Ulcerative colitis symptoms & treatment

Does a trip to the restroom cause you pain and anxiety? You may have a form of ulcerative colitis, an incurable form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes the innermost lining of the colon and rectum to become inflamed and ulcerated, resulting in severe diarrhea and abdominal pain. Ulcerative colitis is caused by an abnormal response from your body's immune system.

Talk to your doctor if you have diarrhea plus stomach pain, blood in your stool or a fever that lasts more than a couple of days or that doesn’t get better with over-the-counter medications.

Types of ulcerative colitis

The different types of ulcerative colitis and symptoms are based on the location of inflammation within the colon or rectum. The types of ulcerative colitis include:

• Ulcerative proctitis: This is the mildest form of ulcerative colitis. Inflammation is located in the rectal area and causes rectal pain and bleeding and an urgent feeling to move your bowels.

• Proctosigmoiditis: With this type, inflammation is located in the rectum and lower area of the colon, causing stomach pain and cramping, bloody diarrhea and trouble moving your bowels despite the urge to go.

• Left-sided colitis: The inflammation of this type extends from the rectum through the sigmoid and descending colon located in the upper-left abdomen. This type causes stomach pain and cramping on the left side, bloody diarrhea and weight loss.

• Pancolitis: This type causes inflammation located in the entire colon that causes stomach pain and cramping, bloody diarrhea, significant weight loss and fatigue.

• Fulminant colitis: This is the rarest and most severe form of ulcerative colitis. It can cause extreme diarrhea, dehydration and shock, and it can be life-threatening.

Ulcerative colitis risk factors and causes

Several factors contribute to whether you’ll get ulcerative colitis. The most common risk factors and causes include:

• Age: Ulcerative colitis usually begins before age 30, but it can develop at any age.

• Race or ethnicity: Caucasians have the highest risk of ulcerative colitis, although people of any race can get it. People of Ashkenazi Jewish descent have an even higher risk of ulcerative colitis.

• Genetics: People with a family history of ulcerative colitis are at higher risk of this disease.

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Ulcerative colitis symptoms

• Diarrhea, often with blood or pus
• Rectal bleeding – passing a small amount of blood with stool
• Abdominal pain and cramping
• Rectal pain
• Urgency to defecate
• Inability to defecate despite urgency
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Fever

Conditions related to ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis may also cause arthritis, inflammation of the eye, liver disease and osteoporosis. Scientists believe these complications may be the result of inflammation triggered by the immune system.

Ulcerative colitis diagnosis

First, you’ll meet with your doctor for a physical exam. You’ll talk about your symptoms, and then your doctor may order tests such as:

• Blood tests
• Fecal occult blood test to find out if you have blood in your stool
• Colonoscopy, in which a flexible tube is inserted into the anus to see inside the colon
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy, where a flexible tube is inserted into the lower part of your anus to see inside the colon.
• Capsule endoscopy, in which a tiny camera records video of your digestive tract so your doctor can see what may be causing your constipation
• MRI or CT scan
• Double-contrast barium enema X-ray, an enema that coats the lining of the bowls with a dye (barium), which helps show the rectum, colon and part of the intestine on X-rays
• Double balloon endoscopy, in which an endoscope (long tube) is inserted down the throat to see from the esophagus to the colon

Ulcerative colitis treatment

If you’re diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, your Aurora care team will work with you to create the best ulcerative colitis treatment plan for you. Ulcerative colitis treatment could include:

• Anti-inflammatory drugs
• Immune system suppressor drugs
• Biologic drugs
• Antibiotics
• Anti-diarrheal drugs
• Pain-relieving drugs
• Iron supplements
• Dietary changes
• Regular exercise

If none of these ulcerative colitis treatments help, your doctor may recommend surgery. About 30% of people with ulcerative colitis will need surgery at some point.

Make nutrition a priority

Ulcerative colitis can affect your ability to digest food properly and absorb nutrients. That’s why it’s important to make sure you eat enough nutritious calories to keep you healthy and minimize your risk of malnutrition. Certain foods can aggravate your symptoms, especially while you’re having a flare-up.

Dietary recommendations include limiting dairy products such as cow’s milk, butter and cheese, eating more low-fat foods, limiting fiber and avoiding spicy foods, alcohol and caffeine. It’s also helpful to eat small meals more often and drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. Your doctor also may recommend seeing a dietitian to help you choose the best foods for you.