What's the difference between diverticulosis and diverticulitis?

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asked Aug 8, 2023 in Other- Health by Andymorris (2,480 points)
What's the difference between diverticulosis and diverticulitis?

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answered Aug 9, 2023 by FGjple (7,970 points)
The difference between diverticulosis and diverticulitis is diverticulitis is when one or more of the diverticula pouches become inflamed or infected and diverticulosis is when the small bulging pouches called diverticula develop in the digestive tract.

The diverticula are the small bulging pouches that can form in the lining of the digestive system.

Doctors test for diverticulitis with a Pelvic and Abdominal CT scan that can help determine the severity of the condition and guide treatment.

Before the CT test for diverticulitis you may also get an IV injection of contrast material or you may also drink an oral contrast material an hour before the CT scan.

The pain with diverticulitis is an intermittent pain that stops and starts and occurs in your lower abdomen or stomach and usually in the lower left hand side.

The diverticulitis pain is most often worse when you eat or shortly after you eat.

And pooping and breaking wind or farting can help relieve the pain associated with diverticulitis.

Diverticulitis is considered to be a very serious condition because the infected pouch in your colon called the diverticulum can split and spread infection into the lining of your abdomen.

When an infection of the lining of your abdomen occurs it's called peritonitis which can be life threatening and requires immediate medical treatment with antibiotics.

Diverticulitis can be serious as in it's most severeness a pouch can burst open and spill fecal matter directly into your bloodstream.

When this happens it causes an immediate risk of blood infection called sepsis which is serious and life threatening.

If you think you have diverticulitis you should get checked out to be safe.

Although in most cases of diverticulitis most people recover completely from the diverticulitis.

When you have diverticulitis your poop will usually look black and tarry or maroon or bright red in color which indicates the presence of blood.

Your poop with diverticulitis may also smell pretty foul and more foul smelling than normal.

You can calm inflamed diverticulitis by taking antibiotics and eating a low fiber diet.

You can begin drinking clear liquids and then switch to a low fiber diet until the condition improves.

In more severe cases of diverticulitis inflammation or flare ups you may require hospitalization.

Foods you should avoid with diverticulitis are popcorn, nuts and seeds, beans, whole grains and fruits and vegetables that have the skin and seeds.

The difference between IBS and diverticulitis is with IBS the pain most often resolves after pooping and diverticulitis pain is constant pain.

The diverticulitis also most often causes pain in the lower left area of your abdomen.

Diverticulitis, which is more serious, is sometimes treated with medications, antibiotics, and in severe cases, surgery.

Treatment for IBS symptoms may include adding fiber to the diet, reducing stress and anxiety, eating regular balanced meals, reducing caffeine intake, exercising regularly, and quitting smoking.

Diverticulitis can affect your kidneys and may cause reduced kidney function or cause people with reduced kidney function to develop complications such as abscesses or perforations.

Diverticular disease and diverticulitis are related digestive conditions that affect the large intestine (colon).

In diverticular disease, small bulges or pockets (diverticula) develop in the lining of the intestine.

Diverticulitis is when these pockets become inflamed or infected.

Diverticulitis can be a serious condition and can cause life threatening complications including blood infection and sepsis which can be fatal.

However most people recover from diverticulitis completely although it can sometimes get severe.

Some people need a colostomy bag after diverticulitis surgery although most people who have diverticulitis surgery do not need a colostomy bag.

Surgery for diverticulitis is not as serious as other surgeries although the surgery for diverticulitis can cause some serious inflammation and complications.

However most surgeries for diverticulitis are done safely and without any complications.

Surgery for diverticulitis is pretty common and around a quarter of people with diverticulitis have surgery because the symptoms are too severe.

You can have diverticulitis 2 to 3 times before surgery is recommended.

If you've experienced diverticulitis at least 2 to 3 times and then experienced diverticulitis again then your doctor will usually recommend surgery to fix the issue.

To stop and prevent a diverticulitis flare up you should eat foods such vegetables, avocados, beans, raspberries, sweet potatoes, apples, pears bran and whole wheat pasta.

Stress can trigger diverticulitis because of the body's impulses which immediately address the stressful situations by shifting the oxygen and blood from your digestive tract to the brain and muscles.

A colonoscopy can detect diverticulitis and in fact sometimes people who go in for regular colon screenings through a colonoscopy are diagnosed with diverticulitis.

Urine tests can detect diverticulitis.

The common tests done to diagnose and detect diverticulitis are blood tests, urine tests and CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis.

A diverticulitis flare up will feel like a stomach cramp and also can cause diarrhea and irritability of the bowels.

With a diverticulitis flare up you may have fever, bloating, bleeding, abdominal cramping and intense pain.

A diverticulitis flare up lasts around 2 days to 3 days.

If the symptoms of the diverticulitis flare up does not get better within 3 days then you should see your doctor.

Things that trigger diverticulitis flare ups are caffeine and alcohol, aging, obesity, NSAIDS, Steroids, Opoids and other medications.

Diets high in animal products and low in fiber can also trigger diverticulitis flareups and lack of exercise and smoking.

Drinks you should avoid with diverticulitis are alcohol and caffeine such as coffee which can trigger a diverticulitis attack.

There's no certain foods that trigger diverticulitis although popcorn, seeds and nuts can aggravate and may trigger diverticulitis.

The pain with diverticulitis is a sharp cramping pain which is occurs on the left side of your lower abdomen.

Along with the pain you may also experience chills, fever, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting and nausea.

Diverticulitis pain is located on the lower left side of your abdomen.

The warning signs of diverticulitis are.

Constipation and sometimes diarrhea, abdominal tenderness, fever, vomiting and nausea, and pain which can be constant or persist for several days and usually occurs on the lower left side of the abdomen.

To test for diverticulitis your doctor will have a CT scan done which will identify inflamed and infected pouches which confirms the diagnosis of diverticulitis.

The CT scan also can indicate the severeness of the diverticulitis which can help guide treatment options.

Eating red meat can trigger diverticulitis.

Red meat does not cause diverticulitis although red meat can trigger diverticulitis and make the symptoms worse.

Diverticulosis is a condition that occurs when small, bulging pouches (diverticula) develop in your digestive tract.

When one or more of these pouches become inflamed or infected, the condition is called diverticulitis.

Diverticula are small, bulging pouches that can form in the lining of your digestive system.

Common warning signs of diverticulitis include.

    Abdominal cramping.
    Abdominal bloating, pain, and tenderness.
    Chills and/or fever.
    Constipation or diarrhea.
    Frequent urination.
    Nausea and vomiting.
    Rectal bleeding.

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