Introduction
Colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Just like Crohn’s disease, it causes constant inflammation. However, the main difference between the two is that colitis causes ulcers in your digestive tract. Additionally, it impacts the innermost lining of your colon or large intestine and rectum.
If you have colitis, you may experience a combination of flare-ups and remission periods. Its symptoms normally develop gradually instead of instantly. For this reason, early diagnosis is vital.
Likewise, you and your physician must observe your symptoms closely since it can be debilitating. Sometimes, it can even lead to life-threatening complications. Although, there’s still no cure to colitis, proper treatment can significantly reduce its symptoms. It can even result in long-term remission.
Persistent Diarrhea
One of the most common symptoms of ulcerative colitis is diarrhea, often with blood or pus. When a flare-up occurs, you may experience progressive loose and watery bowel at first, which may last for weeks. It’s quite difficult to trace which food or environmental factor triggered it. However, it’s advisable to avoid consuming foods that can worsen your diarrhea during a flare-up.
Abdominal Pain And Cramping
If you have colitis, you may also feel abdominal pain related to cramping. The reason for this is because there’s inflammation in the lining of your colon or large intestine. You may experience pain ranging from mild to severe, which will stop as your diarrhea recedes.
Often, experts will advise you to avoid NSAIDs meant for easing your stomach pain. Instead, they’d recommend you to take an antispasmodic medicine with guidance from your physician.
Rectal Bleeding Or Discomfort
When you’re going through a flare-up due to colitis, it’s not uncommon to suffer from rectal discomfort. You may feel pain or a burning sensation in the area because of this. Sometimes, you may even notice some bleeding, which happens when the ulcers in your stomach become irritated by the organic matter passing through it. Once these breaks open, the blood will mix in with your stool. Moreover, you may experience pain and soreness as a result of overstraining the muscles of your rectal.
Inability To Defecate
Difficulty in bowel movements is another manifestation of colitis. Most people with this disease are often faced with the inability to relieve themselves, as well as an inadequate evacuation. These lead to troublesome colitis flare-ups. And aside from the pain and uncomfortable sensations, you may also feel embarrassed in social situations. If passing bowel is a recurring problem, you should visit your doctor right away.
Low Energy Levels
You may see yourself getting fatigued during flare-ups. This happens to a lot of people with ulcerative colitis even if they get enough rest every night or not doing many physical activities. The reason behind this is the continuous passage of your feces, resulting in your body losing the nutrients it requires to function fully. What’s more, ulcerative colitis also affects your immune system, which may leave you feeling listless and weak.
Weight Loss And A Decrease In Appetite
Loss of appetite is another common cause of colitis flare-ups. This is mainly due to the psychological relationship between your digestive problems and food. As a result, you may see yourself eating less, which usually leads to weight loss. Moreover, your exhaustion may worsen since you’re not replenishing your body with enough essential nutrients.
Joint Pain And Arthritis
Another sign that you may be suffering from ulcerative colitis is joint pain, including arthritis and swelling. Around 30% of individuals with the illness experience these symptoms. This is not your usual type of inflammatory joint ailment since the symptoms of arthritis typically diminish without causing long-term damage during inflammatory bowel disease remission. According to experts, this may be due to the genetic association between arthritis and IBD.
Fever
You also need to look out for fevers. Many people with colitis acquire low-grade fevers. But if your flare-up is cause you to have a high fever, it’s highly recommended to seek medical attention. There’s a rise in your body’s temperature because you have an overactive immune system as a result of the inflammation due to ulcerative colitis.
Furthermore, some individuals may also develop sores, which can also cause your fever. To relieve yourself from the symptom, the best thing you can do is to get as much rest as you possibly can. Likewise, your doctor may provide you alternatives to alleviate your symptoms.
Malnutrition
A few factors contribute to malnutrition caused by IBD. These include loss of appetite and inadequate absorption, which, in turn, results in loss of nutrition. Even if you maintain a healthy diet with ample nutrition levels throughout your remission periods, you can still develop critically low levels during a serious relapse. Keep in mind that this is not similar to protein-energy deficiency related to Crohn’s disease.
Anemia
Ulcerative colitis symptoms like bloody diarrhea and all other internal bleedings can result in anemia. This trait is common among individuals with IBD. Additionally, loss of blood, mainly of your red blood cells, can lead to iron deficiency. Hence, a lot of people with colitis need supplements to prevent further complications, including tachycardia and other conditions of the heart and lungs.
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