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Symptoms of Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is a digestive condition characterized by the development of small pouches through the digestive tract, most commonly in the small intestines and colon. Food and particles gather in these pouches and cause infections and inflammation. While many of the symptoms can be an indication of many other illnesses, taken as a whole, these symptoms often point to diverticulitis.

  1. Sudden Abdominal Pain

    • Diverticulitis can cause severe and sudden bouts of pain in the abdomen, usually on the lower left side. The pain is often so intense that most people experiencing this pain seek immediate medical attention. Often, this symptom helps doctors to diagnose patients with diverticulitis.

    Abdominal Tenderness

    • People with diverticulitis often experience an overall abdominal tenderness during waking hours and at varying intensities.

    Bloating

    • Some people with diverticulitis experience bloating in the abdominal area. Bloating is not as common a symptom as the others, and isn't usually painful. Bloating is often mistaken for water weight or excess gas.

    Bleeding

    • Diverticulitis causes infections and inflammation in the intestines and colon, conditions that usually result in bleeding. Blood may be found in the stool, as well as the toilet water or on toilet paper. Although the bleeding will stop on its own, bleeding is a very serious symptom of diverticulitis or other severe digestive problems. Visit a physician as soon as possible.

    Nausea and Vomiting

    • Nausea and vomiting are also symptoms of diverticulitis, although they are rare. Because these symptoms can be caused by a wide variety of illnesses, it is important to be aware of all other symptoms associated with diverticulitis.

    Bladder Infections

    • If diverticulitis symptoms go unchecked, a severe bout can cause bladder infections causing painful urination. This occurs when the infection in the intestines erodes into the bladder. While rare, this is a severe condition.

    Dizziness and Shock

    • If other symptoms are ignored, more serious symptoms will occur. Particularly, some people who experience extended bleeding can go into shock because of a drastic drop in blood pressure. In extreme cases, this can even cause unconsciousness.

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