An Extreme Day Out – Bedlington And Northumberland Park Stations
This OpenRailwayMap shows the Northumberland Line and the Eastern part of the Newcastle Metro.
Note.
- The yellow track is the Northumberland Line.
- It terminates in the North at Ashington in the top-left corner of the map.
- Bebington station is indicated by the blue arrow.
- It terminates in the South at Newcastle station.
- The green track is the Newcastle Metro.
- There is now an interchange between the two lines at Northumberland Park station.
In the following sections, I’ll describe my trip.
King’s Cross And Newcastle Return For £66.35
I bought my two long distance tickets on a walk-up basis at King’s Cross and Newcastle stations from the machines.
- I traveled North on a Lumo service to Glasgow for £27.20.
- I did indulge myself with a tea for £2.60.
- I traveled South on an LNER service for £36.55.
- One of the reasons, I buy tickets on a walk-up basis, is that with my uncomplicated pancolonic diverticular disease, I might decide to cancel at the last minute, so it avoids the hassle of getting refunds.
Both services were within a few minutes of the timetable, although LNER had said they would be late, due to signalling problems.
My Route In Northumberland For £2.60
I bought a return ticket at Newcastle station for Ashington, which is the current terminus of the Northumberland Line.
- I actually didn’t go past Bedlington station, where I turned round and had a drink.
- As there are two trains per hour on the Northumberland Line, waits are not generally not too long.
- I only came back as far as Northumberland Park, where I swapped to the Metro for Newcastle station.
If I had had more time, I would have stopped at Seaton Delaval station to have a gluten-free dinner, which I wrote about in Seaton Delaval Station – 30th March 2025.
From Newcastle to Bedlington Station
I took these pictures going to Bedlington station.
I would have taken more pictures, but the train was rather full.
Bedlington Station And Bedlington
I took these pictures at and around Bedlington station.
Note.
- Although it is a completely rebuilt station, it has a level crossing.
- But is the signal box keeping a watchful eye over trains and the road?
- Bedlington station appears to be step-free using ramps and the level crossing.
- Just to the North of the station, the tracks split to Ashington and Morpeth.
In my forty minutes or so in Bedlington, I didn’t see a terrier.
Are Any Bedlington Terriers Still Bred At Or Near Bedlington?
I had to ask Google AI, this question and I received this reply.
Yes, Bedlington Terriers are still bred in and around their namesake town in Northumberland, UK. While they are a relatively rare breed overall, the historic North East region remains one of the primary strongholds for these distinct “lamb-like” dogs.
Northumberland Park Station
I took these pictures at Northumberland Park station.
Note.
- The Northumberland Line uses a single bi-directional platform on the North side of the station.
- The Newcastle Metro uses an island platform on the South side of the station.
- Both platforms have steps and lifts.
- There are around 400 parking spaces and a Sainsbury’s Superstore at the station.
At 78, after a stroke, I didn’t find the change between the two lines difficult. But I did use the lifts!
What Are The Future Plans For The Northumberland Line?
I couldn’t resist asking Google AI this question and I received this answer.
With the Bedlington and Northumberland Park stations fully operational, the core phase of the Northumberland Line connecting Ashington to Newcastle is complete. Future plans now focus on route extensions, additional stops, and increasing capacity to handle high passenger demand.
Key Future Plans
Extension to the Coast: The North East Combined Authority is actively funding the development of an extension to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, utilizing existing freight tracks. Planning submissions for this expansion are targeted for 2028.
New Station Proposals: Proposals are being explored to build an additional stop serving the Wansbeck General Hospital and to replace the long-closed Choppington station.
Increased Capacity: Operator Northern Rail is in ongoing discussions with transport partners to lengthen train services (which are currently constrained to two to four coaches) to help accommodate massive patronage on the line.
Integrated Ticketing: The Northumberland County Council is exploring integrated ticketing with the Tyne and Wear Metro to allow for seamless travel between the two networks at stations like Northumberland Park.
From my observations on the line over the last few years, I would go along with Google AI’s recommendations.
These are some specific thoughts.
Extension To Newbiggin-by-the-Sea
This OpenRailwayMap shows the tracks that used to exist between Ashington and Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.
Note.
- Ashington station is in the South-West corner of the map.
- A freight line exists, which is shown in yellow, all the way to Lynemouth power station, which is a 420 MW biomass power station.
- Lynemouth powerstation was originally built to power an aluminium smelter.
- Running South-East from the Northumberland Line, is a disused railway alignment labelled NBN, which leads into Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.
This Wikipedia section describes the history of railway connection of the town.
Situated on the west side of Front Street (now the B1334), the station opened on 1 March 1872 as a terminus of the Blyth and Tyne Railway (now known as the Northumberland Line). The station had a long island platform onto which the station building faced. There were sidings on both sides of the station which handled goods traffic, controlled by a signal box. The station closed to both passengers and goods traffic on 2 November 1964. With the reopening of the Northumberland Line, Provisions have been made, especially at Ashington so that the line could be extended to Newbiggin. As of the end of 2025, there were calls to extend the railway by 1.6km (1 mile) into the centre of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. This will require new track and is all subject to a feasibility study. A formal bid was launched in December 2025 for this.
In Formal Bid To Extend Railway Line, I wrote about the latest progress in January 2026, based on a BBC article.
The Northumberland Line Needs A Focus Other Than Commuting
Several of the stations have large car-parks, which is good for commuting, but the railway needs to serve more places for leisure and other activities.
- Seaton Delaval Hall is Grade 1 Listed and is just 10 minutes in a bus from the station with the same name.
- If the Northumberland Line is connected to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, that could bring in those, wanting a day by the sea.
- The extended Northumberland Line would also connect to Woodhorn, which is a museum, described in this Wikipedia entry.
QTS are also developing an AI data centre at Cambois, which surely will generate commuter traffic from all over the North East.
This OpenRailwayMap shows the location of the QTS AI Data Centre.
Note.
- Ashington station is indicated by a blue arrow.
- The yellow track is the Northumberland Line, which now terminates at Ashington station.
- Bedlington station is in the South-West corner of the map.
- The trapezoidal grey box to the East of Bedlington is labelled as Site for QTS AI Data Centre.
- As the site, was that of Blyth coal-fired power station, before QTS acquired it, there is a disused railway line that connects the site to the Northumberland Line.
I suspect there are powerful economic arguments about whether or not, the Northumberland Line is extended to the QTS AI Data Centre site.
How Much Power Will QTS Cambois Data Centre Need?
I couldn’t resist asking Google AI this question and I received this answer.
The proposed QTS Cambois data centre in Northumberland is expected to require between 620MW and 720MW of critical IT power capacity, with an initial proposal capacity of up to 1.1GW.
Details on the planned power infrastructure include:
Power Capacity: The facility will support up to 720MW of critical IT capacity across ten planned buildings, though some council estimates cite an expected total power capacity of 620MW.
Backup Power: To guarantee uptime and handle power outages, the campus will rely on nearly 600 diesel-powered generators, requiring up to 58 generators per data hall.
Site Details: Located on the former Blyth Power Station site in Cambois, the £10 billion development will span 540,000 square metres.
My views on this are.
- There is the 1.4 GW North Sea Link from Blyth to Norway, that I wrote about in UK To Norway Sub-Sea Green Power Cable Operational.
- The 4.1 GW Berwick Bank wind farm is planned to send 1.8 GW to Blyth.
- To help if QTS need more power, there is the 1.4 GW Sofia wind farm.
- So 1.1 GW should be manageable, as Blyth is blessed with more power than Niagra Falls.
I also believe that Centrica and Delta have a much better backup solution, that I described in Delta And Centrica Launch Scalable Off-Grid Fuel Cell Power Solution. Hydrogen could come by pipeline or rail.
How Would The Northumberland Line Connect To Wansbeck Hospital?
This Google Map, shows the location of Wansbeck General Hospital with respect to Ashington station.
Note.
- Ashington station in the South-West corner.
- Woodhorn museum is in the North-East corner.
- Wansbeck General Hospital is indicated by a red arrow.
- The Northumberland Line runs East-West to the South of the museum and then curves round to reach the station.
Perhaps the station could go between the museum and the hospital and an innovative shuttle would connect all three locations.
How Would The Northumberland Line Connect To Choppington?
This Google Map, shows the location of Choppington, with respect to Morpeth and Bedlington stations.
Note.
- The orange track on the West side of the map is the East Coast Main Line.
- Morpeth station is in the North-West corner of the map.
- Bedlington station is in the South-East corner of the map.
The Eastern end of the Bedlington and Morpeth Line can be seen in this picture to the left of Bedlington North signal box at the Northern ends of the the platforms.
Note.
- Bedlington North signal box has a communication mast behind it.
- The track to the left of the box goes to Morpeth.
- The track to the right of the box goes to Ashington.
This OpenRailwayMap shows Choppington Road, which crosses the Bedlington and Morpeth Line at the only level crossing between Bedlington station and Hepscott junction.
Note.
- Choppington Road, which runs North-South on the map.
- The yellow tracks are the Morpeth and Bedlington Line, which runs East-West across the map.
- Where they cross, a red cross indicates a level crossing.
- The Wikipedia entry of Choppington station shows a level crossing.
As the level crossing on the map is the only one shown, this must be the location of Choppington station.
Is There A Cure For Uncomplicated Pancolonic Diverticular Disease?
I asked Google AI this question and received this answer.
There is no definitive cure for uncomplicated pancolonic diverticular disease, as the structural pouches (diverticula) in the colon are permanent. However, the condition is highly manageable. The primary goal is symptom control and preventing flare-ups using diet and lifestyle modifications.
Management & Control Strategies
Once diverticular disease is present, the condition is managed conservatively rather than cured:
High-Fiber Diet: Consuming whole grains, fruits, and vegetables helps maintain regular bowel movements and reduces pressure on the colon.
Lifestyle Adjustments: Regular exercise, adequate hydration, and weight management are highly recommended to reduce the risk of the condition progressing.
No Food Restrictions: Contrary to outdated advice, you do not need to avoid nuts, seeds, popcorn, or fruit skins, as they do not increase the risk of complications.
Managing Flare-ups (Diverticulitis)
If uncomplicated diverticular disease flares up into uncomplicated diverticulitis, it is typically treated with:
Conservative Rest: For mild, uncomplicated flare-ups, symptoms often resolve on their own with a temporary liquid or low-residue diet and bowel rest.
Medication: Healthcare providers may prescribe oral antibiotics and pain relievers if needed.
Outpatient Care: Most uncomplicated episodes can be safely treated at home without the need for hospital admission.
I then asked Google AI, this supplementary question.
I Am coeliac. Is That A Hindrance Or A Help?
I received this answer.
Having coeliac disease is both a structural help and a practical hindrance when managing pancolonic diverticular disease.
While your mandatory gluten-free diet naturally protects your colon from a major source of gut irritation, it simultaneously makes getting the required amount of daily fibre significantly more challenging.
How Coeliac Disease Helps (The Benefits)
Reduced Inflammatory Load: Because you maintain a strict gluten-free diet to protect your small intestine, you are already avoiding the widespread gut inflammation, severe bloating, and irregular bowel habits that gluten triggers in coeliac patients.
This lack of abdominal bloating lowers the internal “pressure cooker” effect inside your colon, reducing the risk of your diverticular pouches becoming irritated.
The “Healthy Diet” Trap Avoided: Many individuals without coeliac disease are told to aggressively load up on wholewheat bread, bran cereals, and standard pasta to treat diverticulosis. If they have an underlying, undiagnosed gluten sensitivity, this advice backfires terribly, causing massive gas and straining. Your coeliac status safely keeps you far away from this trap.
How Coeliac Disease Hinders (The Challenges)The Fibre Deficit: The primary medical recommendation for pancolonic diverticular disease is a high-fibre diet.
Unfortunately, mainstream high-fibre staples in the UK are typically wheat-based. Standard gluten-free replacement products (like gluten-free breads or white flour blends) are notoriously low in fibre, often relying heavily on refined starches.
Symptom Confusion:
Coeliac accidental cross-contamination and diverticular flare-ups share highly overlapping symptoms, including severe abdominal cramps, bloating, and altered bowel habits. This can make it difficult to determine whether a sudden bout of gastric pain is an autoimmune reaction in your small intestine or a flare-up in your colon.
Balancing Both Conditions Successfully
To ensure your coeliac disease does not hinder your diverticular health, focus your diet entirely on naturally gluten-free, high-fibre foods rather than processed gluten-free substitutes.
One of my favourite foods, is to eat a whole punnet of Dyson’s year-round strawberries with a small pot of Marks and Spencer’s luxury heather honey and ginger logurt, around tea-time.
I asked Google AI a supplementary question, if this was good practice
I received this answer.
Eating a whole punnet of Dyson’s strawberries with a pot of M&S Heather Honey and Ginger yoghurt is a highly effective, delicious practice for your conditions, but with one important nutritional caveat regarding the sugar and fat content in that specific luxury yoghurt.
The Good: Why Your Timing and Ingredients Alignment is Excellent
The Perfect Tea-Time Window: Eating a heavy dose of fibre at tea-time (late afternoon) is excellent practice.
It ensures your digestive system stays active and hydrated into the evening, preventing nighttime constipation and reducing bowel pressure while you sleep.
Naturally Gluten-Free: Both components of this snack are 100% naturally gluten-free. Checking the official ingredients, the M&S Collection Heather Honey and Ginger Yogurt uses cornflour as its thickener rather than wheat starch, making it perfectly safe for your coeliac disease.
The Anti-Inflammatory Ginger Boost: Real diced and ground ginger in the yoghurt acts as a natural prokinetic (speeding up gastric emptying) and has mild anti-inflammatory properties, which can soothe a sensitive, diverticula-prone colon.
Hydration and Stool Bulk: A full Dyson Farming punnet (typically 250g to 400g) packs massive fluid volume and 5 to 8 grams of stool-softening dietary fibre, ticking a massive box for your pancolonic management.
The Caveat: The “Luxury” Trade-off
While the strawberries are an absolute nutritional green light, the M&S Luxury Collection yoghurt is explicitly designed as an indulgent treat rather than a health food.
High Added Sugars: This specific yoghurt contains added refined white sugar and muscovado sugar on top of the natural heather honey, resulting in roughly 14.8g of sugar per 100g. High sugar loads can occasionally ferment rapidly in the lower bowel, triggering gas and bloating that stretches the diverticular pouches.
High Saturated Fat: Made with 15% Devonshire whipping cream, a single 150g pot delivers a substantial dose of saturated fat. While this does not harm your coeliac disease, an overly rich tea-time snack can slow down stomach emptying for some individuals.
The Verdict & How to Optimise It
It is perfectly fine to keep enjoying this exact combination if it is currently making your gut feel great! Your personal symptom response is always the best guide.
However, if you want to make it an elite, everyday “best practice” for your long-term health, consider this simple tweak: use half the pot of the luxury M&S yoghurt mixed with an equal amount of plain, unsweetened Greek yoghurt.
This retains the live cultures, the fiery ginger punch, and the luxury honey flavour while cutting the sugar and saturated fat in half.
Would you like some recommendations for other gut-friendly, naturally gluten-free ways to sweeten plain probiotic yoghurt, or would you like to explore other high-fibre tea-time snacks?
I probably have the snack, three times a week.
Could Tennis Help The Symptoms Of Uncomplicated Pancolonic Diverticulitis?
When I used to play real tennis a very regularly, I didn’t seem to get the angry gut, I have now.
I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this post and received this answer.
Yes, playing tennis can help manage the symptoms of uncomplicated pancolonic diverticulitis as part of an active lifestyle, though it is best suited for the prevention of flare-ups rather than treatment during an active attack.
Regular, moderate-to-vigorous exercise like tennis has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of developing diverticulitis.
How Tennis Helps DiverticulitisReduces Risk of Attacks:
Studies show that vigorous activity, such as tennis, can reduce the risk of developing diverticulitis by up to 27%), as mentioned in research published in the Journal of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases.
Improves Bowel Function: Regular exercise helps keep bowels moving, which helps prevent constipation—a major contributing factor to diverticular pain.
Reduces Inflammation: Regular, moderate-intensity physical activity (which can include tennis) has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body.
Weight Management: Exercise helps manage weight, reducing obesity, which is a major risk factor for complicated diverticular disease.
My exercise levels have certainly dropped since I had the stroke and moved to London.
Could Horseriding Help The Symptoms Of Uncomplicated Pancolonic Diverticulitis?
When I used to ride horses a small amount, I didn’t seem to get the angry gut, I have now.
I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this post and received this answer.
While there is no direct scientific evidence regarding horseriding specifically, general physical activity and exercise are strongly recommended for managing and preventing the symptoms of uncomplicated diverticulitis.
Regular exercise helps to increase bowel motility (movement), which can help reduce the pressure within the colon that contributes to diverticular symptoms.
Here is how physical activity, including potentially activities like horseriding, can play a role in managing this condition:
Benefits of Regular Exercise on Diverticular Symptoms
Reduced Risk: Studies show that regular, vigorous activity can decrease the risk of developing diverticulitis.
Improved Digestion: Exercise encourages regular bowel movements, preventing the constipation that often exacerbates diverticular pain.
Weight Management: Maintaining a healthy weight reduces pressure on the colon, which is beneficial for managing diverticular disease.
Important Considerations for Horseriding
Gentle Movement vs. Jarring: While light-to-moderate, regular activity is beneficial, you should ensure that the activity does not cause sharp pain or excessive stress on the abdominal area, especially if you have had recent symptoms.
Individual Tolerance: The key is to engage in regular exercise that you enjoy and that your body tolerates well.
When to Avoid Exercise
If you are experiencing an acute flare-up of diverticulitis (fever, severe abdominal pain), you should avoid strenuous exercise, rest, and follow your doctor’s advice, which often involves a liquid or low-fiber diet.
Could Uncomplicated Pancolonic Diverticulitis Cause The Constant Pain In My Hip Joints?
It’s not chronic pain, but I must have had it for at least forty years.
So what does Google AI make of my question?
It gave me this answer.
Yes, it is possible for uncomplicated pancolonic diverticulitis (inflammation throughout the entire colon) to cause constant pain in your hip joints.
While diverticulitis is primarily a gastrointestinal issue, it can cause referred pain to the hips and legs or trigger systemic inflammation that affects joints.
Here is how your condition might be linked to your hip pain:
1. Referred Pain (Nerve Pathway Irritation)
The inflammation from a diverticulitis flare-up can irritate nearby nerves that connect to the hip, thigh, or groin area.
Location: While classic diverticulitis causes left-side abdominal pain, a severe or widespread (pancolonic) flare can cause “referred pain” in the lower back, hip, and thigh.
Constant nature: If the underlying inflammation remains active, this pain can feel constant rather than intermittent.
2. Systemic Inflammation and “Diverticulitis-Associated Arthritis”
Rarely, active diverticulitis can trigger a form of inflammatory arthritis, acting as an extra-intestinal manifestation of the disease.
Migrating Pain: This can cause joint pain and stiffness in larger joints, including the hips, knees, and ankles.
Connection: As the gut inflammation resolves with proper care (antibiotics/diet), the joint pain often improves.
3. Anatomical Proximity
The colon sits in close proximity to the musculoskeletal structures of the pelvis, including the iliopsoas muscles (hip flexors).Inflammation in the colon can cause swelling that affects these muscles, leading to pain in the hip region, particularly with movement.
That looks like a possibility to me!
But it needs more investigation.
Eating To Raise My Vitamin B12
Is My B12 Level Low?
Consider.
- The Weather Isn’t B12-Friendly As I found Out In Does Miserable Weather Deplete Your B12?
- My brain seems to hoover up any B12 it can find for its own purposes.
- I am getting signs in my body like red feet, pine-and-needles, which Google AI tells me could be low be a sign of B12.
I am not surprised my B12 is low.
B12 Rich Foods
Typing “B12 Rich Foods” into Google AI gave me this.
Vitamin B12-rich foods are primarily animal-based, with clams and beef liver offering the highest concentrations. Other excellent sources include fish (salmon, trout, tuna, sardines), red meat, eggs, dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese), and poultry. Vegetarians and vegans can find B12 in fortified foods like nutritional yeast, plant milks, and breakfast cereals.
I’ll now go through each food in order.
- Clams – Never tried them, but I’m not a great lover of shellfish! – My biggest client did poison himself on oysters in the City.
- Beef Liver – Love it!
- Fish (Salmon, Trout, Tuna, Sardines) – No Problem!
- Red Meat, Eggs – No Problem!
- Dairy Products (Milk, Yogurt, Cheese) – No Problem! – I’ve only eaten yoghurt in the last few years.
- Poultry – No Problem!
I think I can increase my B12 intake with foods I like.
I often eat two small pots of yoghurt a day, with the second with a punnet of strawberries.
Smoked Salmon Also Seemsw Good For My Diverticular Disease.
I’ve just got to watch what I eat!
But I have Seen Worse Diets
Is Smoked Salmon Good For Uncomplicated Pancolonic Diverticular Disease?
For lunch today, I made myself a sandwich with a 100 gram pack of Mark’s and Spencer’s smoked salmon.
Out of curiosity, I asked Google AI. “Is there any B12 in smoked salmon” and received this reply.
Yes, smoked salmon is an excellent source of vitamin B12. A 100-gram (3.5-ounce) serving provides over 100% of the daily recommended value, with some studies showing as much as 136% (roughly 3.3µg) of the daily intake. It is considered a rich source of B12 along with other nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and vitamin D.
Key details regarding B12 in smoked salmon include:
High Concentration: A 3-ounce serving provides approximately 2.8 micrograms of vitamin B12.
Daily Needs: Consuming 100g of smoked salmon can fulfill 136% of the daily requirement for vitamin B12.
It looks like a pack of smoked salmon can provide my daily needs of B12.
I followed up, by asking Google AI, the question in the title of this post.
This was the answer that I received.
Smoked salmon can be a suitable protein choice for managing uncomplicated diverticular disease, particularly during periods when a low-fiber or moderate-fiber diet is recommended to manage symptoms. It is generally considered a lean, high-quality protein source.
However, the suitability of smoked salmon depends on the status of your condition:
During a Symptom-Free Period (General Diverticulosis):A healthy, balanced, high-fiber diet is recommended, and fish like salmon is a good choice.
During a Symptom Flare (Uncomplicated Diverticulitis):
A low-fiber, low-residue diet is typically recommended to allow the colon to rest.
Smoked salmon is generally acceptable as a soft, easy-to-digest protein source in this phase.
Important Considerations:
Smoked salmon is a processed meat (smoked/cured), and some guidelines advise limiting processed meats as they may contribute to inflammation,
or at least suggesting they should not be consumed frequently compared to fresh, white fish
Key Recommendations:
Include in a balanced diet:
It can be part of a healthy diet, for example, with low-FODMAP foods.
Watch for Sodium:
Smoked salmon can be high in salt, so moderate consumption is advised.
Focus on Lifestyle:Overall, a high-fiber diet (when not in a flare), plenty of water, and avoiding smoking are the best ways to manage diverticular disease.
It looks from this, that smoked salmon in moderation should be OK.
Are Sprouts Good For Uncomplicated Pancolonic Diverticular Disease?
I asked Google AI the question in the title of this post and got this answer.
Yes, sprouts are considered beneficial for managing uncomplicated pancolonic diverticular disease as part of a high-fiber diet. They are a good source of dietary fiber, which is recommended to help prevent constipation and reduce pressure in the colon, thereby lowering the risk of symptom flare-ups.
That sounds that they are.
This lunchtime, I seemed to avoid the dreaded fartrigen, despite eating a lot of brussels sprouts.
Can Toddlers Get Uncomplicated Pancolonic Diverticular Disease?
I am asking this question, as I do wonder, if I’ve had the disease for many years, as I don’t feel any different now, to how I felt at 18, 30 or 50.
In my first couple of years of life, I was also a bad bed-wetter.
My mother cured me of this, by putting me in a small bed next to her’s and then getting me out of bed every time I woke. In the end her persistence paid off.
Since I’ve been diagnosed with uncomplicated pancolonic diverticular disease, I am certainly drinking a lot of fluids and gooing to the toilet a lot.
Although thankfully, I am not wetting the bed.
But, I do always sleep close to a toilet.
So I asked Google AI the question in the title of this post and received this answer in the form of this peer-reviewed paper, which was entitled Congenital Cecal Diverticulitis In A Pediatric Patient.
This is the abstract.
Diverticulitis in the pediatric population is a very rare cause of abdominal pain. When present in the cecum or ascending colon, it is often incorrectly diagnosed preoperatively as acute appendicitis. This is especially true in Western countries where right-sided diverticulitis is less common. Here we detail a case of a pediatric patient with complicated congenital cecal diverticulitis and review the literature on pertinent management. An extensive work up with imaging and endoscopy was completed and definitive surgical treatment with diverticulectomy an appendectomy was performed. As the incidence of diverticular disease in younger individuals increases, right sided diverticulitis is worthy of consideration on the differential diagnosis.
Note.
- I don’t remember being in any pain, but I was less than three, as this happened before my sister was born, when I was only 21 months old.
- I remember picking my sister up from hospital in my father’s Y-Type MG.
- My eldest son had appendicitis diagnosed at ten, but they didn’t operate. So was it diverticulitis?
- He wasn’t X-rayed or scanned.
- Doctors always believed I had a disease, they couldn’t identify.
- When I was identified as a coeliac at 50, I thought that was the problem.
But then as my now-retired GP said. “Whatever, I’ve got, doesn’t seem serious!”
British Strawberries In December
I purchased these strawberries at Marks & Spenbcers on Moorgate this morning.
Note.
- The packaging doesn’t photograph well.
- They were grown by the Summer Berry Co. in West Sussex.
- They also claim to be hand-picked.
- The tray appears to be made of good old-fashioned recyclable card-board.
- They are also labelled Not for EU, although they are Class 1!
I’ve eaten them before and they’re certainly good enough for this strawberry addict.
This Google Map shows the location of their strawberry fields.
The farm is located just to the North of Selsey and Bognor Regis.
Are Strawberries Good For Uncomplicated Pancolonic Diverticular Disease?
As a sufferer of the disease, I have to ask Google AI, the question in this sub-title.
This is the answer I received.
Yes, strawberries are good and safe for people with uncomplicated pancolonic diverticular disease. Current medical evidence and guidelines indicate that there is no need to avoid small seeds found in fruits like strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries.
This is the rationale
In the past, it was a common belief that small food particles like seeds could get trapped in the diverticula (the small pouches in the colon wall), causing inflammation (diverticulitis). However, this theory has been debunked by recent research.
As I’ve always preferred strawberries to an elaborate dessert, even in my friend’s Michelin-starred restaurant, I wonder, if I’ve had uncomplicated pancolonic diverticular disease for many years.
The source of the answer was from Johns Hopkins University.
The Anonymous Widower 