Diverticulitis Specialist

Serving The Woodlands and Conroe, TX, and the surrounding areas

Diverticulitis services offered in The Woodlands, Willis, Conroe, TX, and the surrounding areas

Diverticulitis lands at least 200,000 Americans in the hospital every year. If you have belly pain, constipation, diarrhea, and other issues, Texas Digestive Disease Consultants physician Ilyas Memon, MD, can help in offices in The Woodlands, Magnolia, Conroe, and Willia, Texas. Dr. Memon diagnoses your condition and gives you rapid relief, so you can avoid an emergency room visit later. Call the office in your area or click on the provided link to schedule your evaluation now.

What is diverticulitis?

As they age, many people have diverticulosis, in which tiny pockets called diverticula form inside the colon walls. Diverticulosis is usually asymptomatic.

But if those diverticula grow inflamed and infected, diverticulosis becomes diverticulitis. This condition can cause serious symptoms and even dangerous health complications. About 5% of people who have diverticulosis develop diverticulitis, according to the American College of Gastroenterology.

What are the symptoms of diverticulitis?

Diverticulitis can cause:

Abdominal pain on the lower left side
Diarrhea
Constipation
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Fatigue
Fever

You may also develop other symptoms related to diverticulitis complications. Or, you may experience rectal bleeding due to blood vessel rupture around a diverticulum.

What are the complications of diverticulitis?

Some possible complications of diverticulitis include:

Abscess: Pockets of infection in your colon wall
Stricture: Colon narrowing in the area around the diverticula
Fistula: A new tunnel from the colon to another organ, like the bladder
Perforation: A hole in the colon wall, allowing stool leakage into the abdomen

All of these complications require medical care, and some can be life-threatening, making it important to reach out to Texas Digestive Disease Consultants as soon as you experience symptoms.

What causes diverticulitis?

The cause of diverticulitis isn’t certain. People with family members who have diverticulosis may be more likely to have it themselves (and, therefore, they may have a higher risk of diverticulitis).

Abnormally high pressure in the colon, due to muscle spasms or straining during bowel movements, may play a role in the growth of diverticula. In the past, experts believed that inadequate fiber consumption may contribute to diverticulitis, but recent studies call this into question.

Although there’s still much unknown about diverticulitis, there are proven ways to manage and prevent symptoms and complications.

How is diverticulitis treated?

Diverticulitis treatment usually involves both dietary changes and antibiotics. Some people with mild, complication-free diverticulitis may be able to control their disease without antibiotics. If you have a serious infection, however, you need antibiotics to eliminate harmful bacteria.

In the most severe cases, you may need to stay in the hospital so you can get intravenous antibiotics. If you have diverticulitis complications, like a perforation, you may need surgery.

At Texas Digestive Disease Consultants, Dr. Memon offers both natural holistic approaches and medical management for diverticulitis. Get the help you need by calling the nearest office, or book your appointment using online scheduling today.