Diverticulitis is an intestinal disease that can cause fatigue in some people. The fatigue may be caused by infection, inflammation, or sleep disruption due to pain. It could also be related to nutritional deficiencies such as anemia, dehydration, medication side effects, or surgery.
If one or more of the diverticula become inflamed, however, that condition is diverticulitis. While diverticulosis usually doesn't lead to any discomfort, diverticulitis can be quite painful. Common symptoms include significant abdominal pain, as well as fever, constipation or diarrhea, nausea, and fatigue.
If you have diverticulitis, your diverticula get swollen or infected. You may get a high temperature and feel very unwell.
In most cases, diverticulitis can be treated at home with oral antibiotics, but if your condition is severe, a hospital stay may be required. Your doctor will recommend getting plenty of rest, taking medication to control pain, and drinking mainly fluids for the first couple of days of your recovery.
Most people who have diverticulosis are unaware that they have the condition because it usually does not cause symptoms. It is possible that some people with diverticulosis experience bloating, abdominal cramps, or constipation due to difficulty in stool passage through the affected region of the colon.
The most common symptom of diverticular disease is intermittent (stop-start) pain in your lower abdomen (stomach), usually in the lower left-hand side. The pain is often worse when you are eating, or shortly afterwards. Passing stools and breaking wind (flatulence) may help relieve the pain.
Pay attention to symptoms and follow a healthy lifestyle.
Stay away from nuts and seeds, and don't eat popcorn — that's what doctors said years ago if you had diverticulosis, a condition marked by tiny pouches (diverticula) that develop in the lining of the colon.
Summary. Using a heating pad, taking Tylenol (acetaminophen), and resting are all strategies you can employ at home to soothe diverticulitis pain fast—or at least faster. Home remedies used for diverticulitis are more often used to improve symptoms over some time and prevent future attacks.
Constipation and straining during bowel movements can worsen the condition. A diet rich in fiber can help keep stools soft and prevent inflammation.
In chronic diverticulitis, inflammation and infection may go down but never clear up completely. Over time, the inflammation can lead to a bowel obstruction, which may cause constipation, thin stools, diarrhea, bloating, and belly pain.
CAUSES. The most commonly accepted theory for the formation of diverticulosis is related to high pressure within the colon, which causes weak areas of the colon wall to bulge out and form the sacs. A diet low in fiber and high in red meat may also play a role.
Constant abdominal pain that lasts for days, typically on the lower left side of the abdomen (although some people experience it on the lower right side) Nausea and/or vomiting. Fever and/or chills. Constipation or diarrhea.
Diverticulitis is uncomplicated 80% of the time. But severe or persistent diverticulitis can lead to complications such as: Gastrointestinal bleeding: Bleeding from diverticula can be severe and lead to anemia. Intestinal obstruction: Severe swelling might cause your colon to temporarily narrow.
When stress is added to the overall picture, the problem of diverticulitis becomes an issue. This is due to the body impulses that will immediately address stressful situations by shifting the oxygen and blood from the digestive tract to the brain and muscles.
People with diverticulosis often have no symptoms, but they may have bloating and cramping in the lower part of the belly.
In about 95 out of 100 people, uncomplicated diverticulitis goes away on its own within a week. In about 5 out of 100 people, the symptoms stay and treatment is needed. Surgery is only rarely necessary.
Actually, no specific foods are known to trigger diverticulitis attacks. And no special diet has been proved to prevent attacks. In the past, people with small pouches (diverticula) in the lining of the colon were told to avoid nuts, seeds and popcorn.
In general, it's best to avoid alcohol during a flare-up of diverticulitis. During times of non-flares if you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation.
Get more exercise
This might help alleviate pain due to diverticulitis. Low-to-medium impact exercise has anti-inflammatory effects, according to one 2019 review . The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week.
There are no specific foods you need to avoid. You do not need to avoid any foods such as nuts, seeds, corn, popcorn or tomatoes if you have diverticular disease. These foods do not make diverticular disease worse. These foods may even help prevent it because they are high fibre choices.
Take fiber supplements — You can take fiber supplements like Metamucil, Citrucel or Benefiber to bulk up your stool. Seeds and nuts — In the past we advised diverticulitis patients to avoid whole pieces of fiber, like seeds, corn and nuts.
However, research suggests that these foods are not harmful for people with diverticulosis. The types of foods that worsen symptoms are personal to you. A food diary can help identify foods that are causing problems. The doctor also may suggest taking a fiber product, such as Citrucel® or Metamucil®, once a day.
If you have diverticulosis
Make changes to your diet. This is often all that's needed to control symptoms. The main changes are adding fiber and drinking more water.