Diverticulitis Fistula Symptoms
Diverticulitis fistula is a rare disorder associated with patients who are diagnosed with diverticulitis. Symptoms of diverticulitis are fever and pain on the lower left side of the abdomen. Diverticulitis is similar to the disorder diverticulosis, although diverticulosis generally occurs in conjunction with intestinal bleeding. Intestinal bleeding usually is not present in patients diagnosed with diverticulits. A fistula occurs in individuals who have diverticulitis when as a result of swelling, the intestinal walls press up against other organs and connect to them. A fistula is most common in the lower large intestine, but can occur in any area of the small and large intestines.
Significance
Diverticulitis generally occurs in people over 40. Although diverticulitis is a serious condition, it is usually only of major concern if the patient is elderly. Especially in the elderly, the symptoms of diverticulitis can be so severe that the patient may have to be hospitalized for antibiotics to be administered and sometimes for surgery to be performed. It is easier to identify a fistula in a diverticulitis patient if the diverticulitis has already been diagnosed, as it is rare but possible for sufferers of diverticulitis to form fistulas.
Types
Symptoms of diverticulitis include a high fever and pain in the lower left side of the abdomen, although other abdominal pain is also possible and should be treated with concern. Diverticulitis is usually performed without exploratory surgery, but it may be necessary if a fistula has already formed. Although surgery is not usually necessary in treating diverticulitis unless the illness is particularly severe, the treatment of a diverticulitis fistula is almost always necessary.
Identification
Diverticulitis fistula symptoms include pain during urination, bloody stool or vomit, high fever and severe pain in the abdomen. If you have not had diverticulitis in the past, it is rare that you would be experiencing a fistula, but your doctor should not rule it out as a potential diagnosis. Exploratory surgery may be necessary to see where the fistula is located before it is remedied. Unlike diverticulitis, fistulas can not be treated with diet and antibiotics alone.
Prevention/Solution
Diverticulitis fistulas are usually treated by operating on the patient's intestinal tract. In a fistula operation, the area of the intestine that has joined with another organ is cut out, and the remaining healthy intestinal tract is sewn back together. A fistula operation will require at least several weeks of recovery and bed rest after being release from the hospital. Because the remaining healthy intestines have been sewn together during the fistula operation, the digestive tract should completely recover several weeks after surgery. If you are still experiencing any digestive or intestinal symptoms several weeks after your fistula operation, see your doctor immediately.
Warning
Do not let intestinal or abdominal problems go untreated. If you are experiencing abdominal pain, bloody stool or vomit, high fever or any of the other symptoms listed above, it is imperative that you see a doctor immediately. If your doctor dismisses your pain as gas or indigestion but you are running a fever or having bloody stools, insist on a full colonoscopy. If your doctor is not familiar with diverticulitis or diverticulitis fistulas, see a gastroenterologist as soon as possible.
