Site Map

Diverticulitis and diverticulosis – discharge

Diverticular disease - discharge

You were in the hospital to treat diverticulitis. This is an infection of an abnormal pouch (called a diverticulum) in your intestinal wall (most commonly in the sigmoid colon). This article tells you how to take care of yourself when you leave the hospital.

Images

Diverticula
Diverticulitis

I Would Like to Learn About:

When You're in the Hospital

You may have had a CT scan or other tests that helped your health care provider diagnose your symptoms and check your colon. You may have received fluids and drugs that fight infections through an intravenous (IV) tube in your vein. You were probably on a special diet to help your colon rest and heal.

If your diverticulitis was very bad, or a repeat of a prior episode, you may need surgery.

Your provider may also recommend that you have further tests to look at your colon (large intestine) such as colonoscopy. It is important to follow up with these tests.

What to Expect at Home

Your pain and other symptoms should go away after a few days of treatment. If they do not get better, or if they get worse, you should call the provider.

Once these pouches have formed, you have them for life. If you make a few simple changes in your lifestyle, you may not have diverticulitis again.

Self-care

Your provider may have given you antibiotics to treat any infection. Take them as you were told you to. Make sure you finish the whole prescription. Call your provider if you have any side effects.

Do not put off having a bowel movement. This can lead to a firmer stool, which will make you use more force to pass it.

Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. Exercise regularly.

Diet

When you first go home or after an attack, your provider may ask you to drink liquids only at first, then slowly increase your diet. In the beginning, you may need to avoid whole-grain foods, fruits, and vegetables. This will help your colon rest.

After you are better, your provider will suggest that you add more fiber to your diet and avoid certain foods. Eating more fiber may help prevent future attacks. If you have bloating or gas, cut down the amount of fiber you eat for a few days.

High fiber foods include:

When to Call the Doctor

Contact your provider if you have:

Related Information

Diverticulitis
Black or tarry stools
How to read food labels
High-fiber foods
Diverticulitis - what to ask your doctor
Low-fiber diet
Constipation - what to ask your doctor

References

Bhuket TP, Stollman NH. Diverticular disease of the colon. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 121.

Kuemmerle JK. Inflammatory and anatomic diseases of the intestine, peritoneum, mesentery, and omentum. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 133.

BACK TO TOP

Review Date: 11/3/2022  

Reviewed By: Michael M. Phillips, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

ADAM Quality Logo
Health Content Provider
06/01/2025

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, for Health Content Provider (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics. This site complied with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information from 1995 to 2022, after which HON (Health On the Net, a not-for-profit organization that promoted transparent and reliable health information online) was discontinued.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- 2024 A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.