What Working With Someone on Diverticular Disease Actually Looks Like

In my last blog I explained the difference between diverticulosis, diverticular disease and diverticulitis, and why fibre keeps coming up. Useful, I hope. But if you're the one dealing with the bloating and the cramping and a gut that won't behave, general advice only gets you so far. So here's what I promised. This is how I actually work with someone, start to finish.

Why "just eat more fibre" often goes wrong It's not bad advice. It's just incomplete.

Most people hear it, bump up their fibre overnight, feel worse, and decide food is the problem. Or they start cutting things out "just in case" until they're eating the same five meals and still don't feel right. The thing is, two people with the same diagnosis can need quite different things. The type of fibre, how much, how it's cooked, when you eat it. All of it matters, and it's really hard to work out alone from articles. It usually takes months of trial and error, and that's months of feeling rubbish.

What we actually do:

First, we talk. A lot. [Initial consultation, around 60 minutes, online or in person.] I want to hear your story: your symptoms, what you've been diagnosed with, what a normal week of eating looks like, what you've already tried. You don't need to have anything figured out beforehand. Then you keep a simple food and symptom diary for [a week or two]. Nothing obsessive. We go through it together and the patterns usually show up fast. Maybe there's barely any variety in your fibre. Maybe long gaps between meals. Maybe one thing you'd never suspected. This is how we find what's going on for you, rather than guessing. We discuss your food preferences. From there I build you a plan around the food you already like, your budget and how much time you've actually got to cook. Not a list of good foods and bad foods. Fibre goes up gradually so your gut has time to catch up.

We also look beyond the plate. Water, movement, meal timing, fermented and prebiotic foods. And then we adjust. [Follow-ups every 2-4 weeks.] Some things work straight away, some don't, and that's fine. That's the whole point of having someone to adjust it with you.

Why it's quicker than doing it alone?

You skip the trial and error. We start from your diary and your symptoms instead of a long list of maybes. You avoid the common traps too, like raising fibre too fast, cutting out too much, or following old advice like avoiding nuts and seeds. And you've got someone to ask. When you're not sure if a symptom is normal or something to worry about, that matters more than people expect.

The aim isn't for you to need me forever. It's that you understand your gut well enough to make your own calls.

Is this for you?

Probably, if you've been diagnosed and don't know what to eat. Or you've had a flare-up and want to look after your gut better afterwards. Or you're fed up with conflicting advice online and just want someone to tell you what makes sense for you.

One important thing. Diverticulitis can need urgent medical care. If you've got severe or ongoing tummy pain, a fever, vomiting or blood in your stool, see your GP or get urgent help first. Nutrition support works alongside medical care, not instead of it.

If you'd like some help, get in touch. Book a free 15-minute call below, with no obligation, and find out if we are the right fit for each other.