Diverticular disease

To create an image of your lower gastrointestinal tract using electromagnetic rays.

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To measure your white blood cell levels. During a blood test, doctors look at a small amount of your blood under a microscope. If your white blood cell levels are higher than normal, there is an infection. 

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To look inside your colon (large intestine). During a colonoscopy, a thin tube is inserted through the rectum into the colon. This flexible tube has a light and a tiny camera.

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To create a detailed picture of your colon. A CT scan uses a series of X-ray pictures to create a 3D (3-dimensional) picture of your colon. We use a special CT scan called a pneumocolon or colonography for diverticulitis. For these special CT scans, we pump air into your gastrointestinal tract through a tube that runs through your rectum.

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You can treat mild cases at home. A typical care plan includes: 

• High-fibre diet to ease your symptoms.
• Paracetamol, an over-the-counter painkiller, to relieve your pain. You should not use Ibuprofen and Advil. These medicines can upset your stomach. They can also cause ulcers (open sores) on your gastrointestinal tract.  
• Prescription antibiotics to treat your infection. If your doctor gives you antibiotics, you must take them as long as directed, even if you start feeling better.

We treat more serious cases of diverticulitis at our hospitals:

• St. Paul’s Hospital
• Mount Saint Joseph Hospital
• Holy Family Hospital

If you are admitted to a hospital, you will likely receive IV (intravenous) antibiotics. If you need extra hydration or nutrition supplements, we will also give these intravenously. Intravenous means we put fluids or nutrients directly into your bloodstream through your veins. 

Your symptoms will likely improve within a few days. Once you feel better, you will be discharged from the hospital and can go home.

If you have an extreme case of diverticulitis, you will need surgery. At Providence, we perform colorectal surgery at St. Paul’s Hospital.

Surgery types include:

• Primary bowel resection, where we remove the unhealthy part of your colon and attach the remaining healthy parts. 
• Bowel resection with colectomy, where we create an opening in your abdominal wall, also known as a stoma. This opening is connected to the healthy part of your colon, and a bag is attached to collect stools. This type of surgery is necessary when a large section of your colon is inflamed. If the inflammation improves, this procedure can often be reversed.

Our clinical dietitians work with healthcare teams to give practical nutrition advice and education to patients and residents. They focus on your individual needs as well as involving your family in your nutritional health.

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To help with communicating with your health care team, we offer interpretation services 24-hours-a-day. Please ask your care team to place a request if you need an interpreter including a sign language interpreter.

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Our psychology services can provide emotional support to our patients who may need help coping with their condition and its treatment.

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Our social work team helps patients and their families by providing emotional support and connecting them to helpful resources and services. This team can also assist in planning for the future, advocate for patients' needs, and help with practical concerns like finances and social support.

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We offer pastoral care services to support you and your loved ones. Our professional staff, including chaplains from different faiths, are here to accompany you, provide counseling, and create spaces for reflection, prayer, and meditation. 

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We strive to offer you the best and most compassionate care possible. If we succeed, please let us know. If we fall short of our goal “How you want to be treated,” please also let us know. 

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