Diverticulitis Specialist

What is diverticulitis?

If you have diverticulitis, small, inflamed, or infected, bulging pouches appear in your large intestine. The condition affects about half of people over 60. While some people with diverticulitis don’t experience any symptoms, others have unpleasant symptoms that can interfere with their life.

What are the symptoms of diverticulitis?

If you experience diverticulitis, you could notice some of the following symptoms:

• Abdominal discomfort
• Severe pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Tenderness
• Fever
• Chills
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Bowel changes
• Cramping
• Bloating

About 25% of people with short-term diverticulitis develop complications from the disease. Examples include an abscess with pus, infections, inflammation, bleeding, tears, bowel blockages, abnormal passageways in your bowel, and pouch ruptures (peritonitis).

Peritonitis can cause the intestinal contents to spill into your abdominal cavity. That’s a medical emergency requiring immediate attention.

What are the risk factors for diverticulitis?

While anybody can develop diverticulitis, certain things boost your risk of developing it. Examples include being older or obese, smoking, being physically inactive, eating a low-fiber diet or a diet high in animal fat, and taking some medications.

How does my doctor diagnose diverticulitis?

To find out if you have diverticulitis, a specialist reviews your medical history and symptoms. They complete a physical exam, check your abdomen for tenderness, and do a pelvic exam if you’re a woman.

Your doctor might recommend other diagnostic tests, including blood tests, urine tests, stool tests, liver enzyme tests, CT scans, and a colonoscopy.

What are my diverticulitis treatment options?

Depending on how severe your diverticulitis is and whether you experience complications, your GI specialist will suggest one of the following treatments:

Lifestyle changes

Get regular exercise, eat high-fiber foods, take probiotics if your doctor recommends it, drink a lot of fluids, and avoid smoking. Your specialist could suggest that you follow a liquid diet for a specific period of time.

Medications

Taking over-the-counter medicines to relieve your symptoms or prescription medications to improve intestinal healing can be part of your diverticulitis treatment.

Hospitalization

If you experience a severe diverticulitis attack or serious complications, your specialist will probably recommend that you spend time in the hospital. There you can receive intravenous antibiotics and/or undergo surgery.

Don’t live with unpleasant diverticulitis symptoms or complications when help is within reach at North Texas Gastroenterology Associates PLLC. Call the office today for an appointment or use the online booking system.