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How Do I Know If I Have It?

Aging and heredity are primary factors in the development of diverticulosis and diverticulitis, but diet also plays a role; eating a lot of low-fiber, refined foods can greatly increase the risk. Indeed, in Western societies, an estimated 10% of people over 40 eventually develop diverticulosis; the figure reaches 50% in people over 60. Diverticulitis will occur in approximately 10-25% of those with diverticulosis.

Though it has not been proven, it is thought that if you are often constipated and usually strain at bowel movements, you may create enough pressure in the intestinal walls to weaken them and begin the development of diverticular pouches. If the diverticula then become filled with fecal material or with undigested food, they are vulnerable to bacterial infection, leading to the inflammation of diverticulitis.

If you think you have either diverticulosis or diverticulitis, your doctor will probably have tests done on both your blood and stool to help diagnose possible infection. Because cancer, stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, and diverticulitis can share the same symptoms, your doctor will need to thoroughly examine your intestines.

A barium enema, which fills the colon with barium and allows an X-ray to show an outline of the inside of the intestines, can help confirm a diagnosis of diverticulosis. You may also have the insides of your intestines examined with a flexible lighted tube in a procedure called a colonoscopy.

ometimes a bit of tissue may also be removed for a biopsy, to test for cancerous growth. If you have an acute case of diverticulitis, both barium enemas and colonoscopies can injure your intestine, so your doctor may choose instead a CT scan, which can help confirm the diagnosis.

What Are the Treatments?

Once you develop diverticula they are there to stay unless you have them surgically removed. You can do things to minimize your chances of developing an infection. If you develop diverticulitis you need to see a physician to make sure you recover completely and to avoid possible life-threatening complications. Conventional medicine treats diverticulitis using diet modifications, antibiotics, and possibly surgery.

If you have a mild case of diverticulosis, your doctor may have you eat a high-fiber diet to make sure your bowels move regularly and to reduce your odds of getting diverticulitis. If you do go on to develop diverticulitis but have only a mild infection, you may need just bed rest, stool softeners, a liquid diet, antibiotics to fight the inflammation, and possibly antispasmodic drugs.

If you have had a perforation or develop a more severe infection, however, you will probably be hospitalized so you can receive intravenous antibiotics. You may also be fed intravenously to give your colon time to recuperate. In some cases, your doctor may want to drain infected abscesses and give your intestinal tract a rest by performing a temporary colostomy. A colostomy creates an opening (called a stoma) so your intestine will empty into a bag that is attached to the front of your abdomen. Depending on the success of your recovery, this procedure may be reversed during a second operation.

If you have several attacks of acute diverticulitis, your doctor may want to remove the affected section of the intestine when you are free of symptoms. You may also need surgery if intravenous therapy does not effectively treat your acute attack of diverticulitis. Whatever your treatment, your chances for a full recovery are very good if you receive prompt medical attention.

You should drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily to prevent constipation. If you do become constipated, prunes or prune juice may serve as natural laxatives. Follow a low-fat diet; fat slows down the passage of food through the intestine. Get yourself tested for food allergies to identify foods that irritate your system and that you should avoid.

During acute attacks of diverticulitis, eat low-bulk foods (broths and low-fiber breads) while diverticula are still inflamed and sensitive, and make the following foods a significant part of your diet: cooked vegetables, cooked fruits, and apples — all of which will be soothing to the inflamed intestine. Avoid milk and milk products (yogurts and cheeses), which could worsen your illness, especially if you have diarrhea.

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