What Does Diverticulitis Poop Look Like

A diverticulitis patient may have trouble with bowel movements. It can arise from inflammation or infection caused by stool stuck in intestinal pouches, called diverticula. 

Diverticular disease and diverticulitis can happen anywhere in the large intestine, although it usually happens in the sigmoid colon. You can have acute or chronic diverticulitis. When you have an identifiable, frequently severe happening or recurrence of diverticulitis, it can be resolved with treatment. With chronic diverticulitis, inflammation may subside but not completely go away, and it can come back. Chronic diverticulitis may lead to more issues in the future.

Conservative Management, such as proper hydration, diet changes, and the use of probiotics, are often recommended to help manage symptoms and prevent flare-ups.

Diverticulitis can cause changes in your stool. And we are here to discuss those changes and also explore what does the poop look like with diverticulitis, including colour, odour, frequency, and much more. But before jumping further, first, you need to know what makes a stool “normal” before you can determine what to look for in an unhealthy one.

What Stool Changes Can Tell You About Diverticulitis?

Diverticulitis happens when small pouches in your colon wall become inflamed or infected. This can cause belly pain, fever, and bowel changes like constipation or diarrhoea. Your stool may change in appearance, texture, or smell. These changes can give you clues about what is happening in your gut, along with other symptoms.

Inflammation, bleeding, and changes in the shape of your colon can all affect how your stool looks and moves.

What is a normal stool?

The normal stool consists of the following essential characteristics:

• Colour: A normal stool should have a colour ranging from medium to dark brown because of the presence of bilirubin, which forms when red blood cells break down.
• Odour: Normal stools have a strong smell because of the breakdown of bacteria.
• Texture: The normal texture of stool is between soft and firm.
• Shape: Passing stool in a single piece or a few smaller pieces is considered normal. The shape should be long and sausage-like, corresponding to the colon shape.
• Frequency: It is recommended that a person has at least three bowel movements per week. The normal frequency of bowel movements ranges from once every other day to twice per day.
• Effort: Healthy bowel movements are effortless and painless.

What does poop look like with diverticulitis?

Odour

Your urine smells bad if diverticulitis causes a fistula to form between the colon and the bladder. Similar to this, foul-smelling vaginal discharge may result from a fistula connecting the colon and the vagina. It is crucial to visit a doctor if you have these symptoms because fistulas usually need surgery.

Appearance

Blood in Stool

Blood can be seen in the stool if it is maroon, bright red, or black and tarry. Blood in your stool is a more alarming symptom that can occur with diverticulitis. The inflammation and irritation of the intestinal walls can cause small tears or ulcers, leading to bleeding. Bloody stools with diverticulitis can appear as bright red streaks on the surface of the stool or darker, tarry stools if the bleeding is higher up in the digestive tract. 

If you have diverticulosis and blood in stool, following a proper diet, as outlined in our previous guide, “Diverticulitis Diet: List of Foods to Avoid and Eat,” can help manage symptoms.

But if it is still getting worse, seek medical attention immediately, as it could indicate a severe complication.

Mucus in Stool

Stools that have increased mucus formation may seem shiny or greasy. When the stomach lining becomes inflamed, the body reacts to protect and lubricate it.

Shape

Changes in the shape of your stool can signify alterations in the colon’s structure and function due to diverticulitis.

Thin and Pellet Shape: Inflammation and swelling can narrow the colon’s lumen. It causes stools to become thin or pellet-like shapes. It is important to evaluate persistently narrow stools, as they may indicate significant obstruction or scarring.

Irregular Shapes: Inconsistent shapes and sizes can result from spasms in the colon or irregular stool movement through the digestive tract.

Frequency 

Hard stools and constipation might make it difficult for you to strain during a bowel movement, which can put more pressure on your intestines and/or colon. This may result in the formation of diverticula and diverticulosis. If you are experiencing diverticulosis flare-ups, a low-fibre diet can cause straining and constipation that causes the weak areas of the colon to protrude. Recurrent diverticulitis can bring on consistently irregular bowel motions.

Texture

The texture of stool can provide important clues about digestive health and may be impacted by diverticulitis. When experiencing diverticulitis flare-ups, hard, small, and pebble-like stools are common due to constipation and slowed intestinal transit. As recovery progresses or during less severe phases, stools may return to a more normal, smooth, and soft texture.

Conversely, diarrhoea can be fluffy, mushy, or entirely liquid stools, often passing quickly and sometimes accompanied by mucus. These different stool textures can serve as indicators of the status of digestive health during diverticulitis.

Consistency

Diverticulitis may result in hard, very solid faeces (constipation), loose, watery stools (diarrhoea), or both. Diverticulitis can result from hard stools, which can also contribute to the development of diverticulosis.

Common Stool Changes to Look For With Diverticulitis

Stool changes aren’t always dramatic, but here are some you might notice:

• Loose or watery stools during diarrhoea episodes.
• Hard, pellet-like stools during constipation.
• Bright red blood in stool from bleeding in the lower colon.
• Thin, narrow pencil stools if inflammation or scarring narrows the colon (can also be a sign of colon cancer, so don’t ignore it).
• Black stools if bleeding is higher up the digestive tract (not typical for diverticulitis, but still serious).
• Mucus-covered stools if there’s an infection or partial blockage.
• Unusually foul-smelling stools when infection or blood pooling is involved.

If you see these changes often or suddenly, especially alongside pain or fever, it’s time to check in with your doctor.

How Do Doctors Diagnose Diverticulitis?

Diagnosis starts with a conversation about your symptoms and medical history, plus a physical exam. If diverticulitis is suspected, your doctor may request:

• CT scan of the abdomen – The most accurate way to confirm the condition.
• Blood tests (CBC) – To check for infection.
• Additional imaging or colonoscopy (usually after recovery).

When to Get Medical Help Right Away?

According to the NHS, you should not wait if you have diverticulitis symptoms paired with:

• Rectal bleeding, blood in stools, or black/tarry stools.
• Nausea and vomiting that won’t ease up.
• Ongoing stomach pain that’s getting worse or not easing up.
• Blood or mucus mixed in your stool.
• Fever, chills, or feeling unusually hot.
• Persistent vomiting makes it hard to keep any fluids down.
• Diarrhoea lasting longer than a week or vomiting for more than two days.
• Fever over 100.4°F (38°C).
• Severe or worsening belly or back pain.

These can point to complications that need urgent treatment.

Conclusion

Diverticulosis is a condition that can be prevented if treated early in life. Healthy stools differ from person to person, so it’s critical to understand what makes them “normal” for you. We advise getting in touch with your doctor if you notice a significant shift in size, stiffness, frequency, or colour that does not go away in a day or two.

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. What symptoms indicate diverticulitis?

Abdominal pain, often severe, causes the abdomen to become distended or the colon to be palpable, with accompanying fever, nausea, and vomiting, as well as rectal bleeding, constipation, or, less commonly, diarrhoea.

2. How should I prepare myself if I have this condition?

Only a few patients will experience severe diverticulitis, and even fewer will require surgery. Even complex diverticulitis often responds well to treatment, clearing up the condition entirely in most cases. Your life expectancy shouldn’t be impacted by diverticulitis overall. The only way you might risk your life would be if you had a ruptured abscess or a bowel perforation.

3. Is it possible to stop diverticulitis from happening or coming back?

Overall, gut health plays an important role in stopping the recurrence. Consuming a diet higher in plant-based fats and low in animal fats, together with consuming adequate water and regular exercise, can help maintain regular bowel motions. They might suggest probiotics or fibre supplements to certain individuals. 

4. Can I live a regular life despite having diverticulitis?

Diverticulitis won’t shorten a person’s life in most cases. A large number of people are unaware that they have diverticular illnesses. Fewer people will experience problems, and even fewer will experience symptoms.