Diverticulitis is a condition you may hear about a lot, especially as you age. It’s important to not only understand what this condition is but why it happens and how it can affect your life. This is because some people who live with a less severe version — diverticulosis — never develop diverticulitis. However, some do.
Boca Care Surgical Associates offers treatment for those who do develop this more severe condition in the form of surgery. Our provider, Avraham Belizon, MD, FACS, FASCRS, understands the lack of knowledge around diverticulosis and diverticulitis and wants to ensure patients who develop either one can get the right information and any help they may need.
Diverticulosis and diverticulitis are both conditions where small sacs form in the walls of your colon and push out through these walls. You now know the former is less severe; it’s also very common. Seventy percent of people over the age of 80 develop this condition. However, it usually causes no symptoms or problems for the majority of people.
Diverticulitis, on the other hand, only develops in about 5% of people who develop diverticulosis. This condition involves the small sacs — or diverticula — becoming inflamed. This can cause major problems for the body in a way diverticulosis likely won’t.
If you’re diagnosed with diverticulosis, you should stay aware of this condition and look for the signs of inflammation, which could lead to something much more serious.
As previously stated, diverticulosis isn’t severe and won’t usually cause any side effects. But diverticulitis likely will. Common signs of this condition are:
Noticing these symptoms means there’s a possibility you might be dealing with diverticulitis. While diverticulosis doesn’t require much in the way of treatment, it’s important to get help if you think you have diverticulitis.
If you’re experiencing pain — especially pain that worsens with time, stabbing pain, or tenderness in the abdomen — it’s time to see a doctor. Your provider can help you determine how severe your condition may be and which treatments will best suit you.
Any symptoms you notice that affect your day-to-day life (whether nausea, pain, fever, or others) should be mentioned in a conversation with your provider so that they can help you begin to feel better. At Boca Care Surgical Associates, we offer surgical removal of the diverticula and any parts of your colon that may have been damaged.
In addition or if surgery isn’t yet necessary, you and your provider can discuss the other treatment options available to manage this condition, such as dietary changes, medications, and more. But if you’re dealing with discomfort and other symptoms, you shouldn’t wait to seek help.
Depending on the severity of your condition and your other needs, the treatment may be different from the kind someone else receives. But all in all, if you’re struggling with symptoms caused by diverticulitis, you should seek help.
Our office in Boca Raton, Florida, is available for appointments. Just call us at 561-395-2626, or make an appointment online at your earliest convenience. We want to help you feel your best!
