If you are dealing with sharp abdominal pain, you could have a condition known as diverticulitis. Your metabolic specialist can help. The surgeons at Suburban Surgical Associates/Suburban Metabolic Institute provide a wide range of medical services, including diagnosis and treatment of diverticulitis. They have convenient office locations in La Grange, Elmhurst, and Berwyn, IL, to help you.

What You Need To Know About Diverticulitis

As you age, the walls of your colon become weaker, and small areas of tissue may poke through the walls. These tissue areas are known as diverticula. The diverticula can become inflamed, resulting in diverticulitis.

You may have diverticulitis if you experience:

• Fever
• Chills and shaking
• Moderate to severe abdominal pain
• Moderate to severe abdominal cramping
• Changes in your bowel habits
• Diarrhea, bloating, or constipation
• Blood in your stool

Some foods can trigger diverticulitis and make it more severe. If you have diverticulitis, you should avoid:

• Red meat
• Processed meats
• Fried foods
• Full-fat dairy
• High sugar-content foods

Your metabolic specialist can help you manage the signs and symptoms of diverticulitis. You should seek out the expertise of your metabolic specialist if you are experiencing any of the signs and symptoms of diverticulitis listed above. Your metabolic specialist may order laboratory testing and imaging studies including a CT scan to determine if you have diverticulitis.

Your metabolic specialist may recommend medications and supplements to treat diverticulitis. These may include:

• Antibiotics to reduce symptoms
• Probiotics and fiber supplements

Modifying your diet can help manage the severity of diverticulitis. Your metabolic specialist may recommend consuming a clear liquid diet to calm your digestive system, followed by a modified diet of

• Eggs
• Pasta, rice, and white bread
• Cooked vegetables with the skin removed
• Fruit with the skin and seeds removed
• Lean meats including chicken and fish

Want To Know More About Diverticulitis?

To learn more about the causes, signs, symptoms, and treatment of diverticulitis, call the general surgeons and metabolic specialists at Suburban Surgical Associates/Suburban Metabolic Institute. You can reach them in their offices in La Grange, Elmhurst, and Berwyn, IL, by calling (708) 484-0621, so call today.