UKC

Hi fellow climbers,

Hope you're all scaling great heights. I'm writing here today not for any climbing advice, but because I believe in the wisdom and support that this community can offer.

Over the past year and a few months, I've been struggling with a health issue, specifically Diverticular Disease. It's been a tough climb, to say the least, with various symptoms gradually worsening, leading to a myriad of tests, and finally, a diagnosis. It should have been fairly asymptomatic, but it's made a considerable impact on my life, to the point where I've had to rely on opiate pain killers and other medications, while dealing with ongoing fatigue and depression.

Last week, after an enjoyable day of climbing and XC mountain biking, my condition took a sharp downturn. I'm now in the midst of what feels like a relentless attack, suffering from lower bowel and back pain, accompanied by blood and exhaustion. It's even been affecting my passion for climbing - it's been a struggle to deliver my courses, and I've had to cancel some significant expeditions that I was looking forward to.

I've done my research online, and joined The Gut Trust, but I'd really appreciate some first-hand advice from anyone in this community who's dealing with a similar condition.

Are there any support groups or organizations you can recommend?

Have you noticed anything in particular that triggers an attack? Could it be certain foods, drinks, or stress, or does it seem completely random?

How do you manage your condition? Are there any particular drugs, diets, exercises, or alternative therapies that you've found to be beneficial? I've heard about Aloe Vera being potentially helpful in such cases. Has anyone tried this and found it to be useful?

When it comes to long coach journeys, or long multi-pitch climbs, how do you deal with the urgency to use the bathroom? Any tips for handling these situations, particularly in developing countries?

I hope you can share some insights as this is a bit of a, well, pain in the arse, as they say. Looking forward to your advice, and really appreciate the support from this community.

Happy climbing, and stay safe.

You could see if a diet change works for you.

Remission of Ailments on the Carnivore Diet

The ailments that have gone into remission are many through this diet. I have diverticulitis; it used to be so bad that during flare-ups, the pain scale was 11 (want to kill yourself) to a 12 (pass out). I know it’s still there, but I have not had a single flare-up in at least four months.

https://carnivore.diet/raymond-heals-diverticulitis-plantar-fasciitis-carni...

Some folk discussing it here:

https://www.ketogenicforums.com/t/diverticulitis-flare-investigating-carniv...

youtube.com/watch?v=B7QWFoyUqHY&

Thanks a lot for the tips and the resources you shared, really appreciate it. The Carnivore Diet, huh? Interesting. I'd never really considered something like that, but seeing the stories you've shared, I'm definitely open to giving it a whirl.

Also, on a slightly different note, I've been doing a bit of digging around and stumbled upon some chatter about natural products that could potentially help with managing this mess. I'm pretty curious about that. Any of you folks have any experience with using natural stuff for diverticulitis? Good, bad, downright weird - I'm all ears...

Cheers again for the help. 

One thing I would mention is the gut microbiome and how this all interacts isn't very well understood and a lot of the even medical advice can not be helpful, certainly not for everyone anyway.

This can even be the case for heart conditions, the traditional advice here for arrythmia is to avoid caffeine amongst other things, but for most patients modern studies do not support this. Actually in alot of studies tea has the opposite effect and is protective in moderate quantities that most people would take.

Its worth researching soluble vs insoluble fibre, soluble fiber can be particularly soothing (especially not loading up on too much grain fibre) , also with many gut diseases you can take the advice regarding spices with a pinch of salt, see what works for you. Probiotics are worth looking in to kefir is very loaded with friendly bacteria

My sympathies. Twenty five years for me between the different stages. Not sure what I can really say to help as in my experience of living with the disease is how you manage it is unique to the individual and it needs active management as it does change over time and keeps changing. I can only comment from my experience and am not making any claims of what could help you.

IME no reason why you can’t climb, mt bike, etc. whatever however; you have to actively manage and make lifestyle changes appropriate to your symptoms. That may take time to adjust to.

There are trigger foods in my opinion, but it appears with 20+ years of trying to establish precisely what are the real triggers for me, it’s largely impossible to figure out to a precise level sorry to say.  Eg bread is not just bread and some breads trigger and some don’t for me. Often it is down to the recipe and probably hidden ingredients that are the real triggers. 

Triggers also differ over time and as far as I know differ with different individuals so little point saying what I eat really. The diet does vary due to necessity and I have to be prepared to alter as needed. What I will get away with sometimes I can’t eat at other times. What I can eat as one offs often cause problems if consumed 2 or more days on a row.

Generally, I think you may find urgency takes on a routine of some sort so you can plan your activities and travel accordingly. Find the trigger of urgency and then try and avoid that trigger the best you can. By restricting to two meals a day I found I can have 8-10 hrs in the day with no concern of urgency and usually no pain.

Sounds like you could have diverticulitis now? If you are currently in an acute stage of diverticulitis, and if this is your first flare up or the worst you have had, you really should consider if you should see a GP just in case of hidden complications? When my diverticular disease progressed at 10 yrs or so to acute diverticulitis with complications I had to have an urgent bowel operation which turned into a partial proctocolectomy. Managing D disease is now a bit different than before the op.

Diet wise an acute flare up for me now I would need to take changes and actions quickly to minimise any strain on the bowel. Mainly as I have been told if I don’t control it then I’ll had to have another op. I have to take medication to keep the bowel as empty as possible.

My only thoughts of any certainly for me that you might consider for yourself once you establish a balance are routine, sleep, hydration, gut biome, and quantity of food.

Routine - helps manage the bowel’s routine. Sleep - enough and regular helps as bowel essentially rests overnight and settles into a routine better. Hydration - keeping well hydrated always is vital for the bowel. Gut biome - manage as when it changes so does the disease. Keep diet to simple, quality ingredient foods preferably homemade so you know what is in them and adjust fibre intake, both soluble and insoluble, as needed. If you go for highly processed food, you don’t know all that is in it and more likely to get triggers. Lastly, quantity - no large quantity at once and certainly not rush food - better little and often if I can to minimise amount entering bowel at any one time. Trying to push large amounts of food in a short space of time through the bowel causes more to be pushed into the diverticula and increase intensity of pain and potential further problems.

Hope that is of some help. Good luck.

A fellow sufferer here, ended up with a hospital stay a couple of times. Lots of water, as soon as feel onset of attack I go bland.. white rice and chicken or fish. Lots of probiotics and I swear by garlic.