The Physical Roller Coaster Your Friend Rides with Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's

Crohn's and ulcerative colitis are both chronic, unpredictable diseases involving the small bowel, the ileum and the colon. Both IBD's disrupt digestion and normal bowel function. Their cause is unknown, but the symptoms of both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's can take a patient on a roller coaster ride. From one good day to one bad day, the next twist or turn of the illness is always unknown.

There is no such thing as a typical day for an ulcerative colitis or Crohn's patient. The best possible scenario is for the diseases to be in remission, which occurs when the patient is experiencing no pain, nausea or diarrhea. The onset of symptoms is sometimes predictable and sometimes not.

If ulcerative colitis or Crohn's were a roller coaster, the mechanism keeping the train on the track is medication and diet. When patients take their medication, which can average from six to 12 pills a day, and do not eat foods which are difficult to digest they may have a relatively easy go of it for a while. Remembering to take 12 pills a day is not always easy, and sometimes, patients just get tired of it.

Failure to take medication is a quick way to begin the roller coaster ride of pain, fatigue and diarrhea. One new medication, Lialda, is only taken once or twice daily. It also uses a new medical technology to deliver medication directly to the small bowel and colon to be released. We'll count this as a new safety feature on the physical ride of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

We've labeled the physical symptoms of Crohn's and ulcerative colitis a roller coaster ride because it is unpredictable with many ups and downs, twists and turns and an occasional surprise loop along the way.

Typical symptoms have been mentioned, cramps which may range from slight to intense, diarrhea that keeps you running to the bathroom always with an eye toward the nearest facility. Dealing with pain and diarrhea causes mental and physical fatigue.

One day an ulcerative colitis or Crohn's patient may be fine, the next day they may not feel like leaving the bed. If the symptoms persist for any length of time, it can lead to depression and feelings of worthlessness. It is easy for individuals who cannot get out of the bed to lose their sense of purpose.

This sense of uselessness adds to stress, which is a trigger for Crohn's and ulcerative colitis symptoms. Without support and proper medical attention, a flare-up of either IBD can create a downward spiral from which it is difficult to recover.

Other symptoms that may vary from day to day include a decrease in appetite to no appetite at all. This can lead to dehydration which brings with it a host of problems.

Rectal bleeding from the lower colon, which tends to be brighter red or higher in the colon, which takes on a tar-like look are also symptomatic of these diseases.

Without warning, the colon and small intestine, due to inflammation, ulceration and other effects of IBDs may develop painful and dangerous fistulas, which are holes or channels in the colon that connect to other organs. These may allow seepage of toxic colon contents into the body, or other organs. Channels or pocket have the potential to rupture. Fissures are cracks or tears in the wall of the colon or anus. Both are very painful and very dangerous.

Either of these conditions requires surgery, as do bowel obstructions and areas of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's that cannot be controlled by medication and diet.

On the upside, Crohn's and ulcerative colitis patients may experience long periods of remission in which life proceeds as normal. However, in the back of their mind, a Crohn's or ulcerative colitis patient is always aware of the possibility of a flare-up, because there is not a known cure for either IBD. At present, the best doctors can do is assist the patient in managing the variety of symptoms.

Because of the varying intensity of these IBDs and the fact that they are chronic illnesses they have been recognized by The American's with Disabilities Act. This prevents discrimination on those days when the roller coaster is spiraling downward.