Diverticulitis is caused by inflammation and infection of small bumps that form in the digestive tract. It is more common in people over 40 years of age. This pathology can become a very serious infection and needs immediate medical attention. Treatments for diverticulitis can vary widely based on the severity and frequency with which it occurs.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Treat an Episode
Step 1. Follow a liquid, low-fiber diet
One of the possible causes of diverticulitis is a diet low in fiber and the intake of small foods that are difficult to digest such as seeds, corn and berries that can become trapped in the intestine and generate infection. If an episode of diverticulitis occurs, it is best to avoid these foods. This means not eating fiber (which pushes even more waste into the diseased area) and the foods listed above.
- When the acute episode has resolved, you need to add more fiber to your diet.
- Try not to eat too many dairy products.
Step 2. Take the antibiotics
Go to your doctor and get a prescription. Diverticulitis is an infection of the diverticula (small pockets in the colon) and must be treated with antibiotics to prevent it from spreading. Follow the instructions your doctor gives you for the posology; they are usually taken orally at least once a day.
Step 3. Take some pain relievers
Most people complain of severe abdominal pain and cramps. Although they will not completely disappear until the infection is eradicated, you can reduce its intensity with medicines such as ibuprofen, paracetamol or low-dose naproxen.
Step 4. Try an herbal treatment
Some people claim that there are herbs that speed up the healing process as well as reduce pain. Get chamomile or red elm herbal teas, which are usually used for stomach problems. If nothing else, a glass of herbal tea relieves the cramps a little.
Step 5. Undergo acupuncture
Although it may seem strange, acupuncture can act on some points to relieve pain in the abdomen, do a search to find an acupuncturist who treats the symptoms of diverticulitis. While it doesn't help heal the infection, it makes the pain more bearable.
Step 6. Do some hydrotherapy
It is a technique that uses water to relieve discomfort. There are some hydrotherapies you can try at home. Try a warm bath with epsom salts or a warm water compress on your stomach to relax muscles and reduce pain.
Method 2 of 3: Possible Complications
Step 1. Check for abscesses
If you have an attack of diverticulitis not treated with antibiotics, the infection spreads and pustules and abscesses can form. The pain will be more intense, you will have a fever and a very high white blood cell count. The treatment in this case consists of a catheter passing through the abdomen that drains the abscess for several days.
Step 2. Be aware of the risk of peritonitis
If an abscess develops and you do not treat it, the infection worsens into peritonitis and the pustules / abscess reach the entire lower part of the large intestine. People who have peritonitis show high fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, and hypotension. The only treatment is a massive antibiotic treatment and surgery to remove the infected part of the intestine.
Step 3. Know how fistulas are formed
If you have bad diverticulitis, it could spread to adjacent areas such as the bladder or skin (instead of spreading to the colon). Symptoms are similar to peritonitis, but it can only be identified and treated by the doctor, antibiotics and even surgery will be needed.
Step 4. Understand how bottlenecks are formed
It is a rare evolution of diverticulitis. Untreated infection generates scar tissue that narrows ("constricts") part of the colon. These narrowings are called 'bottlenecks' and prevent the passage of stool. Treatment is usually surgical based on the severity of the situation.
Method 3 of 3: Prevention
Step 1. Eat a high-fiber diet
If you eat high-fiber foods every day, your body is able to excrete stool efficiently, preventing build-up in the diverticula sacs. Fruits and vegetables are high-fiber foods, such as beans and whole grains. In addition to preventing diverticulitis, they are good for the body in general, so consume them in abundance.
Do not start eating fiber before the diverticulitis episode is resolved
Step 2. Consume more probiotics
The infection is caused by "bad" bacteria, so some doctors have hypothesized that a greater amount of "good" bacteria (probiotics) can cleanse the intestine and prevent diverticulitis. These bacteria are contained in some types of yogurt and make you feel better if you consume them regularly.
Step 3. Drink lots of water
Good hydration is essential for keeping the body healthy. Try to drink 5-8 glasses of water (or another healthy liquid) every day to cleanse the body of toxins and dangerous bacteria.
Step 4. Go to the doctor regularly
Once you have been diagnosed with diverticulitis, you should constantly monitor your health to avoid relapse. Also, in this way, you prevent more serious complications. Try to go to the doctor every 2 months after the first episode and have a colonoscopy or barium enema. Both of these diagnostic techniques are able to show if there are any problems and take prompt action.
