Yes, fatigue (tiredness) is a common symptom of diverticulitis, often occurring alongside abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and changes in bowel habits, as the body fights inflammation and infection, with dehydration from vomiting or diarrhea also contributing. This exhaustion can linger even after the infection clears, making it a significant part of the condition, especially in older adults where it might even present without typical pain.
These can include discomfort or pain in the abdomen (particularly the lower left side), and changes in your normal bowel habit. The symptoms of diverticular disease, while not severe, can make you feel tired and low, and affect your enjoyment of life.
Physical activity helps keep your bowels moving. Try to fit light-to-moderate exercise—like walking, running, or yoga—into your schedule every day.
When these pouches become inflamed, the condition is called diverticulitis. Inflammation is immune system activity that increases blood flow and fluids to a site in the body and delivers disease-fighting cells. Inflammation of diverticula can cause severe pain, fever, nausea and changes in your stool habits.
Once treated, most people start feeling better within a few days. Approximately 20% of patients will have another flare-up, or recurrence. This usually happens within 5 years. If diverticulitis keeps recurring, surgery may be considered.
While no specific foods are proven to trigger diverticulitis attacks, a diet rich in high-fiber foods can help maintain digestive health and reduce the risk of complications. High-fiber foods soften waste, decreasing pressure in the digestive tract. Examples include: Fruits.
During the acute phase of uncomplicated diverticulitis, “bowel rest” through a clear liquid diet is advised with a goal of patient comfort. If a patient cannot advance their diet after three to five days, a follow-up appointment should be scheduled immediately.
Mild, uncomplicated diverticulitis typically resolves on its own at home. "Going from a solid, heavy diet to a softer, more liquid diet for a few days usually helps ease symptoms as the body naturally clears a mild infection," Dr Warner says. More intense pain may warrant antibiotics.
Symptoms of diverticulitis tend to be more serious and include:
Common alternative conditions that can clinically mimic diverticulitis include small bowel obstruction, primary epiploic appendagitis, acute cholecystitis, appendicitis, ileitis, ovarian cystic disease, and ureteral stone disease.
However, you should seek immediate medical attention if your symptoms are not going away or you are feeling worse, such as having increasing pain, fever, bloody stools, or abdominal bloating with vomiting. Treatment depends on whether you have uncomplicated or complicated diverticulitis.
Does resting help with diverticulitis? Taking a break and allowing your colon to rest for a few days can help reduce inflammation. Using a heating pad on your abdomen while lying down may also provide relief from mild cramps and discomfort.
The worst things for diverticulitis during a flare-up are high-fiber foods, red/processed meats, sugar, fat, alcohol, and NSAIDs like ibuprofen, as they can worsen inflammation and symptoms; instead, focus on a temporary low-fiber diet (liquids/soft foods) and gradually reintroduce fiber after healing to prevent future attacks, consulting your doctor for personalized advice.
You may find that your Crohn's or Colitis makes it hard to get enough nutrients into your body. This may contribute to you feeling fatigued. If your gut is inflamed and sore it cannot take in the nutrients your body needs.
Diverticulitis perforation is a medical emergency with symptoms like sudden, severe abdominal pain (often lower left), high fever, chills, rapid heart rate, nausea, vomiting, and a rigid, tender abdomen, as bowel contents leak into the abdominal cavity (peritonitis). It requires immediate medical attention, with signs of worsening infection like difficulty breathing or confusion signaling sepsis.
Typical diet to prevent diverticulitis
Drink lots of water to keep fiber moving through your digestive system. If you don't get enough fiber from food, your healthcare professional may recommend a fiber supplement. In the past, people with diverticula were told not to eat nuts, seeds and popcorn.
Honestly, recovering from diverticulitis might take up to two weeks. In the initial days of recuperating from straightforward diverticulitis in the comfort of your home, you'll be on a liquid diet, taking it easy, and using the prescribed medications for pain relief.
Some people with diverticulitis wonder how a digestive issue can cause so much fatigue. While the reasons for a patient's tiredness can vary, dehydration is a common culprit. Diverticulitis symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and fever can lead to dehydration that can easily make a person feel exhausted.
Diverticulitis can usually be treated effectively. In straightforward (uncomplicated) cases, antibiotics often aren't needed. Surgery is only necessary if the inflammation is so severe that it could lead to complications.
Fast Relief for Diverticulitis Pain
Diverticulitis can become serious if you experience blood in your stool, a fever over 100.4°F (38°C) that doesn't go away, nausea, vomiting, or chills. These signs could mean an infection or complications, so it's important to see a doctor if they don't improve.
Symptoms of a Diverticulitis Flare-Up
Treatment may consist of measures including: Taking painkillers to reduce discomfort. These may be over-the-counter pain medicines such as paracetamol or stronger medicines that require a prescription. Taking Buscopan may help with cramping abdominal pain.
For instance, depending on how severe the flare-up is, your doctor may recommend one of the following: Nothing by mouth for a short time, also known as a bowel rest. Clear liquids only. A liquid diet.