About diverticulitis

I am a 38 year old female diagnosed with diverticulitis from a CAT scan and follow-up colonoscopy.  In the last year I have experienced several flare ups which are very painful and last only a couple of days.  I manage the pain and my diet and the pain symptoms go away.  Twice I have also used pain medication with antibiotic therapy, lasting ten days.  My doctor thinks that I need to have surgery due to the amount of recurrence.  I am currently having an acute attack since yesterday and treating it with antibiotics and pain medication.  This will be my third severe attack, but it is the worst one since the first one, with the others being more mild throughout the year and not needing pain treatment for more than two days.  
My question is this:  If these flare-ups can be treated with pain medication and antibiotics, or occassionally just pain medication and rest, is surgery necessary?  I know that I would need another CAT scan to really determine this, but my doctor will no longer help me to treat the symptoms of this condition and surgery at this time is out of the question, unless it is expedient.  On a side note, my doctor has never recommended or encouraged a diet change or exercise regimen.  He also has a vested interest in the local surgery center.    Thank you.

[Setaka]

I believe your doctor is correct in suggesting surgery.  

Diverticulosis is an outpouching of the intestine.  When fecal material is trapped in the pouches it can fester and cause inflamation (inflammation) of that area...  leaving it and treating only the symptoms is only a temporary regimine since an ulcer can proliferate with the acids.  If it ulcerates it will open and intestinal matter will leak into the body cavity promoting peritenitis.  Then it will not be an elective surgery, it will be under emergency conditions.

Does this help?