Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDirect CausesOther CausesDurationCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Direct Causes
Other Causes
Duration
Coping
Diverticulitisis an intestinal disease, and fatigue is a major symptom for many people. It can be hard to treat, as diverticulitis fatigue comes from many possible causes.
The fatigue of diverticulitis often lingers long after the condition is successfully treated.
This article examines why diverticulitis is so tiring, the complications that can add to the fatigue, and how long you can expect fatigue to last after treatment.
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Why Am I So Tired With Diverticulitis?
Diverticulitis causes fatigue in multiple ways. Some of the primary ways are:
Causes Due to Complications and Treatments of Diverticulitis
Beyond those direct causes of fatigue, diverticulitis can involve complications or treatments that lead to or increase your fatigue, such as anemia, dehydration, medication, and postsurgical healing,
Anemia
Iron-deficiencyanemia, which results in a lack of red blood cells to carry oxygen to cells, is a condition that causes fatigue, along with other symptoms such as:
Anemia PreventionTo help prevent anemia, ensure you get enough iron in your diet.If that’s difficult for you, talk to your healthcare provider about takiingiron supplements.
Anemia Prevention
To help prevent anemia, ensure you get enough iron in your diet.If that’s difficult for you, talk to your healthcare provider about takiingiron supplements.
Anemia Diet: What You Should Eat
Dehydration
Diverticulitis can cause fever, diarrhea, and vomiting, leading to excessive water loss anddehydration.
Some people with this condition avoid eating because it leads to unpleasant digestive symptoms. This can also cause or contribute to dehydration. Drink lots of fluids and get enoughelectrolytesto prevent dehydration during a diverticulitis attack.
Symptoms of dehydration include:
If you notice symptoms of dehydration, drink water and/or electrolyte-replacement drinks. If symptoms become severe, get urgent medical help. You may needintravenous (IV) fluids.
Preventing Dehydration
Medication Side Effects
If you become fatigued or more tired after starting treatment for your diverticulitis, the fatigue could be a side effect of medications. Common diverticulitis treatments that cause fatigue in some people include:
Ask your healthcare provider if there’s an alternative drug that would work for you if you have unpleasant side effects from medications.
Absorption problems can lead to other essential vitamin andnutrient deficiencies, as well.Some of these deficiencies may be hard to notice because of symptoms similar to diverticulitis. If you notice any new or worsening symptoms, talk to a healthcare provider.
Postsurgical Healing
Fatigue is common during recovery if you need to havesurgery for diverticulitis. This is due to many factors, such as:
As with inflammation, multiple physiological changes after surgery can alter your sleep architecture and leave you feeling nonrested in the morning.
How Long Does Fatigue Last After Diverticulitis?
Little to no research has been done to look at lingering fatigue after diverticulitis treatment. Anecdotal evidence suggests it could take four to six weeks for the fatigue to disappear.
If your fatigue lasts longer than that or is severe, bring it up with a healthcare provider.
Coping With Diverticulitis Fatigue
It can be hard to live with the fatigue of diverticulitis, especially if it’s just one of many symptoms you’re trying to manage.
Self-careis important. Try to get extra sleep and rest. Reduce your stress, if possible. Eat a healthy diet that doesn’t make your symptoms flare. And follow a healthcare provider’s suggested treatment regimen.
If you need extra help or can’t be as social as usual due to fatigue, let the people close to you know about it and enlist their help. When possible, delegate tasks to family members or friends. Look for social activities that accommodate your symptoms, such as a game or movie night at your house instead of going out to dinner and a show.
Need Help Coping?If you need help coping emotionally with the impact of your illness, let your healthcare provider know. You may benefit from seeing amental health professionalor taking antidepressants.
Need Help Coping?
If you need help coping emotionally with the impact of your illness, let your healthcare provider know. You may benefit from seeing amental health professionalor taking antidepressants.
Summary
How long fatigue may last after your diverticulitis has been successfully treated is unknown. If it’s severe or persistent, talk to a healthcare provider. Self-care during and after a diverticulitis attack can help your body recover. Speak up about any emotional problems you may experience.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard University Medical School, Harvard Health Publishing.When should you worry about fatigue?Huang C, Alamili M, Nielsen CH, Rosenberg J, Gögenur I.Rapid eye movement-sleep is reduced in patients with acute uncomplicated diverticulitis-an observational study.PeerJ. 2015;3:e1146. doi:10.7717/peerj.1146Andersen ML, Araujo P, Frange C, Tufik S.Sleep disturbance and pain: A tale of two common problems.Chest. 2018;154(5):1249-1259. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2018.07.019National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Iron-deficiency anemia.Diverticulitis, AAA, multiple sclerosis, iron deficiency anemia, testicular torsion.Am Fam Physician. 2023;107(1):22.National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of diverticular disease.MedlinePlus.Dehydration.National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for diverticular disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC’s second nutrition report.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard University Medical School, Harvard Health Publishing.When should you worry about fatigue?Huang C, Alamili M, Nielsen CH, Rosenberg J, Gögenur I.Rapid eye movement-sleep is reduced in patients with acute uncomplicated diverticulitis-an observational study.PeerJ. 2015;3:e1146. doi:10.7717/peerj.1146Andersen ML, Araujo P, Frange C, Tufik S.Sleep disturbance and pain: A tale of two common problems.Chest. 2018;154(5):1249-1259. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2018.07.019National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Iron-deficiency anemia.Diverticulitis, AAA, multiple sclerosis, iron deficiency anemia, testicular torsion.Am Fam Physician. 2023;107(1):22.National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of diverticular disease.MedlinePlus.Dehydration.National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for diverticular disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC’s second nutrition report.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Harvard University Medical School, Harvard Health Publishing.When should you worry about fatigue?Huang C, Alamili M, Nielsen CH, Rosenberg J, Gögenur I.Rapid eye movement-sleep is reduced in patients with acute uncomplicated diverticulitis-an observational study.PeerJ. 2015;3:e1146. doi:10.7717/peerj.1146Andersen ML, Araujo P, Frange C, Tufik S.Sleep disturbance and pain: A tale of two common problems.Chest. 2018;154(5):1249-1259. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2018.07.019National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Iron-deficiency anemia.Diverticulitis, AAA, multiple sclerosis, iron deficiency anemia, testicular torsion.Am Fam Physician. 2023;107(1):22.National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of diverticular disease.MedlinePlus.Dehydration.National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for diverticular disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC’s second nutrition report.
Harvard University Medical School, Harvard Health Publishing.When should you worry about fatigue?
Huang C, Alamili M, Nielsen CH, Rosenberg J, Gögenur I.Rapid eye movement-sleep is reduced in patients with acute uncomplicated diverticulitis-an observational study.PeerJ. 2015;3:e1146. doi:10.7717/peerj.1146
Andersen ML, Araujo P, Frange C, Tufik S.Sleep disturbance and pain: A tale of two common problems.Chest. 2018;154(5):1249-1259. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2018.07.019
National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Iron-deficiency anemia.
Diverticulitis, AAA, multiple sclerosis, iron deficiency anemia, testicular torsion.Am Fam Physician. 2023;107(1):22.
National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of diverticular disease.
MedlinePlus.Dehydration.
National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for diverticular disease.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.CDC’s second nutrition report.
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