Colitis Treatment

For many people, ulcerative colitis develops gradually over time, and symptoms can vary from mild, moderate, to severe. A person with colitis may experience a range of symptoms relating to their bowel, abdomen, and rectum. In addition to those mentioned above, other symptoms may include:

• Stomach pain or cramps
• Rectal discomfort
• Sudden weight loss
• Fever
• Frequently having the urge to use the bathroom
• Inability to have a bowel movement
• Ongoing diarrhea

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to understand why you have them instead of just putting a band-aid on the symptoms.

Having colitis does not always mean that you will develop colon cancer; however, it may put you more at risk for colon cancer than the average person. Furthermore, the likelihood of developing colon cancer also increases after eight to ten years of living with ulcerative colitis.

There is no known cure for ulcerative colitis other than undergoing a colectomy, which is a surgical procedure that removes all or a part of your colon. However, there are a variety of other effective treatments available to help reduce flare-ups and alleviate some of the symptoms associated with it. These treatments may include medications, surgery, or dietary changes.

Recently, developments in epigenetics have provided a new and holistic approach to treating colitis. By examining the patient’s biochemistry and how it affects their different conditions, The Epigenetics Healing Center aims to facilitate effective healing by getting down to the root cause, instead of just alleviating the symptoms.

The exact cause of ulcerative colitis is a mix between genetics, and lifestyle. It takes both. With UC, patient typically have genetic snps that create hyperexcitation and an inability to calm down. Match that with a lack of being breast fed, the lack of a vaginal delivery, and lots of antibiotic use and there is a bad recipe for UC. Then if the diet and exercise are poor, that is more inflammation to deal with.

Surgery is only necessary if the patient has become very advanced and they are unwilling to get the testing necessary or change their lifestyle.

Ulcerative colitis is typically classified based on its location. In many cases, symptoms may overlap, which is why having a definitive diagnosis is so important. The four types of ulcerative colitis are:

• Ulcerative proctitis: When inflammation is close to the anus, it may cause rectal bleeding and discomfort.
• Left-sided colitis: This type of inflammation usually extends from the anus (rectum) through the sigmoid colon and descending portion of the colon. Symptoms may include abdominal cramping, bloody diarrhea, and an urgency to defecate.
• Proctosigmoiditis: Inflammation usually involves both the sigmoid colon and rectum. Symptoms include the inability to defecate despite feeling the urge to go, abdominal cramping, and bloody diarrhea.
• Pancolitis: Pancolitis tends to affect the entire colon, causing ongoing bouts of diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, and the urgency to defecate. Patients with pancolitis may also experience significant weight loss as a result of their symptoms.

While preventing colitis is not always possible, certain lifestyle changes may help keep symptoms at bay. In addition to following your doctor’s recommendations, you should also exercise regularly, avoid smoking and alcohol consumption, and eat a healthy diet.

In some cases, colitis can be managed by following a strict diet. You should be mindful of portion sizes and also adjust your fiber and dairy intake as well. Depending on your symptomatology, you may need to follow a low-residue diet, one that includes white rice, boiled and baked vegetables without peels, eggs, and lean meats.

If left untreated, colitis can cause serious, sometimes life-threatening, complications. In addition to severe abdominal pain, untreated or poorly managed colitis may lead to a perforated colon, megacolon (dilatation of the colon), dehydration, and malnutrition.