You may also be prescribed a stronger painkiller if paracetamol is not helping. In hospital, you'll probably get injections of antibiotics, and be kept hydrated and nourished using a tube directly connected to your vein (intravenous drip). More serious cases of diverticulitis may need hospital treatment. Talk to a GP if paracetamol alone is not working.ĭo not take aspirin or ibuprofen, as they can cause stomach upsets. You can take paracetamol to help relieve any pain. Medicineĭiverticulitis can usually be treated at home with antibiotics prescribed by a GP. Once the symptoms have gone, you can return to a higher-fibre diet, aiming to eat about 30g of fibre a day. While you're recovering you should eat a very low-fibre diet to rest your digestive system. If you have diverticulitis, a GP may recommend that you stick to a fluid-only diet for a few days until your symptoms improve. You may be prescribed a bulk-forming laxative to help ease any constipation or diarrhoea. Speak to a GP if paracetamol alone is not working. Some painkillers, including aspirin and ibuprofen, should not be taken regularly as they can cause stomach upsets. Gradually increasing your fibre intake over a few weeks and drinking plenty of fluids can help prevent side effects associated with a high-fibre diet, such as bloating and farting. Good sources of fibre include fresh and dried fruits, vegetables, beans and pulses, nuts, cereals and starchy foods.įibre supplements, usually in the form of sachets of powder that you mix with water, are also available from pharmacists and health food shops.įind out how to get more fibre in your diet Generally, adults should aim to eat 30g of fibre a day. Treatment for diverticular disease and diverticulitis Treatments for diverticular disease DietĮating a high-fibre diet may help ease the symptoms of diverticular disease and stop you developing diverticulitis. Cancer Research UK has more information about a CT colonography or virtual colonoscopy.įor a CT colonoscopy, the scan is done after you've had the laxative. This might be done instead of a colonoscopy or in combination with one called a CT colonography or virtual colonoscopy. Sometimes you may need to have a CT scan. You may be offered painkilling medicine and a sedative to make you feel more relaxed and reduce any discomfort. You'll be given a laxative beforehand to clear out your bowels.Ī colonoscopy should not be painful, but can feel uncomfortable. The doctor will then look for any diverticula or signs of diverticulitis. ColonoscopyĪ colonoscopy is where a thin tube with a camera at the end (a colonoscope) is inserted into your bottom and guided up into your bowel. If necessary, you'll be referred for a colonoscopy, a CT scan, or sometimes both. These often have very similar symptoms to diverticular disease. Tests for diverticular disease and diverticulitisĪfter taking your medical history and listening to your symptoms, the GP may first want to rule out other conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), coeliac disease or bowel cancer. If you've already been diagnosed with diverticular disease, you usually do not need to contact a GP – the symptoms can be treated at home.īut if you have any bleeding or severe pain, seek immediate medical advice.Ĭontact a GP or, if this is not possible, call NHS 111 or your local out-of-hours service. get mucus or blood in your poo, or bleeding from your bottom (rectal bleeding)Ĭontact a GP as soon as possible if you have symptoms of diverticular disease or diverticulitis.If your diverticula become infected and inflamed (diverticulitis), you may suddenly: tummy pain, usually in your lower left side, that tends to come and go and gets worse during or shortly after eating (pooing or farting eases it).Symptoms of diverticular disease include: Symptoms of diverticular disease and diverticulitis You're more likely to get diverticular disease and diverticulitis if you do not get enough fibre in your diet. If the diverticula become inflamed or infected, causing more severe symptoms, it's called diverticulitis. When diverticula cause symptoms, such as pain in the lower tummy, it's called diverticular disease. When there are no symptoms, it is called diverticulosis. Most people with diverticula do not get any symptoms and only know they have them after having a scan for another reason. Diverticular disease and diverticulitis are related digestive conditions that affect the large intestine (bowel).ĭiverticula are small bulges or pockets that can develop in the lining of the intestine as you get older.
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