Diverticulitis is caused by inflammation and infection of small pouches that form in the digestive tract, especially in people over the age of 40. The disease that forms these pouches (diverticulosis) can develop into a serious infection that needs to be treated quickly. Treatment for diverticulitis varies depending on the severity and how many times it has happened.
Treating a Diverticulitis Attack
Drink plenty of fluids and eat little fiber. One possible cause of diverticulitis is eating small, hard-to-digest foods like seeds, corn, and berries that get stuck in the intestine and cause infection. If you have a bout of diverticulitis, it's best to avoid eating foods that will make your condition worse, such as fiber (which pushes more waste into the infected areas) and the hard-to-digest foods mentioned above.
- When the diverticulitis attack is over, you should start eating more fiber again.
- Try not to eat too many dairy products during this time.
Take antibiotics. See your doctor for a prescription for antibiotics. Diverticulitis occurs when the diverticula (small pouches in the colon) become infected. Only antibiotics can completely cure them or the infection will continue to spread. Follow the directions on your antibiotic label. Typically, you take one tablet by mouth once a day, but this may vary depending on your prescription.
Take painkillers. Most people with diverticulitis experience stomach pain and cramps. Since these symptoms will not go away until the infection is cleared, you can take painkillers to help ease your pain in the meantime. Take ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or naproxen in low doses so that you can increase the dose if your pain increases
Try herbal remedies. Some say that herbs can speed up the healing process so that the body gets rid of the infection and also relieve any pain or discomfort you may be experiencing. Take teas or supplements made with chamomile or slippery elm, two herbs often used for intestinal problems. Just drinking a hot cup of tea can relax you and ease the cramps in your stomach.
Get acupuncture. Although it may seem strange to those who don't believe in it, acupuncture can help relieve certain pressure points that are causing pain or pressure in your abdomen. Go see an acupuncturist and ask for advice on how to help you with your diverticulitis. While it won't cure the infection at all, it can help by giving you some relief.
Try some hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy is pretty simple: you use water to soothe yourself. There are several hydrotherapy techniques you can do at home. Take a warm bath with Epsom salts or put a warm compress on your stomach to relax your muscles and ease your pain
A heating pad can also help with diverticulitis pain. Lie down with the pad on your stomach until the pain subsides.
- Don't fall asleep with the pillow on your stomach!
These techniques can help you cope with the pain. For example, you can practice:
- meditation . Go to a quiet place and meditate for 15 minutes,
- deep breathing . Lie down in a quiet, comfortable place and take deep breaths slowly, focusing on your breathing.
Know the possible complications
Watch for abscesses. If you don't take antibiotics to treat your diverticulitis, the infection can spread and form a pustule or abscess. Typically, you will have severe pain, a high fever , and an elevated white blood cell count. To treat an abscess caused by diverticulitis, a catheter must be inserted into the stomach and drained over several days.
Be careful of peritonitis. If you have an abscess that is not treated, the infection will get worse and lead to peritonitis. This happens when the infection in the abscess spreads beyond the pustule to the entire lower part of the large intestine. Typically, people with peritonitis have a high fever, vomiting, stomach pain, and low blood pressure. The only treatment is strong antibiotics and surgery to remove the infected part of the intestine.
Note the formation of fistulas. In some severe cases of diverticulitis, a possible complication is that the infection, instead of spreading to one part of the colon, spreads to nearby areas of the body such as the bladder or skin. The symptoms are the same as those of peritonitis and this complication can only be diagnosed and treated by a doctor. It is treated with antibiotics and usually requires surgery.
Watch for strictures. This is a rare complication of diverticulitis. If left untreated, scar tissue can form and tighten part of the colon. This tightening is called a stricture and can prevent waste from passing through. It usually requires surgery to treat depending on its extent.
Eat plenty of fiber. Eating fiber every day will help your body move waste through your colon efficiently, preventing it from building up in the small diverticula that develop. Fruits and vegetables are very high in fiber, as are peas and whole grains. These foods all have natural benefits in addition to preventing diverticulitis, so it's in your best interest to eat them regularly.
- Do not eat fiber until you have fully recovered from a diverticulitis attack.
Eat more probiotics. Since the infection that causes diverticulitis is caused by bacteria that are bad for your body, some doctors have theorized that eating more healthy bacteria (probiotics) can help cleanse your colon and prevent infection. Probiotics are commonly found as live cultures in some types of yogurt. They help rid your stomach and intestines of harmful bacteria, so you feel better when you eat them regularly
Drink regularly. When you drink water and other fluids regularly, it has a very positive impact on almost everything that keeps your body functioning. Drink 5 to 8 glasses of water or other healthy fluids a day to flush out harmful bacteria and give your body energy.
See your doctor regularly. After you have been diagnosed with diverticulitis, it is important to monitor your colon to prevent future attacks. This can also prevent serious complications (see those mentioned above). See your doctor again two months after your first attack and have a colonoscopy or barium enema. Both of these tests will show any potential problems that you can treat quickly before it is too late
Take care of your bowels. Good bowel hygiene can help prevent diverticulitis. Try to eat at the same time each day and drink plenty of water. Avoid straining while your bowels are working and avoid using laxatives or enemas unless prescribed by your doctor.
Advice
- You should always consult your doctor if you have severe stomach pain or unusual cramps. This could be a symptom of diverticulitis or a more serious condition.
Warnings
- You should always consult your doctor if you have severe stomach pain or unusual cramps. This could be a symptom of diverticulitis or a more serious condition.
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Human Medicine