Diverticulitis is treated using diet modifications, antibiotics, and possibly surgery. Mild diverticulitis infection may be treated with bed rest, stool softeners, a liquid diet, antibiotics to fight the infection, and possibly antispasmodic drugs.
Mild cases of diverticulitis are usually treated with antibiotics and a low-fiber diet, or treatment may start with a period of rest where you eat nothing by mouth, then start with clear liquids and then move to a low-fiber diet until your condition improves. More-severe cases typically require hospitalization.
Dietary changes often help patients with diverticulitis. During flare-ups, “bowel rest” through a clear liquid diet can be recommended. If a patient cannot return to solid foods in three to five days or is feeling worse, a follow-up appointment should be scheduled immediately, Dr.
Taking Tylenol (acetaminophen) as directed can take the edge off your pain and help you feel better. Other pain relievers might be your preferred drugs of choice. But when it comes to diverticulitis, acetaminophen is your best bet.
Treatment for Diverticulitis
Symptoms should improve in 2-3 days, and the diet can be slowly advanced. Communication with your health care provider is important if symptoms worsen or do not improve. Treatment of moderate to severe symptoms of diverticulitis occurs in the hospital.
How long does a diverticulitis flare-up typically last? After starting treatment, most people should start to feel better in two or three days. If symptoms don't start to get better by then, it's time to call a healthcare provider and get instructions on what to do next.
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.
If your diverticula keep getting inflamed, your bowel may get narrower or get blocked. You may have constipation, trapped wind, bad tummy pain and a swollen tummy. You may also feel sick or be sick. You may need bowel resection surgery to remove the damaged or blocked part of your bowel or to correct a fistula.
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.
A high-fibre diet can often ease symptoms of diverticular disease, and paracetamol can be used to relieve pain – other painkillers such as aspirin or ibuprofen are not recommended for regular use, as they can cause stomach upsets. Speak to your GP if paracetamol alone is not working.
Fever above 100.4°F (38°C) that does not go away. Nausea, vomiting, or chills. Sudden belly or back pain that gets worse or is very severe.
If you don't treat it, diverticulitis can lead to serious complications that require surgery: Abscesses, collections of pus from the infection, may form around the infected diverticula. If these go through the intestinal wall, you could get peritonitis. This infection can be fatal.
In severe cases, your physician might recommend hospital admission for intravenous feeding so that your bowel may rest for a few days. Diverticulitis may respond to medical management, but if episodes become frequent, then surgical resection of the affected area might be necessary.
If you have a severe attack or have other health problems, you'll likely need to be hospitalized. Treatment generally involves: Intravenous antibiotics. Insertion of a tube to drain an abdominal abscess, if one has formed.
When one or more of the pouches become inflamed, and in some cases infected, that condition is known as diverticulitis (die-vur-tik-yoo-LIE-tis). Diverticulitis can cause severe abdominal pain, fever, nausea and a marked change in your bowel habits.
Diverticulitis can usually be treated at home with antibiotics prescribed by a GP. You can take paracetamol to help relieve any pain. Talk to a GP if paracetamol alone is not working. Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen, as they can cause stomach upsets.
Stay with liquids or a bland diet (plain rice, bananas, dry toast or crackers, applesauce) until you are feeling better. Then you can return to regular foods and slowly increase the amount of fibre in your diet. Use a heating pad set on low on your belly to relieve mild cramps and pain.
Water and clear juices (such as apple, cranberry, or grape), strained citrus juices or fruit punch. Coffee or tea (without cream or milk) Clear sports drinks or soft drinks, such as ginger ale, lemon-lime soda, or club soda (no cola or root beer) Clear broth, bouillon, or consommé
Are alcohol and coffee bad for diverticulitis? Not necessarily, though you definitely want to avoid alcohol and caffeine if you're experiencing a diverticulitis attack. “Coffee is a bowel stimulant, so if you're having an attack you might want to stay away and rest your bowel,” says Dr.
Taking Buscopan may help with cramping abdominal pain. Antibiotics have now been demonstrated to be unnecessary for most patients with diverticulitis. If your doctor does decide to give you a course of antibiotics you will be given a script. A normal diet is recommended when you have mild 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.
Bed Rest. Along with dietary restrictions, bed rest has been part of the routine treatment of acute diverticulitis.