Diverticulitis and pain: what should you know?

Diverticulitis is inflammation affecting a diverticulum, a pouch in the bowel wall. Pain may be felt in the lower abdomen and can occur with tenderness, fever, nausea, constipation or diarrhoea. The location and intensity do not confirm the cause: urinary, gynaecological and other digestive conditions can feel similar. A clinician considers the whole pattern, including how quickly it started and whether bowel movements or eating change it.

Rest, take fluids in small amounts if tolerated, and follow the food and medicine instructions given by your healthcare professional. Avoid taking leftover antibiotics or repeatedly adding medicines without checking safety. Keep a brief record of pain location, severity, temperature, bowel movements, vomiting and any blood. This gives a GP useful detail during a consultation and helps identify change over time.

Seek prompt advice if abdominal pain persists, becomes stronger, or comes with fever, vomiting, bloating or difficulty passing stool or gas. Get urgent help for severe pain, faintness, confusion, a rigid or very swollen abdomen, or blood in the stool. Do not wait for pain to become unbearable before seeking assessment, especially if you are unable to drink or feel increasingly unwell.

Ask what may be causing the pain, which pain relief is suitable with your medicines, what foods and fluids to choose, and which changes should trigger same-day review.