Diverticular Disease Awareness Week

“Diverticular disease… What’s that?” We hear you say. You might not have heard of it before. What if we then told you that diverticular disease affects 1 in 3, increasing to 1 in 2 people during their lifetime? It could impact you. It could impact a loved one. It’s a digestive condition that you need to be aware of.

Let’s get particular. What exactly is diverticular disease?

Diverticula are permanent pockets that develop in the bowel and in some people, they can cause symptoms. Having symptoms is diagnosed as diverticular disease. But the terminology surrounding diverticular disease can get a little confusing, so let’s break it down:

 

The diverticular disease glossary:

• Diverticulum: A diverticulum is a small pouch about 1cm in size which sticks out from the wall of the large bowel.
• Diverticula: This refers to more than one Diverticulum. The most common site for diverticula is on the lower part of the large bowel on the left-hand side. They are permanent unless the affected part of the bowel is surgically removed.
• Diverticulitis: Diverticulitis means the condition that occurs when a single diverticulum or several diverticula become inflamed or infected.
• Diverticulosis: You may have heard the term diverticulosis, which means the presence of diverticula. This is not the same as diverticular disease. Most people with diverticulosis do not have, or go on to develop, diverticular disease. The great majority of people with diverticulosis will live out their lives never having symptoms. Having symptoms is diagnosed as diverticular disease.

What are the symptoms?

It is important to remember that most people with diverticular disease will never have any complications and can carry on with their lives as normal.

The most common symptoms include:

• Lower abdominal pain
• Bloating (increase in abdominal size due to gas)
• Change in bowel habit (diarrhoea or constipation)
• Mucus or blood in the stool

The pattern of symptoms differs from one person to the next, but pain is often crampy, and it comes and goes. Click here to learn more about where the pain is typically experienced.

It is important to remember that many symptoms of diverticular disease are very similar to those of more serious conditions such as bowel cancer so it’s important not to assume that they are due solely to diverticular disease.

If you experience a change in symptoms or develop new symptoms, especially blood in your stools, consult your doctor. You can also use our handy tool, the Poo-Torial, to give you more information about what the colour, consistency and frequency of your poo could indicate. Your doctor may want to check you over to make sure something completely unrelated to diverticular disease was not developing instead. The reason for this is that symptoms of diverticular disease may overlap with conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), colitis and cancer.

Diverticulitis – what to look out for

Diverticulitis is when the pocket/s in the bowel can become infected. It often occurs in between 1 in 10 to a quarter of people with the condition, so knowing the symptoms and knowing what to do is vital. If any of the below symptoms are experienced, seek medical help immediately:

• Worsening abdominal pain
• High temperature
• Nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting (being sick)

Why is it important to raise awareness of diverticular disease?

Meet Diverticular Dave (pictured above). He is here to deliver an important message:

“Diverticular disease needs more attention. It affects many, yet as is the case with many digestive symptoms and conditions, diverticular disease isn’t well known or talked about enough. Nobody should suffer alone. With you by our sides, we can spread this message far and wide and empower people to know when something isn’t right and to seek help.

Together, we can get trusted, evidence-based information about diverticular disease in the hands of those who need it most, when they need it most. We can raise public awareness. We can change lives by funding vital research. Together, we can grips with guts!”

James’ diverticulitis story

James had surgery to form a stoma bag, after he became severely unwell and doctors sent him to A&E.

“Few people know anything about diverticular disease, and the NHS is pushed for time to explain things to patients, so charities like Guts UK are more important than ever. If you don’t feel right with your body, go to the doctors. If something feels new, different or not right, it needs looking at. If I’d gone to the doctors earlier, I might have not ended up with a stoma. You know your body best.”

– Read James’ story here.

Sophie’s diverticular disease story

“Whilst being given an information leaflet, I said, “I’m quite young for this, am I not?” The nurse replied, “Yes, you are”. I knew about diverticular disease because my dad has it, and I knew it affects people mostly 40+, so being in my early 20’s I found it quite alarming! They passed the diagnosis on to my doctor and put me in touch with a dietitian.

This is when I found Guts UK online, and when I read their information, I felt heard. I just trusted them, and it was good to read other stories from people with diverticular disease. It felt like they were my voice, especially as I’d felt so disheartened and brushed off for so long.“

– Read Sophie’s story here.

Where can I find more information on diverticular disease?

Our patient information section is home to our expert, evidence-based information on diverticular disease.

How can I help?

You can help us raise vital awareness of diverticular disease by:

• Following us on social media and sharing our awareness and information posts during the awareness week itself. You never know who we might reach and help together. Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter/X.
• Share your own experience, or a loved ones experience with diverticular disease to your own circles, and on your own social media channels.
• Fundraise for Guts UK Charity to help us abolish the taboos surrounding digestive health, and get to grips with guts. You can fund life-changing research, and empower people to seek help sooner.

People like James and Sophie need you to make their future brighter today. Support our cause. Thank you.