Abdominal pain is usually accompanied by abdominal tenderness. This may be noticeable when someone or something touches your abdomen, when you sneeze, or when you stretch.
Diverticulitis can also impact how frequently you have a bowel movement, as well as how big the movement is. If you notice substantial changes in your bowel frequency or volume, this could be another symptom of diverticulitis.
Bleeding from diverticulitis typically occurs high up in the bowel, causing your stools to look tarry or black. Black stools are a more common sign of bleeding in diverticulitis than fresh blood in the toilet. Blood in your stool could be indicative of a number of serious medical problems, including diverticulitis. If you see blood when you go, seek medical help as soon as possible to rule out more serious issues such as colon cancer.
A fever is a relatively uncommon symptom of diverticulitis. Abdominal pain, cramping, and vomiting are the most typical symptoms. Any temperature over 98. 6 °F (37. 0 °C) is considered a fever, but fevers generally aren’t considered severe unless they are over 100. 4 °F (38. 0 °C). If you have a high fever, seek treatment at an immediate care or urgent care center right away.
If you are experiencing serious symptoms or severe pain, seek emergency medical treatment right away. If you experience sharp pain that is localized to 1 part of your abdomen, this is a sign of a medical emergency. You may experience this type of localized pain with either diverticulitis or appendicitis, and it will be extremely severe (a 10 on the numeric pain scale).
Prior to your scan, your technician may give you a solution to drink and an injection of a dye called a contrast medium. This medium makes it easier to see inside your body during the procedure.
This is an outpatient procedure, but you will generally be given a sedative or anesthesia to help manage any associated discomfort.
This procedure may cause some discomfort. Generally, though, the discomfort is not so great that you will need anesthesia. The night before your procedure, your doctor may provide you with a set of instructions to help you empty your bowel as much as possible. If they do, follow them closely. The cleaner your bowel, the easier it will be for the scan to detect any issues.
Aging. Those over the age of 40 are more likely to develop diverticulitis. Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. Regular exercise lowers the risk of diverticulitis. Smoking. A diet rich in animal fats. Taking certain medications including steroids, opiates, ibuprofen, and naproxen.
