Question: What are common symptoms of diverticulitis? I have been very uncomfortable lately and am wondering if I have this.

Answer: Diverticulitis is a difficult problem to diagnose because some people experience no symptoms while others, such as yourself, can experience uncomfortable symptoms.

The common symptoms of diverticulitis include:

• Abdominal pain, most commonly on the lower left side of the abdomen
• The pain can be severe, or mild, and can increase in intensity throughout the day
• Cramping
• Nausea
• vomiting
• fever
• chills
• changes in bowel habits

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms it is a good idea to see your physician. The complications of diverticulitis can include bleeding, infections, perforations in the bowel, or blockages of the colon.

Since diverticulitis is an infection your doctor will likely prescribe oral antibiotics. He or she will also probably ask you to follow a specific diet. If this treatment proves to be ineffective you may have to be admitted to the hospital for a course of intravenous antibiotics.

We hope you are able to treat the symptoms of your diverticulitis and find some relief. Thank you for checking in and be sure to go see your doctor.