Discharge Instructions for Diverticulitis

As you recover

Tips for recovery include:

• Eating a low-fiber diet at first while you recover. Your health care provider may advise a liquid diet. This gives your bowel a chance to rest so that it can recover.

• Eating foods, such as flake cereal, mashed potatoes, pancakes, waffles, pasta, white bread, rice, applesauce, bananas, eggs, fish, poultry, tofu, and well-cooked vegetables.

• Taking your medicines as directed. Don't stop taking the medicines, even if you feel better.

• Keeping track of your temperature and reporting any rise in temperature to your provider.

• Taking any prescribed antibiotics exactly as directed. Don't miss any and keep taking them even if you feel better.

• Drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water every day, unless told otherwise.

• Using a heating pad or hot water bottle to reduce abdominal cramping or pain.

Preventing diverticulitis in the future

Tips for prevention include:

• Eating a high-fiber diet. Fiber adds bulk to the stool so that it passes through the large intestine more easily.

• Continuing to drink 6 to 8 glasses of water every day, unless told otherwise.

• Starting an exercise program. Ask your health care provider how to get started. You can benefit from simple activities, such as walking or gardening.

• Treating diarrhea with a bland diet. Start with liquids only, then slowly add fiber over time.

• Watching for changes in your bowel movements (constipation to diarrhea).

• Preventing constipation with fiber and adding a stool softener if needed. 

• Getting plenty of rest and sleep.

• Avoiding nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, if possible. They increase the risk of diverticulitis.

• Not smoking.

Follow-up care

Make a follow-up appointment, or as advised. You may need a colonoscopy or other imaging tests of your colon.

When should you call your doctor

Contact your health care provider or get medical care right away if you have:

• A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised by your provider.

• Chills.

• Severe cramps in your belly, most often the lower left side.

• Soreness in your belly, most often the lower left side.

• Nausea and vomiting.

• Bleeding from your rectum.