Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is a serious gastrointestinal condition that, if left untreated, can cause severe complications to your long-term health. If you experience frequent acute diverticulitis attacks and suffer from persistent abdominal pain, you might require hospitalization and surgical intervention.

To prevent this condition from escalating, we recommend consulting your doctor and listening to their professional advice. If you want to know more about diverticulitis, its causes, symptoms, and treatment options available, keep reading.

What is Diverticulitis?

Diverticula are small, bulging pouches that form on the inner lining of your digestive system and protrude outwards. While they can be found anywhere in your colon, they usually occur in the lower-left side, in the S-shaped part of your colon called the Sigmoid colon. Diverticula can vary in size and are common in people around the age of 50.

Sometimes, diverticula can protrude from your colon without getting infected. This condition is called diverticulosis, and it does not cause any discomfort or pain to individuals. However, when your diverticula become inflamed or infected, it means you have diverticulitis.

Diverticulitis can cause fever, nausea, and severe abdominal pain. While mild diverticulitis can be treated with medication and bed rest, more severe conditions might require surgery.

What Are Its Symptoms?

Usually, diverticulosis does not cause any troubling symptoms. In such cases, it is referred to as asymptomatic diverticulosis. However, when they do exhibit symptoms, these are the signs you need to look out for.

• Persistent Abdominal Pain in the Lower-Left Side of your Abdomen
• Swelling or Bloating
• Mild Abdominal Cramps

If you have diverticulitis, these are some common symptoms you might experience:

• Persistent Abdominal Pain
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Fever
• Constipation
• Small Amounts of Blood in Your Stools
• Bleeding from the rectum

If you experience one or more of these symptoms, it does not always mean that you have diverticular disease. The symptoms listed above could also indicate other gastrointestinal disorders such as celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, stomach ulcers, gallstones, or appendicitis.

Consult a qualified healthcare professional if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms. They have the training and skill to provide a proper diagnosis and put your mind at ease.

What Causes Diverticulitis?

Scientists and healthcare professionals are not sure of the exact cause of diverticulosis. However, the lack of dietary fiber is commonly thought to be the leading cause. Without enough fiber, waste builds up in your colon, putting extra pressure along its walls. This increased pressure causes diverticula to form in weak spots of your colon.

Several other risk factors might also increase your chances of developing diverticulitis. These include:

• Aging
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Lack of Exercise
• High-Fat Diets with Excessive Red Meat Consumption
• Consumption of Drugs, Including Steroids, Opioids, and Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatories Like Ibuprofen or Naproxen

Is Diverticulitis Hereditary?

In recent years, there have been theories suggesting that diverticulitis could be hereditary, like some other intestinal conditions. This means that if someone in your family suffers or has suffered from diverticulitis, the chances of you getting it is higher.

But bear in mind that genetics may not always be the cause for diverticulitis. You can take adequate precautions to ensure that you do not develop diverticulitis by talking to your doctor and making necessary changes to your lifestyle and diet.

Diverticulitis Prevention

Here are some steps you can take to reduce the risk of diverticulitis.

• Exercise regularly to promote normal bowel function. This reduces waste build-up and pressure in your colon.
• A high-fiber diet filled with fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains softens waste materials and allows them to pass quickly through your colon.
• Fiber absorbs water to soften the waste in your colon. So, if you don’t drink enough water to complement your fiber-rich diet, you may get constipation.
• Avoid smoking as tobacco consumption has been linked to diverticulitis.

Diverticulitis and Alcohol

Alcohol abuse can have a negative impact on your gastrointestinal tract and lead to diverticulitis. Alcohol slows down the movement of food as it passes through your intestine. This causes food to clog up in large chunks along your colon wall and leads to waste build-up.

The pressure of excess waste can cause the colon muscles’ outer layer to give way and the inner layer to squeeze through, leading to diverticula developing along your intestine. Try to regulate your drinking habits to ensure that you do not suffer from diverticulitis.

What Are the Complications of Diverticulitis?

Over 75% of diverticulitis cases are uncomplicated. The remaining 25% are at risk of developing the following complications:

• Intestinal perforation can cause the contents of your colon to leak into your abdominal cavity, leading to infection and inflammation.
• Excess abscess that passes through your intestinal walls can cause peritonitis, which requires immediate medical care.
• Excessive scarring can cause strictures in your bowl.
• Fistulas can form between different sections of your bowel or between your bowel and other organs.

These complications can develop when diverticulitis is left untreated. Some of the complications listed above are a serious cause for concern and require immediate surgical intervention. 

How Is Diverticulitis Diagnosed?

Diagnosing diverticular-related conditions can be challenging as several gastrointestinal disorders have similar symptoms. Your doctor has to perform a physical exam and conduct various tests to ensure proper diagnosis.

Before starting with the examinations, they will ask you questions about your symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, medications, diet, etc. Following that, they will perform a physical exam to check your abdomen for signs of tenderness. Pelvic exams are conducted for women to rule out the possibility of gynecological complications or pelvic diseases.

In order to rule out other medical conditions and to check for signs of diverticulitis, your doctor might perform some of the following tests:

• A blood test to check for signs of infection or anemia.
• Urine & stool tests to check for signs of infection. Your stool sample is inspected to rule out the possibility of diarrhea.
• A liver enzyme test to rule out the possibility of liver-related causes of abdominal pain.
• A pregnancy test for women to rule out the possibility of abdominal pain caused by pregnancy.
• A CT scan to identify the inflamed or infected diverticula and discover the severity of diverticulitis.
• A colonoscopy to inspect the insides of your gastrointestinal tract. Your colon is inspected for abnormal growths, ulcers, sores, bleeding, or other issues that could cause abdominal pain. This procedure is only performed six weeks after an episode of acute diverticulitis.
• A Barium enema X-ray can help coat the inside of your colon and make certain organs visible on x-rays. If there are any problems within your colon, they can now be identified and treated.

How is Diverticulitis Treated?

Treatment for diverticulitis depends on your symptoms and the severity of your condition.

If your diverticulitis is uncomplicated and your symptoms are mild, your doctor would recommend plenty of bed rest and a liquid diet while your intestines heal. They will also prescribe antibiotics to treat any infections.

However, if you have complicated diverticulitis with severe attacks, you most likely require hospitalization. You’ll be given antibiotics through an intravenous line and be considered for surgery.

When Is Surgery Considered?

If you’re experiencing any of the following issues, you will require surgery to treat diverticulitis.

• A Medical Complication Such as Abscess, Strictures, Fistulas, or Perforations in Your Colon Walls
• Continued Rectal Bleeding
• Severe Diverticulitis That Isn’t Responding to Other Treatments.
• Multiple Attacks of Uncomplicated Diverticulitis.

There are two types of surgery used to treat diverticulitis.

Primary Bowel Resection

During a primary bowel resection, a surgeon removes the diseased parts of your gastrointestinal tract and reconnects the healthy parts through surgical anastomosis. This restores your colon to its healthy state and allows you to have normal bowel movements that do not lead to waste build-ups. Depending on the level of inflammation, you might have a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure.

Bowel Resection with Colostomy

If your inflammation is severe, it may not be possible to reconnect your colon and your rectum. In such cases, your surgeon will perform a colostomy, where the infected parts of your colon are removed. The healthy part of your colon is then connected to an opening in your abdominal wall called the stoma. Waste passes through this opening and into a bag. Once your inflammation heals, your colostomy can be reversed, and your bowel is reconnected.

It’s wise to consult a healthcare professional if you’re experiencing any of the usual diverticulitis symptoms. They will perform the necessary tests required to properly diagnose your condition. If you do have diverticulitis, talk to your doctor about the severity of your situation and the treatment options available to you. Based on their expert advice and your research, make an informed decision to ensure your long-term health and wellbeing.

Our team of experts at Northlake Gastroenterology Associates is dedicated to providing you with the best solutions for your gastroenterology problems. With advanced research and technology and a team of highly trained professionals, we’re sure to give you the best treatment possible. Visit our locations in Bogalusa, Covington, Franklinton, Hammond, or request an appointment today.