DIVERTICULITIS, DIVERTICULOSIS & COLON POLYPS:What’s the difference?
What is diverticulitis?
Diverticulitis is an abdominal condition in which the large bowel or colon has weak spots that develop pockets of infection or abscesses and fistulas or tunnels that lead from the colon into other organs.
What is diverticulosis?
Diverticulosis is an abdominal condition in which weak spots developed within the lining of the large bowel or colon that bulge outward.
What are colon polyps?
Abnormal growths that rise from the large intestinal or colon lining and protrude into the intestinal canal or lumen are called colon polyps. While some polyps are flat others have a stalk.
What are the symptoms of diverticulitis?
Houston colon doctors have found that abdominal pain is most common in people suffering from diverticulitis. Houston colon patients commonly present with tenderness in the lower left side of the abdomen upon examination. In diverticulitis, pain is severe and presents suddenly. Houston colon patients have found that this pain may also be mild and worsen over several days and fluctuate in intensity. The patients of Houston colorectal surgeons experience the following symptoms: cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills or a change in bowel habits.
What are the symptoms of diverticulosis?
Diverticulosis patients typically do not experience any discomfort or symptoms. Some Houston colon patients have found that they experience crampy pain or discomfort within the lower abdomen, bloating, and/or constipation. Not only diverticulosis can cause these symptoms. Irritable bowel syndrome and stomach ulcers are among conditions that cause similar symptoms.
What are the symptoms of colon polyps?
Houston colon surgeons have found that most patients that suffer from colon polyps are symptom free. Houston colon doctors usually find polyps during examinations of the bowel with procedures such as a laparoscopic colon exam and x-ray. In rare cases Houston colon surgeons have found that some of their Houston colon patients may suffer from colon polyp bleeding, mucous discharge, change in bowel function and abdominal pain.
How is diverticulitis treated?
Houston colorectal surgeons treat diverticulitis by clearing up the inflammation and infection, resting the colon and minimizing and/or preventing complications. Houston colon doctors prescribe their patients that suffer from diverticulitis the following: bed rest, oral antibiotics, a pain reliever and a liquid diet. If patients are relieved of symptoms after a few days following Houston colorectal surgeons orders, increasing the amount of high-fiber foods is recommended. Hospital stays are required only in the severe cases of diverticulitis with severe pain and complications. These cases are treated with IV antibiotics and a few days without food or drink. This helps the colon rest. In some cases Houston colon surgeons find that performing surgery may become necessary.
How is diverticulosis treated?
Diverticulosis symptoms may be reduced by increased fiber intake. This keeps the stool soft so that the pressure inside the colon is lowered. Contents inside the bowel can then move more freely. Houston colon doctors may recommend taking a fiber product such as Citrucel or Metamucil 1 to 3 times a day with at least 8 ounces of water. Houston colon patients find that doing this can prevent diverticulosis from turning into diverticulitis.
How are colon polyps treated?
Houston colorectal surgeons treat colon polyps by removing them laparoscopically. Once a colon polyp is removed completely, recurrence of said polyp is rare. The same factors that created the colon polyp still exist so new polyps develop within at least 30% of Houston colon patients that have had colon polyps previously. Regular exams by a Houston colorectal doctor is vital for treating the recurrence of colon polyps.
Houston colorectal surgeons provide vital information to symptoms and treatments for diverticulitis, diverticulosis, and colon polyps. Houston colon doctors perform treatment for patients having these types of colon conditions by either laparoscopy, clearing up the inflammation or through increased fiber intake.
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