Diverticulitis is caused by inflammation and infection of the tiny pouches that form in the digestive tract, especially in people over the age of 40. The condition that forms pockets (diverticulosis) can become a serious infection that requires immediate medical care. Treatment for diverticulitis can vary, depending on the severity and how often the condition has occurred.
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Part 1 of 3: Treating an Episode of Diverticulitis
Step 1. Consume a fluid, low-fiber diet
One possible cause of diverticulitis is a lack of fiber in the diet and the consumption of small, hard-to-digest foods such as whole grains, corn, and berries, which get stuck in the intestines and cause infection. If you're having an episode of diverticulitis, it's best to avoid any foods that might exacerbate the infection. That means avoiding fiber (which pushes more dirt into the area of infection) and avoiding the aforementioned hard-to-digest foods.
- When the diverticulitis episode is over, you should greatly increase your dietary fiber intake.
- Try not to consume too many dairy products during this period.
Step 2. Take antibiotics
Visit your doctor for a prescription for antibiotics. Diverticulitis occurs when diverticula (small pouches in the large intestine) become infected. It can only be completely treated with antibiotics. Otherwise, the infection will continue to spread. Follow the directions on the antibiotic drug packaging; usually takes one pill orally at least once a day, but this will vary depending on your prescription.
Step 3. Take painkillers
Most people with diverticulitis experience abdominal pain and cramping. While it won't stop until the infection clears up, you can take painkillers to help reduce pain during the healing process. Look for low-dose ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or naproxen so you can take a small amount whenever you have a bout of pain.
Step 4. Try herbal treatments
Some people have claimed that certain herbs speed up the healing process involved in removing infection from the body, and also help reduce any pain or discomfort you may feel. Look for teas or supplements that contain chamomile or slippery elm, two herbs commonly used to treat stomach problems. At the very least, drinking a glass of hot tea can soothe and reduce the stomach cramps you are experiencing.
Step 5. Do acupuncture
Although it may sound strange to the layman, acupuncture can help relieve certain pressure points that are causing pain or pressure in the abdomen. Find a local acupuncturist and see what he can do for your diverticulitis. While it won't help cure the infection at all, acupuncture should make you more comfortable.
Step 6. Do a little hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy is self-explanatory - it involves using water as a way to treat your discomfort. There are several different hydrotherapy techniques you can try at home. Take a warm bath with Epsom salts, or use a hot compress on the abdomen to relax the muscles and reduce pain.
Part 2 of 3: Understanding Possible Complications
Step 1. Watch for abscess formation
If you have an episode of diverticulitis without antibiotic treatment, the infection can spread to a pustule or abscess. Usually, you will experience extreme pain, a high fever, and a high white blood cell count. The treatment for an episode of diverticulitis that turns into an abscess is a catheter inserted through the abdomen into the abscess, which drains the abscess within a few days.
Step 2. Watch for peritonitis
If you end up developing an abscess that goes untreated, the next level of infection is peritonitis. This is when the infection/abscess spreads beyond the pustules to encompass the entire lower part of the colon. Usually, people with peritonitis will experience a high fever, nausea with vomiting, abdominal pain, and low blood pressure. The only treatment is a series of strong antibiotics and surgery to remove the infected part of the intestine.
Step 3. Learn about fistula formation
If you have severe diverticulitis, one possibility besides the infection spreading to a wider part of your colon is that the infection can spread to adjacent areas of the body such as the bladder or the skin. It has similar symptoms to peritonitis, but can only be identified and treated by a doctor. Treatment includes at least antibiotics, but often surgery as well.
Step 4. Understand about stricture formation
This is one of the rarer side effects of diverticulitis; if you have an infection that isn't treated, scar tissue can form and narrow most of the colon. This narrowing is called a "stricture", and can block the passage of feces. Treatment for stricture formation is usually surgical, depending on the scope of the problem.
Part 3 of 3: Preventing Diverticulitis
Step 1. Eat a high-fiber diet
If you eat dietary fiber every day, your body will be able to efficiently push stool through your large intestine, thereby preventing stool from accumulating in the tiny diverticulo sacs that form. Fruits and vegetables are high in dietary fiber, as are nuts and whole grains. All of these foods have other natural benefits besides preventing diverticulitis, so they are useful to add to your diet.
Don't start eating fiber until after you've recovered from an episode of diverticulitis
Step 2. Consume more probiotics
Because the infection that causes diverticulitis is the result of harmful bacteria, some doctors have theorized that eating more healthy bacteria (probiotics) can cleanse the colon and prevent infection. Probiotics are usually found as live cultures in certain types of yogurt and help cleanse the stomach and intestines of harmful bacteria, so you feel better when you take probiotics on a regular basis.
Step 3. Drink fluids regularly
Water and other fluids, when consumed regularly, have a very positive effect on almost every aspect of your body's functioning. Aim to drink 5-8 glasses of water or other healthy fluids per day, as this will wash away harmful bacteria and help provide energy for the body.
Step 4. Check with the doctor regularly
Once you've been diagnosed with diverticular disease, you'll need to keep an eye on your colon to help prevent recurrence of the disease in the future. It can also help prevent more serious side effects from occurring (see section above). See your doctor about two months after your first episode, and consider having a colonoscopy or barium enema X-ray examination. Both will be able to pinpoint any possible problems, so you can seek treatment before it's too late.
