Why am I So Tired with Diverticulitis? Know The Details

There can be several reasons for the tiredness that comes with diverticulitis. Some of the general reasons are mentioned below. In this article, you can learn about “Why am I so tired with diverticulitis?

Body is dehydrated

Our body consists of 60% of water. And it’s vital to keep it hydrated, but unfortunately, we keep failing the task. When your body is losing more water than it takes results in dehydration, it hampers the essential metabolic processes.

Because of dehydration, our body feels more tired, weak, and lethargic than usual. Besides, some infections and illnesses can also result in dehydration. For example, if you have diverticulitis, you have to be more careful about taking the proper amount of water.

Diverticulitis can make you easily dehydrated and lead to extreme weakness and fatigue. Contact your physician to know if you are taking the right amount of fluids to avoid unusual weakness throughout your day.

Anemia

The lack of iron in the diet can result in red blood cell deficiency in our bodies. Red blood cells are vital for delivering oxygen to different body cells. In the absence of red blood, the cell body doesn’t get the required oxygen, which results in tiredness and fatigue.

If you are suffering from a mild case of anemia, you can try home remedies to increase your hemoglobin levels. In addition, diverticulitis and other diseases that result in poor digestion can interfere with the absorption of specific nutrients from your diet.

Fail to sleep

Diverticulitis is a digestive tract inflammatory condition. This inflammation can result in your inability to sleep. Thus your diverticulitis can result in struggling to sleep at night.

Besides, lack of proper sleep adds more to your tiredness as it disposes of your body of somatotropin hormone that benefits the healing process.

Depression

Some severe illnesses or chronic conditions can result in depression. Some common symptoms of depression include:

• Weight gain
• Weight loss
• Inability to sleep
• Loss of interest in activities
• Fatigue

Depression can be the main reason behind tiredness and lack of energy to do our daily tasks. Chronic diverticulitis can be the cause of your depression. Your doctor may suggest to you some treatment plans or antidepressants for diverticulitis. It will make you feel better and get rid of the fatigue.

Obesity or Overweight

Having more than recommended weight according to your height can result in many health issues like sleep apnea, heart problems, liver disease, and diabetes. If you have diverticulitis, these diseases can mainly result in tiredness and fatigue.

Besides, obesity can increase the risk of getting diverticulitis. Thus, keeping your weight in a healthy range is vital and beneficial. Consult nutritionists, dieticians, and medical personnel to get a weight loss diet plan if you want to lose weight.

Allergic reactions

In diverticulitis, there is a restriction of various foods in your diet. In addition, people have more allergies to specific foods complicates things even more.

Severe allergic reactions to diverticulitis can result in discomfort and extreme fatigue. Therefore, do tell your doctor about your allergies before treatment.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy itself is an exhausting time as your body supports you and your baby’s needs at the same time. As a result, you will feel more tired as your body needs more calories and nutrients.

Consult your doctor if you have pregnancy along with your diverticulitis. The medications will help you deal with your diverticulitis and pregnancy in a good way.

Age

With aging, many changes occur in the body, making it more prone to specific chronic illnesses. Besides, when our body ages with time, it gets more tired than usual. As a result, diverticulitis is usually more common in aged people compared to young people.

Alcohol Intake

Alcohol can harm our bodies in many ways. However, in the case of a person suffering from diverticulitis, alcohol can cause more side effects that result in fatigue.

Antibiotic intake

Antibiotics can benefit in treating several infections in your lungs, skin, urinary tract, and sinus issues. But sometimes, an antibiotic can react, resulting in some side effects like extreme fatigue and tiredness.

Diverticulitis patients often use antibiotics that can result in extreme tiredness. But, again, it’s because of the alternation in the natural balance of the microbiome.

How to Manage Diverticulitis and Tiredness?

• If you continuously feel tired and have diverticulitis, try to drink plenty of water. It will benefit to lessen your fatigue and stay hydrated as well.
• Have proper health and a nutritious diet. It’s never beneficial to restrict your diet to specific protein-rich foods. Your diet must have a healthy balance of fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, fiber, and proteins.
• Get proper sleep. 6 to 8 hours of proper night sleep is vital to keep the body healthy. Besides, getting enough sleep will benefit the body’s functioning and decreases the chance of many diseases.
• Proper exercise will benefit the body to produce more hormones that make you feel relaxed and happy. It also boosts your energy levels, eliminates toxins, and improves overall body circulation.
• Practice stress management techniques like yoga and meditation as it benefits you in feeling more energized and getting rid of your stress.
• As diverticulitis can hinder your nutrient absorption ability, it’s advised to take additional supplements along with your diet.

But do consult your doctor before starting any supplement.

When Should You Visit Your Doctor?

Diverticulitis is a medical condition that can’t be entirely managed at home. If you still feel tired after following all the above remedies, consult your doctor for other treatment options.

Diverticulitis treatment

Once you have been diagnosed with diverticulitis, it’s vital to know about all the treatment options.

Antibiotics

Your doctor will prescribe you antibiotics according to your condition. For example, patients with mild diverticulitis symptoms have generally prescribed some antibiotics to clear the infection.

Bowel Rest

Bowel rest is an effective way to treat diverticulitis. However, you will have to take a liquid diet for a few days (under observation) in this method: water, clear soups, plain tea, coffee, and non-pulpy juices.

Surgery

If diverticulitis results in severe conditions like peritonitis or intestinal rupture, surgery becomes essential.

How to Prevent Diverticulitis & Tiredness?

It’s an old saying that “prevention is far better than cure”. So here are some helpful prevention strategies that will benefit you by keeping this diverticulitis and tiredness away.

• Avoid smoking
• Exercise regularly
• Get proper sleep
• Limit alcohol consumption
• Have a proper and nutritious diet
• Drink plenty of water
• Increase your fiber intake

End words by the writer

This article aimed to answer the most asked question, “why am I so tired of diverticulitis”? I have tried to discuss all the possible answers and reasons in this article. A better understanding of the situation will help you deal with it and make your situation comparatively easier.

However, if your symptoms lurk for a more extended period and the above remedies don’t help, discuss your situation with your doctor.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)Why Am I So Tired With Diverticulitis

Is diverticulitis, diverticular disease, and diverticulosis same?

Diverticulosis is a symptomless condition resulting in the pouch structures formed in the intestine. While in diverticular disease, there are mild symptoms like abdominal pain due to the diverticula formation in the intestine.

Diverticulitis is a condition that needs medical attention due to some severe symptoms after the inflammation and infection in the diverticula.

Why do diverticula form in the intestine?

Due to the low fiber diet, stools become harder. That makes it difficult to pass through the intestine and exerts more pressure on its walls that bulge out to form diverticula.

How long does recovery from diverticulitis take?

Generally, mild cases of diverticula can be treated within seven days. However, chronic diverticulitis treatment can take longer.

Does walking help people with diverticulitis?

Less strenuous exercises like walking are an excellent way to lower the risk of diverticulitis.

References

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01840904

https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/stomach-liver-and-gastrointestinal-tract/diverticular-disease-and-diverticulitis

https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/understanding-diverticulitis-treatment

https://www.healthline.com/health/digestive-health/what-does-a-diverticulitis-attack-feel-like

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/conditions/diverticular-disease-and-diverticulitis

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diverticular-disease-and-diverticulitis/

https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/d/diverticular-disease.html