What Treatment Options Are Available For Diverticulitis?

If you have been diagnosed with diverticulitis, you may wonder what treatment options are available. Thankfully, there are many different options available. A high-fiber diet and increasing fiber intake can help you feel better and avoid surgery. Some people also find that taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help relieve some of the discomforts of diverticulitis. Read on to learn about the different treatment options for this painful condition.

Your doctor may recommend a surgical procedure to prevent further bleeding. Surgical procedures may be required to correct the problem. Surgical treatment is only necessary in severe cases; most diverticulitis cases will clear up without treatment. However, if the bleeding has persisted and is causing discomfort, you may require a hospital stay to help you cope. You may also require a blood transfusion, depending on the severity of your condition.

There is no specific treatment for diverticulitis, but some common foods may increase your risk. Avoid high-fat dairy products and red meat, as they aggravate disease symptoms. Additionally, refined grain products may be problematic for those with diverticulitis. Eating more fiber-rich foods can reduce the amount of pressure within the digestive tract, decreasing the risk of diverticula formation and inflammation. Your doctor may also recommend a clear liquid diet for a couple of days to help your digestive system recover.

People with diverticulitis may experience pain in the lower-left area. This pain usually occurs during bowel movements and eating. Sometimes, the pain will go away after breaking wind. Because the inflammation in the colon irritates nearby blood vessels, the bleeding may go into the large bowel. The pain is also accompanied by bloating, abdominal pain, and vomiting. In the worst-case scenario, repeat episodes of diverticulitis can lead to scarring and narrowing of the large intestine.