10 Symptoms of Diverticulitis.
Diverticulitis is a common ailment that roughly develops in over 200,000 patients per year.
It’s somewhat of a mystery illness, as even the most qualified of specialists find it
challenging to come up with a cause, but they do know that it has been common on those that
have a low fiber diet.
Fiber is necessary to help avoid the condition from forming entirely as without adequate
amounts of fiber going through your body on a regular basis, the colon has to work overtime
just to be clearing the stools from the body.
As an infection that targets your digestive system, diverticulitis occurs when the diverticula
(small protruding pouches that form on the lower part of your colon), become inflamed.
While this condition is not life-threatening, it can cause a tremendous amount of pain to
those who suffer from it.
The forming pockets of diverticula mostly appear in individuals over the age of 40,
and the risk of diverticulitis increases for those who smoke, suffer from obesity, lack
proper dietary fiber, and who don’t partake in a regular exercise routine.
Wondering what signs are associated with this illness?
Here are the 10 symptoms of diverticulitis.
1.
Digestive Issues.
Unfortunately there is no ‘in-between’ phase when it comes to diverticulitis.
Those who suffer from the illness either experience high levels of constipation, or extreme diarrhea.
Often, there is no happy medium to be found.
Some patients living with diverticulitis often report that they had to go through several
tests and scans before getting the correct diagnosis.
Many go through several doctors reporting their symptoms and get treated for other ailments
such as irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance, or even food borne illnesses.
Always document your symptoms and possibly what you think brought them on, then go review
them with your doctor to look into diagnostics for possible diverticulitis.
2.
Gas.
A result of the bowel issues caused by diverticulitis, patients can also experience massive bloating
and gas issues.
Individuals will generally feel extreme pain and cramps when suffering through this symptom.
It can occur, on and off, or the course of a few weeks.
Experts recommend that you only consume a low amount of foods that may cause gas or
bloating, such as beans, or certain leafy greens until you can get your diverticulitis
under control.
Drinking lots of water can also greatly help relieve gas challenges, and eating smaller
meals throughout the day.
3.
Stomach Pain.
Those who have diverticulitis typically report a persistent lower pain on the left side of
their stomach.
Stomach pain can be tricky to diagnose properly considering there are so many variances of
digestive disorders.
Most patients know the difference between a regular tummy ache and something more severe
to head to the doctor, but most that have experience with diverticulitis report that
it was the pain that sent them to the emergency room initially.
Some of the other symptoms aren't always so obvious of the ailment.
4.
Tenderness.
The inflammation of the diverticula can not only cause pain in your abdomen, but it can
also be quite tender to touch, or when slight pressure is added to your stomach.
If you feel tenderness in the abdominal area that isn't common, or is accompanied with
abdominal pains or a fever, you should definitely consult with your physician to ensure that
you aren't suffering from diverticulitis.
5.
Fever.
Patients with this condition can experience the typical signs of infection, which include
a temperature that reaches or surpasses 100.4 Fahrenheit.
If you cannot decrease your temperature and it continues to climb, be sure to consult
with your medical provider as fevers can often get out of hand very quickly.
Some great tips are to use any over the counter medications for fevers to try to tame it,
such as Tylenol or Motrin.
If that doesn't start to help, try taking a shower, or placing a cold cloth over your
forehead for 15-20 minutes.
6.
Vomiting.
Unfortunately another symptom of diverticulitis is nausea and vomiting.
As this mirrors the flu, (especially if individuals are experiencing diarrhea as well), many shake
these signs off as a minor infection.
7.
Loss of Appetite.
Abdominal pain and uncomfortableness will cause diverticulitis suffers to lose their
appetite when it comes to solid foods and liquids.
8.
Urination.
A condition known as fistula can often occur when patients are suffering from diverticulitis.
Fistula results when the infected diverticulum erupts, and the inflammation and bacteria
from your diverticula moves to organs near your bowels, which include your bladder.
The end result can mean frequent and painful urination
9.
Blood in Rectum.
If stool gets backed up within your bowel, it can harden and affect nearby blood vessels.
This ultimately will cause patients to notice traces of blood when going to the bathroom,
or rectum bleeding.
10.
Peritonitis.
If diverticulitis remains unnoticed, the infection can spread across an individual’s abdominal
cavity, and a condition called 'peritonitis' can develop.
Life-threatening, symptoms of peritonitis include fever, abdominal pain, and bloating.
Unfortunately, if diverticulitis progresses into peritonitis, a patient will require surgery,
and hospital care.
If you notice any of these symptoms, and think you may be suffering from diverticulitis,
visit your doctor.
While if left untreated the condition can be deadly, many who have diverticulitis can
simply feel better through rest, medication, and dietary changes.