Does constipation come with pain on the left side of the abdomen? Learn about Diverticular Disease!

Do you sometimes feel a little nauseous or achy in your lower abdomen, especially on the left side? For some people, this comes with constipation, while for others, it feels like diarrhea. While many people think this is just a normal stomach ache, it may be something to be a little more concerned about. Today we are talking about a condition called 'Diverticular Disease', which is common among many people in our country, especially as they age.

Simply put, what is diverticular disease?

Imagine that the large intestine (colon) inside our stomach is like a bicycle tube. When the wall of this tube becomes a little weak in some places, the pressure from inside causes small bubbles to pop out of those weak spots. That's how we call this condition the formation of small pockets that protrude from the weak spots in the wall of our large intestine. These small pockets are medically called 'diverticula'.

This situation can be divided into three main parts:

1. Diverticulosis: This is just the formation of small pouches in the colon. Many people have no symptoms. So they may not even know they have this condition. About 10% of people over the age of 40 and 50% of people over the age of 60 have this condition.

2. Diverticulitis: This is a bit of a problem. It's called this when waste gets trapped inside those little pouches, gets infected with bacteria, and becomes inflamed. This is when symptoms like pain and fever occur.

3. Diverticular Bleeding: The tiny blood vessels that run near those small pouches become damaged and start to bleed.

What are the symptoms? How do we differentiate and recognize these conditions?

The symptoms of these three conditions are different from each other. Therefore, it is very important to understand them clearly. You can easily understand it from the table below.

How does a doctor find this?

If you have symptoms of diverticulitis, it is very important to see a doctor as soon as possible.

• Medical examination: The doctor will ask you about your symptoms, eating habits, bowel movements, and medications you are taking. He will then palpate your abdomen and check for any painful areas.
• Tests:
• Blood tests: A blood test is done to see if there is an infection in the body.
• CT Scan: This is very important to see clearly what is going on inside the abdomen. It can tell exactly if those little sacs are swollen or if there are other complications.
• Colonoscopy: If you have rectal bleeding, a test that involves inserting a thin tube with a camera into your colon to find out exactly where the bleeding is coming from. However, this is not usually done when diverticulitis is active.

Diverticulosis is often discovered incidentally during a colonoscopy performed for another reason.

Can dangerous complications occur?

Yes, diverticulitis can lead to serious complications if not treated properly. Most of these are caused by a rupture (perforation) of the infected pouch, which allows waste products from the intestines to leak into the abdominal cavity.

• Peritonitis:The infection spreads throughout the abdominal cavity. This is a very painful and even life-threatening condition. This requires emergency surgery.
• Abscess: A collection of pus in one area that may require drainage or surgery.
• Intestinal obstruction: Scar tissue caused by infection can narrow the intestinal tract and cause partial or complete blockage.
• Fistula: An abnormal connection between the intestine and another organ (such as the bladder). This can also be treated with surgery.

How to prevent and manage this condition?

This is the most important part. There are many things we can do to prevent this condition from developing and to reduce complications if it does develop.

The best thing is a high-fiber diet.

The main cause of this condition is constipation and straining during bowel movements. The best way to prevent it is to adopt a diet rich in fiber. Try to add about 20-35 grams of fiber to your diet per day.

• Foods rich in fiber: Brown rice, buckwheat, oats, fruits (bananas, mangoes, papaya), vegetables (beans, cabbage, spinach, carrots), greens, chickpeas, peas, green beans, etc.
• Drink plenty of water: Eating fiber alone is not enough, you need to drink plenty of water. Drink at least 2-3 liters of water a day.
• Exercise: Even something as simple as walking for 30 minutes a day can help a lot with bowel function.
• Avoid straining: Avoid straining to defecate when you go to the toilet. If you are constipated, talk to a doctor and get appropriate advice.