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Discharge Instructions for Diverticulitis
You have been diagnosed with diverticulitis. This is a condition in which small pouches form in your colon (large intestine) and become inflamed or infected. Follow the guidelines below for home care.
As you recover
Tips for recovery include:
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Eat a low-fiber diet at first while you recover. Your healthcare provider may advise a liquid diet. This gives your bowel a chance to rest so that it can recover.
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Include these foods: flake cereal, mashed potatoes, pancakes, waffles, pasta, white bread, rice, applesauce, bananas, eggs, fish, poultry, tofu, and well-cooked vegetables.
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Take your medicines as directed. Don't stop taking the medicines, even if you feel better.
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Monitor your temperature and report any rise in temperature to your healthcare provider.
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Take any prescribed antibiotics exactly as directed. Don't miss any and keep taking them even if you feel better.
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Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water every day, unless told otherwise.
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Use a heating pad or hot water bottle to reduce abdominal cramping or pain.
Preventing diverticulitis in the future
Tips for prevention include:
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Eat a high-fiber diet. Fiber adds bulk to the stool so that it passes through the large intestine more easily.
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Keep drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water every day, unless told otherwise.
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Start an exercise program. Ask your healthcare provider how to get started. You can benefit from simple activities such as walking or gardening.
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Treat diarrhea with a bland diet. Start with liquids only, then slowly add fiber over time.
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Watch for changes in your bowel movements (constipation to diarrhea).
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Prevent constipation with fiber and add a stool softener if needed.
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Get plenty of rest and sleep.
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If possible, don't take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen. They increase the risk of diverticulitis.
Follow-up care
Make a follow-up appointment, or as advised. You may need a colonoscopy or other imaging test of your colon.
When to call your healthcare provider
Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these:
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Fever of 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher, or as advised by your provider
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Chills
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Severe cramps in your belly, most often the lower left side
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Soreness in your belly, most often the lower left side
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Nausea and vomiting
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Bleeding from your rectum
Online Medical Reviewer:
Jen Lehrer MD
Online Medical Reviewer:
Raymond Kent Turley BSN MSN RN
Online Medical Reviewer:
Rita Sather RN
Date Last Reviewed:
2/1/2022
© 2000-2024 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.