What are the signs and symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative Colitis is a disease that creates ulcers in your digestive system, specifically the colon and rectum, where your stools are stored. When these ulcers grow, it can lead to bleeding and painful movements.

The most common signs of the disease include:

• Diarrhoea
• Blood in the stool
• The sudden need to go to the toilet
• Not being able to pass a movement when you feel you’re going to
• Pain around the rectum throughout the day
• Cramping for prolonged periods

Some people may also experience the following if they have ulcerative colitis:

• Fatigue for no clear reason
• Sways in appetite that don’t match your routine
• Weight loss

On top of the symptoms just mentioned, a person may start getting mouth ulcers, uncomfortable swelling and/or pain in the joints.

You should always see your doctor as soon as possible if you experience any of the symptoms of ulcerative colitis listed above.

If your doctor at OneWelbeck thinks you may have Ulcerative Colitis, they will want to carry out a full physical to see if associated problems are linked to a potential diagnosis.

Because this is a disease centred around bowel movements, you will be asked to give a stool sample and possibly a blood test as well. This is usually done to make sure a patient doesn’t likely have a stomach or bowel infection.

If it warrants further investigation, your doctor may carry out a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy to get a clear idea of the affected areas and what state a patient is in.

Patients who come to our clinic will meet with one of our leading digestive health specialists who may carry out further tests to get a full understanding of how the illness is affecting you. On this basis, your doctor will advise a dedicated prescription and explain the best course of action for important lifestyle changes you can make.

With something like colitis, it’s all about giving the body the best chance possible to alleviate the symptoms and retain a good quality of life. This is especially the case if a patient is prone to severe flare-ups and finds that corticosteroids and immunosuppressants don’t have the desired effect.

Meet our team of dedicated digestive health specialists and find out how they help patients with Ulcerative Colitis.

Want to know more about ulcerative colitis and how we help patients with digestive problems? Please get in totouch with us here, and we’ll be happy to discuss how our specialists can help you.