Hi Jeanette,

Sorry to hear that you're still having trouble with constipation. Did you increase your water consumption? How much psyllium and Bentonite are you taking, and how frequently? Are you using enemas or colonics? Did you start experiencing more problems with constipation since the barium enema? If so, you might want to consider a series of colonics to clear everything out.

In answer to your question about the mucoid plaque showing up with a barium enema, it is unlikely. It may appear as a thickening of the colon wall, but unless the passage is completely obstructed they would probably dismiss it. I currently have a geriatric patient in my psychology practice who underwent a colon resection because they thought she had a growth that was obstructing her bowel. Once they went in they discovered that there was no growth, only a very bad impaction. She's had to suffer with a colostomy because they were unable to determine what they had seen on the scan.

You may already know this, but there is a difference between diverticulosis and diverticulitis. Diverticulosis is rather common and is a structural change in the colon resulting in small pockets that form. They are not symptomatic UNLESS waste becomes trapped in the pockets and they become infected resulting in diverticulitis...which can be quite painful. Gradually increasing your fiber intake, improving your bowel function, drinking sufficient water and eliminating processed foods from your diet are necessary in order to prevent new diverticula from forming and keep the one's you have from becoming inflammed or infected. I suggest that you pick up a copy of Dr. Jensen's Guide to Better Bowel Care by Dr. Bernard Jensen . It includes a good discussion on diverticular disease.