Diverticulitis: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Options

If you, your doctor, or a loved one suspects (or was diagnosed with) diverticulitis, you might have some questions. Diverticulitis is a bowel condition in which stool gets forced into small pockets that are created due to pressure. These small pockets tend to stay impacted and can get infected and become abscesses. But, what triggers diverticulitis, and what is the best treatment for diverticulosis? Can diverticulitis go away on its own? Let’s take a look.

The Symptoms of Diverticulitis

Each person’s symptoms will be a little bit different, especially depending on how bad their condition is. However, some of the common symptoms are:

• Sudden, unexplainable, lower-left hand side abdominal pain

• Nausea and/or vomiting

• Fever

• Bloating and/or gas

• Constipation

Causes & Risk Factors for Diverticulitis

Most of our patients wonder “what triggers diverticulitis?” While we know that this condition can be confusing, there are certain things that definitely can bring on or increase your risk for developing diverticulitis, like:

• Eating a low-fiber diet

• Pressure on the colon for any reason

• Increased age

• Being a smoker

• Being obese

• Taking certain medications like steroids, opioids, and NSAIDS (like ibuprofen)

Diverticulitis Treatment Methods

First and foremost, can diverticulitis go away on its own? Luckily, the answer is yes – for mild episodes of diverticulitis. Mild attacks will usually resolve within a week; however, it’s difficult to tell from outside the body whether or not the attack is “mild” or “severe.” For this reason, it’s recommended that you have your doctor monitor your diverticulitis – it can become severe and cause you to develop a life-threatening infection at any time.

However, for more serious attacks and recurrent episodes, your doctor might suggest other solutions. Oral antibiotics or IV antibiotics will most likely be used, and you may or may not need surgery. Surgery is considered if you are suffering from any of the following complications:

• A fistula

• Bowel perforation

• Abscesses

• Blockages

• Persistent bleeding

• Continued issues after lifestyle changes

Diverticulitis Surgery

So, what is the best treatment for diverticulosis and diverticulitis? Obviously, the best treatment is not having to treat the condition at all – most patients can reduce or eliminate their symptoms by eating a high-fiber diet and reducing pressure on their colon (either through losing weight or changing their routines). But prevention tactics don’t always work for every patient.

For patients like this, surgery may be the only thing that prevents recurrences. This type of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) involves removing the diseased portion of bowel and may involve a colostomy. This will be a discussion for you and your surgeon.

At Suncoast Surgical’s Tampa Colorectal office, we have three very skilled specialists who can help you with diverticulitis surgery: Dr. Itriago, Dr. Mino and Dr. Park.