Dealing with UC Symptoms

Ulcerative colitis is an autoimmune disease that affects the colon (large intestine) and rectum. Autoimmune refers to the immune response of the body against itself. Ulcerative colitis usually begins during adolescence and early adulthood and although it can affect any age group there are peaks between the ages of 15 - 30 and then again later in life between the ages of 50 - 70. It has also been found to occur more frequently among those who are of Jewish descent and Caucasian but the reason for this is not yet known. It afflicts men and women equally and there are currently approximately 500,000 to 2 million people in the United States that suffer from this disease.

The most common symptoms of ulcerative colitis include abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal urgency, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, rectal bleeding, and anemia. Other symptoms that are not as common are joint pain, arthritis, osteoporosis, liver disease, gall bladder disorders, and eye problems.

Abdominal Pain: Patients usually describe the abdominal pain associated with ulcerative colitis as a cramping pain. The abdomen is also expressed as being tender to the touch. Most state that the pain becomes more severe when aggravated by the consumption of food. The pain can generally be treated at home with remedies such as over-the-counter pain medication or by applying heat to the area. Some patients have also claimed that having a bowel movement will often relieve the pain. If pain becomes unbearable and is accompanied by other symptoms such as a high fever or rectal bleeding it should be brought to the attention of your physician.

Diarrhea: This is the single most common symptom of inflammatory bowel disease. It is usually persistent and recurrent causing one to have frequent watery stools. Bowel movements may also be accompanied by mucous and blood. Blood found in these stools is generally thick and not bright red as it would be in a case of hemorrhoids. Along with diarrhea patients will often complain of rectal urgency or the feeling that they need to have a bowel movement.

Loss of Appetite: It is more difficult for someone with ulcerative colitis to maintain good nutrition than it is for someone who is healthy. Many patients experience a loss of appetite out of fear that they will suffer the other, more painful, symptoms of ulcerative colitis if they consume food. Not keeping a proper diet in turn will lead to weight loss and also the loss of fluids and other nutrients in the body.

Anemia: Inflammation in the intestines or blood in the stool can cause a deficiency of iron in the body. Low iron levels very commonly lead to iron deficiency anemia in patients who have been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease.

Joint Pain: Patients with ulcerative colitis that experience joint pain will most commonly complain of pain in the knees, ankles, elbows, wrists, and shoulders. Stiffness and swelling will often accompany the pain and can migrate from one joint to another, lasting from several days to weeks.

Sources

Sklar, Jill. The First Year: Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed. New York: De Capo P, 2007.

Cartwright, Peter. Coping Successfully with Ulcerative Colitis (Overcoming Common Problems). London, UK: Sheldon P, 2005.

Warner, Andres S. 100 Questions & Answers about Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis: A Lahey Clinic Guide. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers; 2 edition, 2009.