"jmcquown" wrote in
:

CatNipped wrote:
"jmcquown" wrote in message
news
I did think about Usenet some when I was in the hospital for 7 days
but only because hospitals are terribly boring. I wasn't begging
the nursing staff to smuggle in a laptop with wireless

Jill

How are you feeling, Jill? Are you able to eat anything more solid
than soup now?

Nose Kisses,

CatNipped

I feel good, thanks! The surgeon wants to let my system get "back to
normal" before scheduling my surgery. I'm to call immediately (day or
night) so he can call in antibiotics if any of my symptoms return in
the meantime.

I've been off the liquid diet since before I was discharged from the
hospital. I have to eat a low fiber diet for a while. This confuses
some people since (allegedly) diverticulitis is caused by not getting
enough fiber. Problem is, high fiber food isn't easily digrested and
gets trapped in the diverticuli. Once the diverticuli become inflamed
and infected (and in my case, rupture) fibrous foods make things
worse.

So for the time being, no whole grain breads or pastas (I had to buy a
loaf of white bread for the first time in 25+ years!). White flour
all the way. White "Texas toast" makes a fine grilled cheese sandwich,
though I need to avoid overly fatty and fried foods but that's not
a problem. Meat needs to be lean and practically "chopped". I had a
breakfast of ham & scrambled eggs in the hospital. The ham had been
chopped into tiny bits. I'm sure some of the kitties here would have
approved!

I have to avoid fresh fruits; who'd have thought a peach or an apple
was too high in fiber? They are. Canned (processed) fruit is fine.
Vegetables need to be well cooked. That's not a problem... I don't
like veggies cooked to mush but I was never a fan of "tender-crisp"
and the texture of raw veggies makes me cringe. Potatoes have to be
peeled; none of those "homestyle" mashed taters with the skins left
on.

I have to avoid nuts and seeds at all costs. For the time being
things like lentils and some dried beans (which I love) are a no-no.
Tomato sauce has to be strained to remove the seeds. I can't eat
corn, either, which is a shame since I love corn on the cob and I make
a mean corn chowder! But the skin of the kernels is too fibrous and
difficult to digest. (sigh)

Jill




I was going to ask you about all of this because I am having problems
dealing with the medical system here. My doctor was away when I was
admitted to the hospital but I don't think that is a good excuse. The gi
doc who did the colonoscopy is now in India with a family emergency so I
met with his boss but not one of my doctors seems to know what to tell me
to do. I was told to go back to normal foods but as I started dialing in
more fiber I think I started getting "stopped" up again. every time I
see a doctor it cost me a day fo work and a bunch of money. I am going
to see my primary doc in about an hour and plan to tell him I am
frightened and frustrated. I think I should be back on the low residue
diet (me too on the white bread BTW) and hopefully I will stabilize until
Sept. Oct. when I can get surgery if it is still indicated. I was not
even too bad with the low residue diet but no one told me to stay on it
including the surgeons. I am very glad to see you say all this because I
am finally thinking I am not the crazy one and you give a bit of
confirmation to that.

Have you been told how "normal" (and how soon) you will be after they do
surgery?

ps: My thing is the amazing lentil soup I make that I need to not make.

Andy