Discharge Instructions for Diverticulitis
Discharge Instructions for Diverticulitis
You have been diagnosed with diverticulitis. This is a condition in which small pouches form in your colon (large intestine) and become inflamed or infected. Follow the guidelines below for home care.
As you recover
Tips for recovery include:
Eat a low-fiber diet. Your healthcare provider may advise a liquid diet. This gives your bowel a chance to rest so that it can recover.
Foods to include: flake cereal, mashed potatoes, pancakes, waffles, pasta, white bread, rice, applesauce, bananas, eggs, fish, poultry, tofu, and well-cooked vegetables
Take your medicines as directed. Do not stop taking the medicines, even if you feel better.
Monitor your temperature and report any rising temperature to your healthcare provider.
Take antibiotics exactly as directed. Do not miss any and keep taking them even if you feel better.
Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water every day, unless directed otherwise.
Use a heating pad or hot water bottle to reduce abdominal cramping or pain.
Preventing diverticulitis in the future
Tips for prevention include:
Eat a high-fiber diet. Fiber adds bulk to the stool so that it passes through the large intestine more easily.
Keep drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water every day, unless directed otherwise.
Begin an exercise program. Ask your healthcare provider how to get started. You can benefit from simple activities such as walking or gardening.
Treat diarrhea with a bland diet. Start with liquids only, then slowly add fiber over time.
Watch for changes in your bowel movements (constipation to diarrhea).
Avoid constipation with fiber and add a stool softener if needed.
Get plenty of rest and sleep.
Follow-up care
Make a follow-up appointment as directed by our staff.
When to call your healthcare provider
Call your healthcare provider immediately if you have any of the following:
Fever of 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher, or as directed by your healthcare provider
Chills
Severe cramps in the belly, most commonly the lower left side
Tenderness in the belly, most commonly the lower left side
Nausea and vomiting
Bleeding from your rectum
Updated:  
March 21, 2017
Sources:  
Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Pathophysiology and Treatment of Fever in Adults. UpToDate
Reviewed By:  
Fraser, Marianne, MSN, RN,Lehrer, Jenifer, MD