Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease and causes inflammation of the lining of the colon and rectum.
Types of Ulcerative Colitis
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- Ulcerative proctitis: Inflammation of the rectum
- Left-sided colitis: Inflammation of the left side of the colon
- Pancolitis: Inflammation of the entire colon
Symptoms & Diagnosis
Symptoms of ulcerative colitis vary by person and severity of the disease. You might experience:
- Diarrhea
- Frequent bowel movements
- Blood in the stool
- Feeling you need to urgently move your bowels
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
To diagnose ulcerative colitis, we will likely send you for one or more tests, including:
Blood tests: We look for signs of anemia, infection or inflammation.
Stool studies: Examining a sample of your stool, we can see if there are signs of ulcerative colitis like white blood cells or certain proteins.
Colonoscopy: Using an endoscope inserted into the rectum, we examine the lining of your large intestine.
CT scan or MRI: These imaging studies help us see the extent of inflammation and its exact location.
Treatment Options
Each person’s experience with ulcerative colitis is different and we create treatment plans to address your specific needs. Plans can include:
Medication. A variety of medications can be prescribed by gastroenterologists to treat the inflammation of your colon and rectum. These are typically first line treatment for ulcerative colitis and include aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, biologics, and small molecule drugs. The goal of medication is to reduce inflammation and get your disease into remission. Once that happens, gastroenterologists can adjust medication to maintenance levels to help keep you in remission.
Surgery. Up to 40% of people with ulcerative colitis will eventually need surgery, especially if other treatment options fail to control symptoms. Procedures, usually able to be done in a minimally invasive approach (laparoscopic or robotic), include:
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- Proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (J pouch): The entire colon and rectum are removed leaving your anus intact. The small bowel is then constructed into a pouch and connected to your anus.
- Proctocolectomy with ileostomy: The entire colon, rectum, and anus are removed. The small bowel is brought out through your abdominal wall to create a permanent ileostomy where stool will exit from and be collected into a bag on your abdomen.
Living with the Condition
Beyond medical specialists and surgeons, your Digestive Health Institute care team includes people like our nurse navigators, nutritionists and behavioral health specialists who offer compassion and support as you live your life with ulcerative colitis.
They can recommend dietary changes that help ease symptoms, supplements to boost your nutritional intake or mind-body therapies like yoga or meditation that can help you cope with the impact of the disease on your day-to-day life.
We are all here to help you thrive with your ulcerative colitis diagnosis.