until 15 days which would equal to 15 drops of each. Take with 8oz of water.

I was diagnosed 6 days ago spent 5 days in the hospital, just to know zosin started raising my biliruben direct which started to show as a liver blockage , I had hepatasleenomaglia as well very very painful 25 years old it’s getting younger and younger people noe

I just found out i have diverticulitis. I landed in the ER. Nuts were the culprit. My mom had this disease and nuts always gave her flare ups. So please dont say that nuts don't cause this issue

I am a diverticulitis "frequent flyer". I have a connective tissue disorder (hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) so I'm more prone to anything where the connective tissue is involved, and it was explained to me that many EDS patients have diverticula. I had 6-1/2 inches of sigmoid colon removed in 2018, did great for two years, then it all started up again, and it's more frequent than it was even before that surgery. Unfortunately, I have diverticula THROUGHOUT my colon, so the surgeon doesn't know where to target next. I'd go for a total colectomy, but she says I don't want to do that, that dealing with reattachment or a stoma would be triggering for my medical PTSD. (So is frequent diverticulitis.) I have been prescribed antibiotics every single time I've had this, dozens and dozens of times over the years, and am wondering if I shouldn't just try to ride it out without any next time (or stop the course I'm on currently because, yep, I'm in another flare). I've had way too many CT scans over the years, too. Docs where I live don't want to go the ultrasound route. They'd do an MRI before they'd do that. I'm so tired of this. It's ruining my quality of life and causing me to think Very Dark Thoughts about Not Being Here Anymore. This is no life.

Great video! You did tell is that bacteria and/or viruses can get in to the little pouches and thus cause diverticulitis. You did not talk about what causes the pouches in the first place. I have seen other videos that say it's mainly from straining on the toilet. Do you agree with this?

I had lingering lower abdominal pain a year ago which lasted for 4 months. I couldn’t run or jump without pain. Went to doctor and was diagnosed with Diverticulitis. They gave me antibiotics and it cleared up. Now, 1 year later I feel the same pain coming back. Feels like pain the in groin as well as dull pain in lower abdomen. I wish I knew what triggered it. Foods, constipation, travel?? Never had a fever or nausea related to diverticulitis. Pain is always there but tolerable unless I try to run. I’m also have IBS - self diagnosed.

I never had GI issues until last year. I began to take prescription iron pills due to iron deficiency anemia. Constipation ensued from the pills. Lots of straining to have bowel movements. Had a few very sharp stabbing pains in the lower left quadrant of the abdomen. 2 months later, I was diagnosed with diverticulitis via CT scan. 3 days before I ate a lot of strawberry tomatoes, which have tons of seeds in them. The antibiotics then damaged upper GI health. Gastritis and esophagitis=horrible symptoms for the last 5 months. I've lost 20 lbs.

I’m convinced my diverticulitis is caused by covid. I’ve had it three times. The first time during my first bout of covid in 2020. Then after being vaccinated in April 2022, I was hospitalised with diverticulitis. Now, last week I tested positive for covid again. I’m three days into a diverticulitis flare up. Never had problems with my gut before. Doesn’t run in my family. I’m not overweight. I eat a Mediterranean diet, no pasta, no bread, very little alcohol, no milk. Lots of veggies and beans. Some meat and fish. Our own olive oil. After this I’m trying carnivore

I’ve had fairly regular DV attacks since 2010, probably 3-4 per year. I’ve had great doctors but they essentially have prescribe Cipro, Flagyl, and Amoxycillin. In 2018 it was recommended to me to have surgery since my doctor said my diverticuli were in places that would cause repeat episodes. I elected to not have surgery for many reasons and to manage via my diet, gut biome, weight, and stress. I have had bouts since ‘18 - in fact I have one now - but I’m getting good at managing them. Here’s what I would recommend. When you start getting left side pain (or, for you maybe right side), don’t delay action, get started on a liquid diet right away. Stop eating. It’s critical to stop material passing through the colon. Drinks lots of water and preferably lemon water. I recommend a 72 hour liquid diet (BTW, no dairy other than if you need some in your coffee) and assessing your pain. If it’s still there, but declining, keep going on the liquid diet. If it’s declining, consider one more day and then start a low fiber recovery plan. I usually eat some oyster crackers or a bit of pasta. Plan on 5-7 days before starting to add some small amounts of fiber to your diet. Regarding pain management, I would recommend Tylenol (Acetaminophen) vs Advil (Ibuprofen). The Advil will impact your digestive tract including slowing it down which you don’t want. I also take stool softeners as soon as I suspect I have an episode coming on. I also take a laxative for the first day so that I’m helping clear out my guy so that the infected spot - essentially a sore in the colon - can heal without being disrupted by being “rubbed” by food I’ve eaten. But, if the laxative causes you pressure then don’t do it, it doesn’t for me, just gives digestion a bit of “help”. I also stop all weight training or physical activity that may cause you to tighten your abs. Don’t lift. Walking is great so I increase my daily walks. If you can, avoid antibiotics. If you are following your doctors advice and the pain is increasing after 3-4 days then you might have a bad infection requiring antibiotics. Do your homework regarding Cipro and Flagyl. Fluoroquinolones potentially have serious side effects that can stay with you forever. I have had very bad reactions taking both and so do not go near them now. If I do take an antibiotic I take Augmentin. It doesn’t act as fast as Flagyl/Cipro but it works and doesn’t have the nasty side effects. Again, do your homework on the Fluoroquinolones. Surgery: Some people have to get it. Maybe I will at some point. But, I given the risks of sepsis from the operation (going into the colon after all), sepsis from the hospital (a growing issue), cutting into muscle and organs, 6-10 months with a bag, and other issues, I’d rather be disciplined in managing my diet and recovery from attacks then be cut on. Plus, the doctors don’t know how much of your colon/intestine they’ll have to take until they’re in there (generally) so you could come out of the surgery with your life completely changed. Additionally, I’m reading postings by people who have had an operation and the success rate for ‘no further infections’ seems quite low and the after effects quite high. Give it some thought. Thanks to Dr. Cooper for his videos. It’s a shame that DV doesn’t have - and probably won’t have - a “cure”. In my case, it’s most likely genetic because I’ve always eaten well, am not overweight, never get constipation, drink plenty of water, exercise, and manage my stress. You can run but you can’t hide too long from genetics. Good luck everyone!

It was only after years of a high-fiber diet, which included nuts and seeds as well as leafy green vegetables, celery, Etc., that I ended up with acute diverticulitis

Does any food activate the diverticulitis what can you do to prevent it from hurting all the time cramping up is there certain foods you can eat or certain foods you can’t eat

I cannot find a GI doctor in this city who can give me the info needed to help guide me other than telling me over the phone that I had two precancerous polyps, severe diverticulitis and not to eat nuts. And no I don't need to make an appointment with him to talk about it is what he said. Apparently this city is getting overwhelmed with the need for colonoscopies and it's keeping doctors too busy to do anything else, is what my pc told me. Am very disappointed and is seems like our medical system is slowly failing along with the city. Am I on my own again in this medical adventure, time to rise up again as my own best advocate because most certainly no one else will. They're too busy making sure everything is in place for the anticipated cash cow from the rainbow crowd. Thank you for your info.

I just had 10 days of Antibiotics, for a diverticulitis . I didnt have any fever, and all the other symptoms except for pain in the areas the CT scan showed . I still feel yuk, I hope it wasnt as Dr Cooper has indicated , a virus attack, I was told by the NP to eat low fiber, and wants me to continue .

I was just in the hospital, suffering from extreme back, leg, and abominable pain. With extreme constipation. My Stull would not evacuate, without extreme pressure. I have a previous back injury and current L5, S1 Herniation which causes extreme pain, numbness in my back, legs, knees, and feet. I've been diagnosed wuth diverticulitis. Which caused swelling, whuch in turn caused pain, difficulty urinating, and in general makes life, walking, exercise difficult. I decided to continue a clear, liquid diet, mostly utilizing chicken stock, lots of water, and prune juice, and im slowly feeling better. I rather not used antibiotics and prefer a natural path. Is there any advice you could offer?

i craked open 6 English walnuts ,was great for 24 hrs but then I thought i was on my way out, that stuff is painful, lasted 2 days/nights

Great video since I landed in the ER with my 3rd attack in 20 yrs. I feel I’ve done a good job with diet and lifestyle but during my CT scan it showed a AAA. I have a f/u with my PCP, but wondering if I should ask for a referral to address the AAA??

A home remedy I use is turmeric powder, ginger powder, diced garlic, dash of black pepper,fresh lemon juice in water, boil, strain, drink cool or hot. Definitely works to reduce colon inflammation for me. Also slippery elm capsules help.

I quit sunflower seeds and had no issues for 4 years. I made the mistake of eating seeds while commuting to work and after 3 days had a flare up. Will never touch seeds again 😢

I eat fiber every night. Eat tons of whole foods nothing processed. Had popcorn the other night flared up I eat steaks like crazy no issues Been scared a 100 times it feels like. Im glad they can do it different now

does mct oil help diverticulities

I get flare ups when I eat beef or cabbage.

Dr. Cooper, I had back pain for 4weeks then excruciating pain in my left front area of my stomach for 2 days. The pain has since subsided and I feel much better. The urgent care doctor wanted to do a catscan right away. I declined due to all the radiation. Should I have any further concerns since I feel relatively back to normal now?

I was diagnosed a few years back. The flare ups are so painful and nasty.

I got this and colostomy bag put in there but after 5/month lick what they fistula meaning they need to cut opened my belly again cause need to cleaned found out is 3/liter and cause this I got blood infection/septisis , I almost dying

For those of you who were diagnosed with DT Who took a antibiotic and how long before positove results? Thx.

For those who have reduced acid production due to a Bilroth 2 bypass, be more prone to this taking PPI medications?

Can somebody tell me what to eat that wont make me bleed? They only told me the seeds and nuts thing.

I have found that I have fewer minor attacks if I remove nuts and seeds, including tomato seeds (although strawberry and raspberry seeds don't seem to bother it). I also found that things like dried corn or wasabi peas trigger it very badly, so I don't touch them at all anymore.

I was diagnosed earlier this year and at this moment I have a flare up. I have chronic kidney failure and I'm on dialysis so I believe my diverticulitis stems from this because of the low strict diet of fibre and fluid. So here you can see my dilemma, is there any diet advice you can give? me,

Scar tissue can also form on a surgical area after years later diverticulitis could be dangerous

I have it now, ugh I started feeling sick when I was given a new medication for cholesterol. I believe that was the cause anyone can tell me if I'm right🤔

Would pomegranates cause this issue I’m in a lot of pain

I've been dealing with these horrible symptoms for over 3 weeks now, but having no insurance, and living on Social Security, I just cannot afford to see a doctor about this. I'll try a clear liquid diet for several days, then move into some soft foods like cottage cheese, and scrambled eggs??? Then I'll start eating a lot of salads and see if this will help me.

Thank you for doing these video's! They are very informative. Is it normal with diverticulitis to have a localized pain in left side felt when walking for any distance? Looking forward to more of your video's!!!

I was in hospital two years ago for two weeks. Did not have a bowel movement in 14 days so set a record at the hospital. I was on morphine which at first I refused to take. However the pain was so great that I gave in. At some point I was told I have to have surgery. But so far I am okay. Also people I know have had surgery and still have diverticulitis. I am not a heavy set person. My mother had it as well. So I am thinking of taking MCT oil do you think this can help? Also interested in any new treatment.

Thank you so much, very informative. I am due for my colonoscopy ( 5 yr) due to polyps found previously. I currently have diverticulitis and am being treated . How soon will it be safe to have a colonoscopy preformed after having diverticulitis? Thanks

What meds relieve cramps and gas,??;

I was diagnosed with mild diverticulitis after my colonoscopy at age 61. I was in shock. I eat healthy meals, eat high-fiber diets, exercise daily, and hike up high-altitude peaks. My BM is regular. Sometimes twice a day. Sometimes I will have very mild BM discomfort before using the bathroom. How on earth did I get diverticulitis? It could be stress or eating seeds.

I was eating plant based vegan foods but they were high in sodium when my second attack happened. It makes me wonder if high sodium could be the cause? I can't figure out what I did wrong to have a 2nd attack only 2 months after the first one.

Can you cite research I can obtain to share with my doctor when they say that a cat scan is THE ONLY way to diagnose diverticulitis? 3:59

Hi I have diverticulitosis ,can this cause pain on the right side and travel to youre back as well Thanks

When a person has a history of good healing with antibiotics and a new doctor comes along and says just take tylenol then the poor guy get sentenced to a week or more of pain and lack of sleep etc and then goes to a real doctor who cares and finally gets the antibiotics he needs.

What about parasites causing inflammation in the gut causing the flare ups

hey bacteria! there is a party in my colon and youre invited happy little buddy!!!

It's a very painful affliction

In 2004, I had my first colonoscopy at age 50. I was given the all clear and see you in 10 years. 2 weeks later I got diverticulitis. 2014 I got acute diverticulitis. Colonoscopy 3 months later, all clear. See you in 10 years. 2023 diverticulitis. I'm scheduled for my 10 yr recheck now because of this flare up. Praying for good results. I'm done with this pattern

@mark Cooper , thank you for not giving out the misinformation most doctors still give out of staying away from seeds even thought JAMA (medical journal ) back in 2008 ! Did an intensive study proving otherwise , this is why I switched my Dr , he told me to stop eating strawberries because of the seeds 😂🤡

How much Vitamin D should I be taking i was diagnosed with Diverticulitis in my 30s I’m 47 now

Oh dear….fibre is my worst enemy. Extreme bloating, cramps, acid reflux…I just can’t. I used to take extra fibre and ate plenty of veg…and my diverticulosis got worse, a lot worse! I’ve changed my diet to high fat (excellent for pooping) and very low carb (diabetes) and feel so much better. Never had diverticulitis until a month ago, not long after eating a bunch a of garden fresh tomatoes (I couldn’t resist)…I’m totally blaming the seeds and skins! Question for you, why do they say fibre is so important BUT you should avoid fibre after an attack? Low residue diet is best for healing but then you want to add the fibre back when you feel better…..nonsense!

Can you do a vid on SIBO?

So basically what you're saying is exact opposite of what the er docs just told me this morning... Great.

Nuts don't cause it huh? The other day I ate some pistachio nuts, now I'm down with diverticulitis. Coincidence ?

“A party in my colon” sounds good

Im surprised they don't use targeted lasers to just remove the little spit instead of removing section of the colon.

Every time I go to the emergency room for a diverticulitis flare, every single doctor, without exception, absolutely refuses to do an ultrasound, claiming that it is not as effective as ct. So I am forced into having yet another CT scan

Regarding restricting antibiotics, our government now has a new regulation - worth reviewing. The Joint Commission has made several revisions to Standard MM.09.01.01, which include updates to align with federal regulations and current recommendations from scientific and professional organizations. The 12 new elements of performance (EPs) will be implemented for the Hospital (HAP) and Critical Access Hospital (CAH) accreditation programs on January 1, 2023. "Antibiotic Stewardship - Understanding the Updated Requirements".

It almost KILLED ME ❤

I wonder if anyone has done a study or taken the stats of how many people w/diverticulitis sit in recliners for long periods of time? It scrunches up the bowels especially if you tend to lean to the left.