Treating and Preventing Diverticulitis – Overview
Treating, and preventing diverticulitis can be difficult. Discover dietary recommendations and tips for managing diverticulitis symptoms and preventing future flare-ups. Diverticulitis is a painful bacterial infection and inflammation of the diverticula. A small, bulging pouch in the digestive system, most often in the lower part of the colon. Symptoms may include sudden, severe abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea, fevers, chills, nausea, or vomiting. Additionally, you can treat mild cases with rest, healthy diet changes, and antibiotics to clear up the infection.
Treating and Preventing Diverticulitis Lifestyle and Dietary Guide
Diverticulitis surgery removes the diseased part of the colon and reconnects the remaining parts. Depending on the severity, the colon may need to undergo multiple surgeries to completely rid it of the diseased diverticula.
Increase the Fiber Intake
This will likely not prevent diverticulitis, but it may help to reduce the symptoms. Foods that are high in fiber include whole grains, pears, apples, prunes, leafy greens, and beans. If you aren’t getting a sufficient amount of fiber in your diet. Then your doctor may recommend a fiber supplement like methylcellulose or psyllium husk.
Consume More Probiotics
Include a probiotic in your daily routine. Studies have shown that these live strains of bacteria, like those that occur naturally in your stomach and intestines. Eventually can help minimize the symptoms of diverticulitis. Moreover, you can take probiotics in capsule, tablet, or powder form. They also occur naturally in fermented foods like yogurt or sauerkraut.
Switch to Liquid Diet
For more severe cases, doctors may recommend a liquid diet for a short time. If the colon requires even more time to heal. You may need to receive nutrition via IV, as well as antibiotics. However, those experiencing severe or recurring diverticulitis or any major complication associated with diverticulitis may require surgery.
Take a Medication
Mesalazine to reduce abdominal pain and bloating or the antibiotic rifaximin to destroy the bacteria causing the infection.
Treating and Preventing Diverticulitis – Bowel Resection
What to Expect When You Need a Bowel Resection?
Bowel resection is another option for treating and preventing diverticulitis. Bowel resection requires patients to go under general anesthesia. Recovery time is generally four to 14 days. If more surgeries or colonoscopy needed, recovery time increases to six weeks or more. Additionally, while this surgery enjoys a relatively high success rate, complications can arise. It may include scar tissue and leaks between the joined sections of the colon. As well as injury to the bladder, ureters, or blood vessels.
Furthermore, surgeons can also perform bowel resections laparoscopically, depending on the particulars of the case. Those particulars, in addition, also determine the cost, which can range from $2,000 to over $6,000. If experiencing diseased diverticula or considering bowel resection. To correct your diverticulitis while maintaining colon health, call us or schedule a teleconsultation.
