An older patient with diverticulitis is being discharged home following treatment. Which statement from the patient suggests to the nurse that they may need more educational information to prevent recurrence of diverticulitis and manage the disease?
1. "I can eat bran cereals."
2. "I should avoid certain muffins."
3. "I should avoid exercising for 2 weeks."
4. "It is alright to postpone the urge to have a bowel movement."
3. "I should avoid exercising for 2 weeks."
Explanation: 1. Eat more fiber and drink plenty of fluids (try to drink eight full glasses of water per day). This will decrease intraluminal pressure and soften the consistency of the stool.
2. Avoid foods that precipitate painful attacks. Some foods with seeds, such as popcorn, sesame seeds, and poppy seeds, can become trapped in the diverticula and trigger an infection and inflammatory response.
3. Exercise regularly (e.g., walking, swimming) to aid digestion and increase colonic peristalsis.
4. Do not ignore the urge to have a bowel movement. Holding stool in the colon and rectum longer will encourage further water absorption, causing stool to become drier, more compact, and more difficult to pass.
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