Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis

What is the Treatment For Diverticular Disease

A high fiber diet and, occasionally, mild pain medications will help relieve symptoms in most cases. Sometimes an attack of diverticulitis is serious enough to require a hospital stay and possibly surgery.

Diverticulosis

Increasing the amount of fiber in the diet may reduce symptoms of diverticulosis and prevent complications such as diverticulitis. Fiber keeps stool soft and lowers pressure inside the colon so that bowel contents can move through easily. The American Dietetic Association recommends 20 to 35 grams of fiber each day. Below shows the amount of fiber in some foods that you can easily add to your diet.

Fruits
Apple, raw, with skin 1 medium = 3.3 grams
Peach, raw 1 medium = 1.5 grams
Pear, raw 1 medium = 5.1 grams
Tangerine, raw 1 medium = 1.9 grams

Vegetables
Asparagus, fresh, cooked 4 spears = 1.2 grams
Broccoli, fresh, cooked 1/2 cup = 2.6 grams
Brussels sprouts, fresh, cooked 1/2 cup = 2 grams
Cabbage, fresh, cooked 1/2 cup = 1.5 grams
Carrot, fresh, cooked 1/2 cup = 2.3 grams
Cauliflower, fresh, cooked 1/2 cup = 1.7 grams
Romaine lettuce 1 cup = 1.2 grams
Spinach, fresh, cooked 1/2 cup = 2.2 grams
Summer squash, cooked 1 cup = 2.5 grams
Tomato, raw 1 = 1 gram
Winter squash, cooked 1 cup = 5.7 grams

Starchy Vegetables
Baked beans, canned, plain 1/2 cup = 6.3 grams
Kidney beans, fresh, cooked 1/2 cup = 5.7 grams
Lima beans, fresh, cooked 1/2 cup = 6.6 grams
Potato, fresh, cooked 1 = 2.3 grams

Grains
Bread, whole wheat 1 slice = 1.9 grams
Brown rice, cooked 1 cup = 3.5 grams
Cereal, bran flake 3/4 cup = 5.3 grams
Oatmeal, plain, cooked 3/4 cup = 3 grams
White rice, cooked 1 cup = 0.6 grams

The doctor may also recommend taking a fiber product such as Citrucel or Metamucil once a day. These products are mixed with water and provide about 2 to 3.5 grams of fiber per tablespoon, mixed with 8 ounces of water.

Avoidance of nuts, popcorn, and sunflower, pumpkin, caraway, and sesame seeds has been recommended by physicians out of fear that food particles could enter, block, or irritate the diverticula. However, no scientific data support this treatment measure. Eating a high-fiber diet is the only requirement highly emphasized across the literature and eliminating specific foods is not necessary.

The seeds in tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, strawberries, and raspberries, as well as poppy seeds, are generally considered harmless. People differ in the amounts and types of foods they can eat. Decisions about diet should be made based on what works best for each person. Keeping a food diary may help identify individual items in one's diet.

If cramps, bloating, and constipation are problems, the doctor may prescribe a short course of pain medication. However, many medications affect emptying of the colon, an undesirable side effect for people with diverticulosis.

Diverticulitis

Treatment for diverticulitis focuses on clearing up the infection and inflammation, resting the colon, and preventing or minimizing complications. An attack of diverticulitis without complications may respond to antibiotics within a few days if treated early.

To help the colon rest, the doctor may recommend bed rest and a liquid diet, along with a pain reliever.

An acute attack with severe pain or severe infection may require a hospital stay. Most acute cases of diverticulitis are treated with antibiotics and a liquid diet. The antibiotics are given by injection into a vein. In some cases, however, surgery may be necessary.

What are Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis and What are the Symptoms and Complications
What are the Causes and How is Diverticular Disease Diagnosed?
What is the Treatment for Diverticular Disease
When is Surgery Necessary?
Recap & For More Information

References:
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) - NIH Publication No. 07-1163 - October 2006 - digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/diverticulosis/index.htm

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