Blood transfusion may be needed and, occasionally, surgery. The pain and bloating of diverticular disease may be helped by increasing fibre in the diet as described above, but benefit is not invariable and some people are helped by taking less roughage. As for irritable bowel syndrome, symptoms may be improved by avoiding large meals, especially rich or fatty meals. Extra bulk in the diet can be provided by medicinal preparations containing the plant seed, ispaghula, which can be prescribed by the doctor or bought over the counter at the Chemist. Since the symptoms are due mainly to over-contraction of colonic muscle, the doctor may prescribe an antispasmodic drug.
Urgent surgery is needed for some complications.
Removal of the affected segment of bowel may be advised for recurrent episodes of diverticulitis or a non-urgent complication. The commonest site for diverticula to develop is the lower left part of the colon. The presence of diverticula is often referred to as diverticulosis.