Tag: illness

The Diverticular Disease and Diverticulitis UK Support Group on Facebook

Posted in Diet, digestive health, Diverticular Disease/Diverticulosis/Diverticulitis, General health, Hospital, IBS, Medical examinations, SupportTagged , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Did you know that in the UK over 50% of people aged 50 and over have diverticular disease? In fact, it’s even more prevalent in the elderly with over 70% of those over the age of 80 suffering with the condition. So why is it that this condition is so common and yet there are a huge number of people who have never even heard of it?

Well, to begin with, in the overwhelming majority of cases, diverticular disease is asymptomatic meaning that it shows no symptoms at all. However, this means that an unlucky minority who suffer from complications of the condition such as frequent pain, episodes of diverticulitis and even the occurrence of perforations and abscesses may struggle to get adequate sympathy from their family and friends and even from their own doctor.

The standard advice in the UK upon diagnosing diverticular disease from a colonoscopy is to eat a diet high in fibre and stay hydrated. While not bad advice for many people, it certainly doesn’t suit everyone. There isn’t a ‘one size fits all solution’ unfortunately since the understanding of the condition even by the medical community is still somewhat limited. Sadly, this can make some sufferers feel alone which is partly why I felt the need to create this blog. But even more valuable than articles and blog posts is the advice and support of others who know exactly what you’re going through.

Remember that you are absolutely not alone while suffering with diverticular disease or diverticulitis and joining an online support group could provide you with the reassurance that you need when you’re feeling unwell or frightened.

If you’re a UK resident or you are a British expat living abroad, consider joining this group of over 4,500 members and a knowledgeable and supportive admin team. You can join by simply clicking the button below which will take you to the Diverticular Disease and Diverticulitis UK Support Group on Facebook. From there, you need to request to join the group and answer the entry questions which are in place to protect the group from spammers and bots.

Join the Diverticular Disease and Diverticulitis UK Support Group on Facebook now!

I hope to see you there soon!

Diverticular Disease/ Diverticulosis Vs Diverticulitis

Posted in Diet, digestive health, Diverticular Disease/Diverticulosis/Diverticulitis, General health, IBD, IBS, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , , , 6 Comments

Is there a difference between diverticular disease/ diverticulosis and diverticulitis?

Yes, quite an important one, too and here’s what it is…

DIVERTICULAR DISEASE/DIVERTICULOSIS

The condition of having diverticula or ‘pouches’ along the wall of the large intestine.

This disease is thought by most medical professionals to be symptom-free. However, lots of Diverticular disease (DD)/Diverticulosis sufferers will tell you differently. The truth, really is that it’s not a condition that is very well known and the symptoms of it appear difficult to record and monitor since they vary so much from person to person and can be confused with other digestive tract problems such as IBS.

Generally, it is thought that those who have a diet lacking in fibre or who live an unhealthy lifestyle are more likely to develop diverticula in their bowel over time. However, there are suggestions involving a genetic predisposition to develop them, too.

DIVERTICULITIS

When one or more diverticula becomes infected and/or inflamed.

A lot of medical terms or parts of them come from either Greek or latin origins and diverticulitis is an example of this. The –itis suffix comes from greek and means inflammation or infection. We see this with lots of other words too, for example, tonsillitis, arthritis, etc.

Diverticulitis is an infection or inflammation of one or more diverticula in the bowel. The reason for diverticulitis is not well understood, but it is thought that living a healthy lifestyle and keeping stress to a minimum can reduce the likelihood of it taking place. However, there is no guaranteed magical fix-it that will work to keep you free of infection. It is often detected by the use of blood tests and CT scans. However, some doctors use X-rays as a fast way to check for perforations of the bowel, too.

Diverticulitis can vary from being mild to severe with complications. For the very mildest episodes a clear liquid and low residue diet will help you get through. However, for other cases antibiotics may be required or even in some cases hospitalisation and even surgery.

It’s worth mentioning that the overwhelming majority of those with diverticular disease/diverticulosis never get diverticulitis! And, out of those who do get it, only a few get repeated episodes and/or surgery.

So, remember, the diverticular disease/diverticulosis is the presence of diverticula or pouches in the intestine whereas diverticulitis is an infection or inflammation of one or more diverticula. It’s important to know whether a diagnosis of diverticular disease/diverticulosis or diverticulitis is given to know how best to deal with it is.  

Do you have Diverticular Disease/Diverticulosis? Have you ever had diverticulitis?

5 Ways to reduce nausea

Posted in Diet, digestive health, Diverticular Disease/Diverticulosis/Diverticulitis, Gallbladder, General health, IBD, IBS, UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

It is quite common for people with digestive problems to suffer with nausea. This can be because of food choices, poor eating habits, stress, gastritis, medication or could even be unexplained. If this isn’t something you suffer with frequently, you don’t need to worry because everyone feels nauseous from time-to-time. However, if you are feeling nauseous on a regular basis, you should mention it to your GP/PCP or gastroenterologist.

Nausea isn’t always followed by vomiting and there are things you can do to reduce nausea without relying on drugs.

  1. Drink water – Drinking a little water can help to settle your stomach, but take small slow sips and drink water from the cold tap rather than chilled water from the refrigerator.
  2. Take your mind off it – Thinking about how you feel sick can make you feel even worse. Try to take deep breaths and think about something else. For example, put on a TV show or a movie that you enjoy.
  3. Try some ginger – sipping on ginger tea, eating a ginger biscuit or chewing on a little crystallized ginger can really help to reduce nausea. You could also try sipping ginger ale – but again, slowly and small sips.
  4. Get some fresh air – Go and sit in the garden or on the balcony, or even open a window or door
  5. Sniff a perfume – put a spray of fragrance on a wrist and sniff it. Avoid food smells and stick to fragrances you enjoy. Having a little sniff of your wrist can help. If you don’t have a perfume or fragrance, an essential oil or even vapour rub can help alleviate nausea.

If none of the above work, then it’s time to consider a nausea medication. The best idea is to speak to your doctor or your local pharmacist about which product is the best for you!

Do you suffer with nausea? How do you cope with it? Let me know in the comments.