Diverticular Disease

Diverticular disease - becomes increasingly common as we get older. Half of us over 60 have some. Most people have no symptoms, occasionally causes changes in bowel habits, abdominal pain and more rarely, severe inflammation, which occasionally needs major surgery to correct. It doesn’t predispose you to cancer.
Major symptoms can be controlled by changes in the diet. Going to the loo more frequently? Unlike other bowel conditions, try reducing the amount of fibre you eat - try white bread and rice, avoid cereals with wheat fibres, reduce fruit, take normal amounts of veg. Loose stools - do the same but if changing the diet doesn’t work, try anti-diarrhoea medication from the chemist. Only rarely should surgery be needed.