For people who have felt the steady, sharp abdominal pain of a diverticulitis attack, another flare-up is not something that you’d want to experience again, although it may happen: More than half of people who experience diverticulitis once are likely to have another flare-up.
Diverticulitis is the name for the condition caused by inflammation or infection of the diverticula, which are small, bulging pouches that sometimes develop in weak spots along the wall of someone’s colon or large intestines.
“Diverticula may form as people get older, particularly if they’re overweight, don’t exercise and eat a low-fiber diet,” says Steven Koerner, D.O., FACOI, gastroenterologist at Hackensack Meridian Medical Group. “In most people, these extra bulges along the colon wall don’t cause health problems, and most people don’t realize that they have them. But when diverticula becomes inflamed or infected, the resulting diverticulitis can be quite painful.”
Symptoms of a Diverticulitis Flare-Up
If you think that you may have diverticulitis, or if you’ve been diagnosed before and you think that you’re having a flare-up, call or see your doctor.
Common symptoms of diverticulitis include:
- Constant abdominal pain that lasts for days, typically on the lower left side of the abdomen (although some people experience it on the lower right side)
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Fever and/or chills
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Abdominal tenderness or cramping
- Rectal bleeding
You’re more likely to experience a diverticulitis flare-up if you are:
- Over age 40
- Overweight or obese
- A smoker
- Physically inactive
- Someone whose diet is high in animal products and low in fiber (most Americans)
- Someone who takes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids or opioids
Treatment for a Diverticulitis Flare-Up
If you’re having a diverticulitis flare-up, your doctor can prescribe antibiotics to fight the infection. Be sure to take the medication for the entire course that it’s prescribed, rather than stopping when you start to feel better. Your doctor may also suggest that you:
- Consume a liquid diet or low-fiber diet until your flare-up improves
- Rest as needed
- Sometimes, doctors recommend surgery for people with more serious flare-ups or recurrent diverticulitis. Surgical removal of the affected portion of the colon (and the infected or inflamed diverticula) should resolve the problem.
How to Lower Your Risk of Diverticulitis Flare-Ups
“It may not be possible to guarantee that you’ll never have another diverticulitis flare-up, but you may lower your risk of a recurrence if you follow certain healthy lifestyle habits,” says Dr. Koerner.
Try to adopt habits like these:
- Eat a high-fiber diet, with plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables
- Drink plenty of water
- Exercise regularly
- Quit smoking
In the past, doctors used to tell people with diverticulitis that they should avoid eating popcorn, nuts, large and small seeds (pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds and everything in between) and foods which contain seeds (including tomatoes and strawberries) to reduce the risk of a flare-up, but this is an outdated recommendation. Feel free to eat these foods, unless they cause you discomfort.
Next Steps & Resources
The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.
FAQs
Constant abdominal pain that lasts for days, typically on the lower left side of the abdomen (although some people experience it on the lower right side) Nausea and/or vomiting. Fever and/or chills. Constipation or diarrhea.
What does a diverticulitis flare-up feel like? ›
Constant abdominal pain that lasts for days, typically on the lower left side of the abdomen (although some people experience it on the lower right side) Nausea and/or vomiting. Fever and/or chills. Constipation or diarrhea.
How do you calm inflamed diverticulitis? ›
To calm down a mild diverticulitis attack:
- Drink plenty of fluids. ...
- A clear liquid diet for two to three days.
- Progress to a bland, soft diet as tolerated such as the BRAT diet: ...
- Use a heating pad to relieve mild cramps and pain.
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain.
- Rest.
Other long-term symptoms of diverticular disease include: a change in your normal bowel habits, such as constipation or diarrhoea, or episodes of constipation that are followed by diarrhoea – a classic pattern is multiple trips to the toilet in the morning to pass stools like 'rabbit pellets'
When should you go to the ER for a diverticulitis flare up? ›
Also call if you have diverticulitis and you have: Blood in your stools. Fever above 100.4°F (38°C) that does not go away. Nausea, vomiting, or chills.
What can be mistaken for diverticulitis pain? ›
- Alcoholism.
- Anaphylaxis.
- Angioedema.
- Appendicitis.
- Brain Cancer.
- Cirrhosis.
- Congestive Heart Failure.
- Crohn's Disease.
Mild cases of diverticulitis are usually treated with antibiotics and a low-fiber diet, or treatment may start with a period of rest where you eat nothing by mouth, then start with clear liquids and then move to a low-fiber diet until your condition improves. More-severe cases typically require hospitalization.
What not to do during a diverticulitis flare-up? ›
You should avoid the following foods:
- certain fruits, such as pears, apples and plums.
- dairy foods, such as milk, yogurt, and ice cream.
- Fermented foods, including sauerkraut and kimchi.
- Cabbage.
- beans.
- onions and garlic.
- Brussels sprouts.
Water and clear juices (such as apple, cranberry, or grape), strained citrus juices or fruit punch. Coffee or tea (without cream or milk) Clear sports drinks or soft drinks, such as ginger ale, lemon-lime soda, or club soda (no cola or root beer) Clear broth, bouillon, or consommé
Does lying down help diverticulitis? ›
The treatment of diverticulitis depends on how serious the symptoms are. Some people may need to be in the hospital, but most of the time, the problem can be treated at home. To help with the pain, your provider may suggest that you: Rest in bed and use a heating pad on your belly.
No specific foods are known to trigger bouts of diverticulitis symptoms, also called attacks. And no special diet has been proved to prevent attacks. With diverticulitis, irregular bulging pouches in the wall of the large intestine become inflamed.
Is salad bad for diverticulitis? ›
Is salad bad for diverticulitis? Your doctor can tell you whether you can eat salad when you're having a diverticulitis flare-up. Lettuce and other salad ingredients can be high in fiber. Typically, you should stick to well-cooked or canned vegetables without skin.
How does your stomach feel when you have diverticulitis? ›
Symptoms of diverticular disease and diverticulitis
pain in the lower left side of your tummy (abdomen) – a small number of people get pain on the right side. tummy pain that gets worse after you eat, and gets better after you poo or fart. constipation. diarrhoea.
What time of day is diverticulitis worse? ›
One of the most common diverticulitis symptoms is abdominal pain on your lower left or right side. Diverticulitis pain can get worse when you sleep or exercise. The pain might be managed with changes in diet and medications.
How do I know if my diverticulitis is infected? ›
The most common symptom of diverticulitis is belly or abdominal pain. The most common sign that you have it is feeling sore or sensitive on the left side of your lower belly. If infection is the cause, then you may have fever, nausea, vomiting, chills, cramping, and constipation.
What is the best painkiller for diverticulitis? ›
Acetaminophen and antispasmodics
Doctors may recommend acetaminophen (Tylenol) or antispasmodic such as dicyclomine (Bentyl) and hyoscyamine (NuLev) for pain relief. These may be more suitable than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen. NSAIDS may lead to diverticulitis complications.
How long does a diverticulitis flare up last? ›
In about 95 out of 100 people, uncomplicated diverticulitis goes away on its own within a week. In about 5 out of 100 people, the symptoms stay and treatment is needed.
How would you describe diverticulitis pain? ›
Most often, pain is in the lower left abdomen. Pain from diverticulitis is usually sudden and intense. Pain may be mild and gradually worsen, or the intensity of the pain may vary over time.
What aggravates diverticulitis to flare up? ›
If you're having a diverticulitis flare-up, eating foods that are high in fiber may make it worse. During a flare-up, you should eat low-fiber foods, which are easier than high-fiber foods to digest. Giving your digestive system a chance to rest will help ease your symptoms.
