DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I know you have written about diverticulosis before, but would you mind going over it again? I was hospitalized with it and had to have intravenous fluids. My brother-in-law says that wasn’t necessary. He has it, and it has never caused him any trouble. He says he’s careful about not eating nuts, seeds, popcorn and berries, and that’s all that you have to do for it. I know I was in pain, and I know it wasn’t imagined. Can you clear up these issues for me? – W.F.

ANSWER: Your brother-in-law is right about diverticulosis. It seldom causes severe pain. Diverticulosis is the formation of diverticula – small protrusions on the outer colon wall. It’s a condition widespread in countries where refining flour is the rage. Refining gets rid of fiber, and a low-fiber diet is believed to be a major factor in the development of diverticulosis. Fiber keeps undigested food soft, moist and easily propelled through and out of the digestive tract. Without it, stool becomes hard and dry. The colon must exert great force to pass it through. That force generates diverticula formation.

You had more than diverticulosis. You had diverticulitis – inflammation of the diverticula. Each diverticulum connects with the colon through a narrow neck. If that neck becomes obstructed, bacteria in the diverticulum multiply and cause it to swell and become most painful. Swollen diverticula break and form abscesses, which add to the pain. Most often, diverticulitis must be treated in the hospital.

At one time, people with diverticulosis were uniformly instructed to avoid nuts, seeds, popcorn, berries and similar foods in the belief that they would obstruct the neck of a diverticulum and bring on a bout of diverticulitis. That position isn’t universally adopted anymore. However, if your personal doctor tells you to avoid those and similar foods, do so. He or she knows far more about your particular condition than does someone at a word processor hundreds to thousands of miles away from you.

The booklet on diverticulosis and diverticulitis deals with all aspects of this too-common disorder. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue – No. 502, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Can. with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Can a doctor prescribe medicine without seeing the patient? My uncle has been paying a private doctor to have four different prescriptions filled for high blood pressure for well over five years. He has not seen that doctor once in those years.

My uncle doesn’t want to see the doctor because he is afraid of what might be found. I am concerned, and I want to either threaten to report the doctor to the authorities or have the doctor force my uncle to come in for a visit. – C.J.

ANSWER: It’s foolish and dangerous for a doctor to prescribe medicines for such a long time without seeing the patient. I don’t believe it’s illegal, however.

It’s equally foolish and dangerous of your uncle to avoid a doctor’s visit because he fears what he might hear. Learning about an incubating illness is bad news, but it’s worse news to ignore such an illness.

Call the doctor, and speak your mind. Talk to your uncle and let him know how silly his position is. Ignoring his health is sure to cost him in future suffering and pain.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have a chronic infection of the urinary tract. I just get over one infection and in two or three weeks have another. Now I am infected with a super bug that oral medicines can’t touch.

Am I worried? You bet. The issue is antibiotic resistance. People should be aware that antibiotic overuse has created this monster. A discussion of this would be appreciated. – J.H.

ANSWER: Bacterial resistance to antibiotics due to their injudicious and excessive prescription is a staggering problem. Limiting these wonder drugs to situations only where they are truly required could stem the emergence of such resistance. People should not ask for antibiotics for a cold. They have no place in cold treatment. Colds are due to viruses, not bacteria. Antibiotics don’t kill viruses.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Having had kidney stones, I was interested in your article on them. I have a few questions.

1. Does drinking milk lessen the chances of stones?

2. What do you mean when you say potassium has the opposite effect of sodium? Are potassium-rich foods good?

3. Should we eat less salt, sugar and meat? – W.

ANSWER: The discussion was on calcium oxalate kidney stones, the most common variety.

Calcium foods do not promote calcium stone formation, and they might even prevent it. Drinking milk is perfectly OK and might stop stone recurrence.

Sodium (table salt) encourages calcium loss into the urine and, therefore, the formation of stones. Potassium does the opposite. Potassium-rich foods are a preventative for stones.

Sugar, meat and salt favor stone formation. Yes, eat less of all three.

The most helpful step in stone prevention is drinking lots of fluids, enough so that your urine stays colorles

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Readers may also order health newsletters from www.rbmamall.com