248.844.9710

248.844.9711

Request an Appointment Pay My Bill

Diverticulitis

Make An Appointment

What is Diverticulitis?

Diverticulitis is a condition that develops when diverticula, which are small pouches in the intestine, become inflamed or infected. It is not unusual for people to have diverticula, especially after the age of 40. In most cases, diverticula do not cause any problems, but when diverticulitis develops as a result of inflammation or infection, people will experience uncomfortable symptoms.

What are symptoms of diverticulitis?

Since diverticulitis affects the intestines, it causes symptoms associated with gastrointestinal distress. Common symptoms of diverticulitis include:

  • Pain, typically in the lower left portion of the abdomen
  • Fever
  • Tenderness in the abdomen
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Constipation
  • In some cases, diarrhea

With symptoms of diverticulitis, abdominal pain may be constant and last for several days. Unexplained, persistent abdominal pain is a sign that you should seek medical treatment.

What causes diverticulitis?

According to experts, diverticula develop when pressure causes weak spots in the colon to give way. When these diverticula tear, it results in inflammation, and in some cases infection, leading to diverticulitis.

There are some risk factors that can increase the likelihood of developing diverticulitis:

  • Smoking
  • Obesity
  • Lack of exercise
  • Being of older age
  • Taking certain medications, such as steroids or opioids
  • Eating a diet that is high in fat and low in fiber

How serious is diverticulitis?

In about 25% of cases, diverticulitis can cause complications. For instance, some people may develop abscesses, from pus collecting in the diverticula. Diverticulitis can also cause a blockage in the bowels as a result of scarring.

Another complication of diverticulitis is the development of a fistula, or an abnormal connection, between the bowel and other areas of the body.

In serious cases, diverticulitis can lead to peritonitis, which occurs when the diverticula rupture, causing material from the intestines to leak into the abdominal cavity. Peritonitis is considered a medical emergency.

What is the treatment for diverticulitis?

The treatment for diverticulitis will depend upon the severity of the condition. If you have a mild case, you can likely recover at home. A doctor may prescribe antibiotics to treat diverticulitis, but sometimes, the condition will go away on its own without medication. A doctor is likely to recommend a liquid diet until symptoms of diverticulitis improve.

More serious cases of diverticulitis are likely to require hospitalization to treat the condition. During a hospital stay, treatment for diverticulitis includes intravenous antibiotics, as well as a tube to drain the fluid from an abscess, if one has developed.

For people who have recurrent cases of diverticulitis, a weakened immune system, or complications like a bowel obstruction, surgery may be necessary to treat diverticulitis.

You can reduce your risk of diverticulitis and related complications by getting plenty of exercise and eating a diet that contains adequate amounts of fiber from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. It is also important to drink plenty of water and to avoid smoking.

Applicable Procedures

Colonoscopy

How serious is diverticulitis?

In about 25% of cases, people will suffer from complications with diverticulitis. These can include the development of abscesses, a bowel blockage, or an abnormal connection between the bowel and other body parts. In rare cases, it can cause a rupture called peritonitis, which is potentially life-threatening.

Are there ways to prevent diverticulitis?

You can reduce your risk of diverticulitis by practicing healthy lifestyle habits, such as avoiding smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, getting plenty of exercise, and getting enough fiber in your diet.

What is the treatment for diverticulitis?

Treatment will vary based upon the severity of the condition. Some people may not need any treatment, whereas others will need to take antibiotics or follow a liquid diet. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary.

Common Symptoms

  • “I sometimes suffer from stomach pain that is constant and lasts for days at a time.”
  • “My stomach is tender to the touch, and I get pain in the lower left area of my belly.”
  • “I have been experiencing nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting along with a slight fever.”

Find a Location in Your Area

Find a Location

Request an Appointment

What They Are Saying

Excellent
Center For Digestive Health, Rochester Hills4.8
Based on 6261 reviews
See all reviews
review us on
Pamela P.
Everyone I came in contact with was courteous, helpful, and knowledgable, and I felt comfortable.
K B.
Everyone in the building works to both help and make you feel comfortable in the whole process
Brad G.
From Dr. Bologna, to the staff all very knowledgeable, professional and nice people. I felt very comfortable and cared for. See ya in five years!
Susan P.
Staff here are great! Very friendly and willing to answer any and all questions.
Nicole G.
Staff was great! Very pleasant. Dr. Weber was fantastic! He listened to my questions and answered every one. I didn't feel rushed and he was very kind.
Marlene D.
Very kind, pleasant help, from sign in, and each and every assistant and nurse. And Dr Q set me at ease, thank you. I also appreciated the follow up phone call at home.
Debbie C.
This office is run professional with friendly patient care. My call out to Amy, Nick, Jorden, Nicole, and Dr. Tocco. They all treated me with gentle respectful care. During my prep stage (which is the unpleasant part) I had some questions and called the office. Sherrie answered all of my questions and helped calm an advance middle aged lady down! You guys are the best!
Rick H.
Great doctor and an excellent staff
Elaine M.
I was surprised I didn't have to wait very long to see the Dr because the last place I went to kept me waiting about 2 hours. Very positive experience.
Richard M.
very friendly and professional they make sure you understand everything about your procedure and take time to be sure you understand the results
Bob S.
Staff was very friendly and PROFESSIONAL. Bob S
Russell B.
Efficient, compassionate, knowledgeable, and pleasant.
dennis W.
Staff was very friendly and answered every question. Felt very comfortable!
Ed L.
The peope were very professional and courteous. I would highly recommend this location
Sharon O.
All of the staff are very professional. They keep the patient informed every step of the way.
delshawn J.
The staff was Absolutely amazing! Everyone went above and beyond to make me comfortable.
Darrell P.
Staff was great they made my procedure easy . Thank You
David S.
It was a fast and efficient experience.Everyone was very professional and helpful.
Lisa L.
The staff were all friendly and professional. Procedure was quick yet they let me take as long as I needed to recover.
Dino P.
Dr. Donat and team are great! Professional, caring, friendly, truly the best experience.
Allison B.
Great experience for me here. Staff took care of me with straightforwardness and compassion, which I appreciate during medical visits. Slight hiccup with IV placement in one arm, but efficient at getting the other arm hooked up quickly and without issue. Great, pre- and post-care (and I can assume during, too, but I was napping, so...). 🙂 I highly recommend Center for Digestive Health.
Thom S.
The entire staff was helpful and attentive to my needs. The procedure was very thorough and everyone made the experience one that remediated any fears I might have had. The smiles were contagious.
Jane B.
Great caring staff handled professionally. I will continue care at this location with Dr Donat and his staff.
Jeanette Y.
The Center was an excellent experience from Roger and Brittany my nurses to the procedure room and Anesthetist, all was smooth. Very caring team and of course a fabulous physician, Dr Weber! Highly recommend this site and team!
Vincent K.
I appreciated being told at registration what the planned schedule was for my procedure. And it was pretty much on time. Also, the nurses who prepared me and discharged me were very professional and most pleasant.
The Center for Digestive Health4.8
Based on 6266 reviews
See all reviews
review us on
Kimberly N.
I have been here twice and both times I have had a wonderful experience. When you need to get a colonoscopy, go here!!!!
Anna M.
Everyone was very pleasant
Diana T.
Everyone was professional and compassionate. They addressed all of my concerns and questions
Kim H.
They’re like a fine oil machine someone to take care of all your needs make it comfortable and that’s over and done and you’re great

Our Doctors

We’re proud of our team here at Digestive Health Institute. Our health care providers include some of the very best colorectal surgeons, gastroenterologists and physician assistants. To learn more about our qualified team of specialists, please visit our providers page.

Amir Abadir MD, FRCPC

Anezi E. Bakken MD, MS

Sante D. Bologna MD, FACP

M. Emin Donat MD, FRCPC

Partha S. Nandi

Jack Tocco DO

John R. Weber MD

Richard T. Wille MD

Tusar Desai MD

Aalia Saeed, MD

FAQs

What happens during my first visit?
If you are a new patient, you can expect to have a complete physical exam. You will also be asked detailed questions about your current problems and your past medical history, your current medications, allergies, your family history and other pertinent medical information. If you are taking medications, please bring a completed medical history form with you to your appointment. Once the physician has reviewed your medical information and completed the physical examination, a plan of care will be developed. You may need to be seen again in the office, be referred back to your family physician for follow-up care, or require additional testing. If additional tests are needed, we will assist you in scheduling these tests.
What if I need to schedule an endoscopic procedure?

An endoscopic procedure allows the physician to visualize a part of your gastrointestinal tract with a special instrument called an endoscope. If your family physician has ordered testing, you will be contacted by telephone by one of our staff members. If a physician orders testing and you are in the office, the procedure can generally be scheduled during the course of your visit. You will be given a date, time, and location for the test, as well as written instructions telling you how to prepare for the test. If you have any questions about the procedure, please feel free to ask one of our staff members or the physician.

How do I get test results?

We ask that you wait 10 to 14 days before contacting us for results. Often results come from several different sources. This information needs to be compiled and reviewed by your physician before you can be appropriately advised. 

What insurances do you accept?

We accept payment from most insurance companies including Medicare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Blue Care Network, Physicians Health Plan, Cofinity, Sparrow Professional Health Network, Medicaid, McLaren, Health Plus, and several others. Accepted insurances are subject to change at any time without notice.

If your insurance requires an authorization from your primary care physician, you may be asked to assist us in obtaining this authorization.

All patients are responsible for all copays and deductibles at the time of service.

If you have any questions regarding your benefits or insurance coverage, please contact our Billing Department at 248-844-9710.

What if I need to contact the doctor?

To contact your doctor during business hours please call our main number 248-844-9710. If you have an urgent need to speak with the doctor after hours, you will be rerouted to our after hours answering service, and your doctor will be paged. In the case of a medical emergency please proceed directly to the nearest hospital emergency room.

Related Content

3 reasons to see a gastrointestinal specialist when you turn 45

3 reasons to see a gastrointestinal specialist when you turn 45

A gastrointestinal specialist is someone who specializes in the gastrointestinal tract. The gastrointestinal tract involves a pathway that starts at the mouth and ends at the anus. The organs within the gastrointestinal tract are those that function mostly for...

The Benefits of Water for Digestion

The Benefits of Water for Digestion

Digestion is a process that, when running smoothly, can help keep the rest of your body in good condition too. It’s an important component of your overall health. There are several different ways that the digestive system can be well maintained, and this can be helped...

Do I Need an Endoscopy for Acid Reflux?

Do I Need an Endoscopy for Acid Reflux?

An endoscopy is a procedure that is typically used to examine an individual’s digestive tract. It is a non-surgical procedure that involves a tube with a video camera attached to it, called an endoscope, that is used to examine the inside of a cavity in the body. An...

Sign Up for Our Newsletter