Life with Mild Ulcerative Colitis & Other Intestinal Disorders

Ulcerative Colitis along with Crohn's Disease combine to make up the disorders referred to as "Inflammatory Bowel Disease". I have Ulcerative Colitis. I am lucky in that my condition is mild.

I have had bowel problems my entire life. I should have known that I would have a problem since both of my parents had bowel problems.

When people come under stress, typically, their weakest body system betrays them. In my case it is my gastrointestinal system. From my earliest days, if I got upset, I would get severe cramps and have diarrhea. This comes from spasms in the colon. In fact, often, people with intestinal problems, are subjected to intermittent spasms which create alternate conditions of diarrhea and constipation. This was my condition until my early twenties.

When I was about twenty-four, I began to have severe cramping. Additionally, I ran a fever of 102 degrees and had loose stools with mucous. At first, I didn't do anything but the abdominal pain became so severe that I had to go to the Emergency Room. There, I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis which consists of ulcerations within the colon along with inflammation. Sometimes there is bleeding, however, I did not have that particular symptom.

Ulcerative Colitis is a chronic condition, usually affecting people for life. It is simply different in terms of severity and extent of location. My condition was diagnosed by a "Colonoscopy" which is an instrument that is rectally inserted to view the extent and area of damage. When I was first diagnosed, the first objective was to get the disease under control. Since mine was fairly mild, and, was lower in the intestine, the doctors opted to employ a steroid, "Cortenema", which fights inflammation and was rectally administered for 30 days. Once administered, I had to lie still for 30 minutes. For people with more severe symptoms, "Prednisone" may be used. Prednisone is a very strong anti-inflammatory agent which may be used until the inflammation is under control.

In addition to the Cortenema, I was given a liquid antacid for coating, and, a very mild relaxant to keep my colon "resting" to some degree.

As I said, I am lucky, my condition is mild. I am able to lead a normal life and with the exception of an occasional bad day of cramping, I am under good control. I see the doctor for blood work twice a year and have an annual colonoscopy. I am on no on-going medication other than an antacid and a mild relaxant as needed. I have only had one flare-up since the inception of the illness and when that occurred, the procedure that was given at the Emergency Room was repeated.

Many people are not as lucky as I am. Sometimes they must remain on Prednisone permanently, or, try to be controlled by a replacement drug such as Methotrexate. This drug can have its own side effects, but, sometimes it becomes the lesser of two evils.

When studying "Inflammatory Bowel Disorders" you need to become acquainted with the other common test which is the "Flexible SIgmoidoscopy" which is used to look higher in the bowel by the doctor.

The other major inflammatory disease is Crohn's Disease. This disease is differentiated by the fact that its symptoms are lining breakages in the bowel's tissue. Further, problems can arise all the way from the anus to the mouth.

With both illnesses, if the severity is grave enough, a person may be faced with the prospect of a colostomy which is the process of creating a different "waste opening" (instead of the anus), after removing damaged colon. This requires adjustments and educative processes for a somewhat different lifestyle. Again, this might accompany more severe cases.

Many times abdominal pain is nothing. Often it is what I originally had; a "nervous bowel" that simply spasms causing cramping. However, there are even other illnesses you should be aware of such as Diverticulitis, which occurs when the diverticuli rupture.

The major danger with these chronic, long-term colonic diseases is the development of cancer. How can you protect yourself?

It is best to minimize your fiber intake unless the doctor tells you differently. Liquids are good. Today, doctors are armed with "stool cards" which allow them to check your stools on a regular basis. When you get over 40, you should have an annual colonoscopy. Always be aware of the stress in your life and, if you have family that has fought bowel problems, keep your eyes open.

Additional methods I have found that seem to help the illness are regular exercise; eating small meals; again, minimizing stress; as well as not lying down too quickly after eating. Eating my meals at the same time as well as regular and good rest help. Any bowel disorder responds better to a regular lifestyle.

If you develop symptoms of chronic diarrhea, cramping, bleeding or fever, seek treatment right away. In this family of illnesses, time is crucial. If you already have an intestinal disease, always take prescribed medicine and report changes in bowel habits.

While Ulcerative Colitis represents one single and specific illness, it also signals an intestine that is under attack and can fail in many ways. Your best armaments are diligence and awareness.