Find clinic locations for Fort HealthCare and affiliated clinics and services in Jefferson County, Wisconsin.
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Ulcerative colitis is a long-term (chronic) disease. It causes swelling (inflammation) and sores (ulcers) in the inner lining of the rectum and colon. It is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is unclear what causes it, but symptoms can be managed. People with this disease can lead full, active lives.
Symptoms often have to do with bowel movements. You may have:
Frequent, loose bowel movements
Blood and pus in stools, or rectal bleeding
Feeling that you didn’t fully empty your bowels (incomplete bowel movement)
Feeling that you need to have a bowel movement right away (urgency)
Belly (abdominal) cramps
Loss of appetite, weight loss
Nausea
Feeling very tired (fatigue)
Anemia
Joint pain
Rectal pain that comes and goes
Eye pain or redness
Certain rashes
Your healthcare provider will ask about your past health and family history. They will also give you a physical exam. You may also need these tests:
Lab tests. Your blood and stool will be checked.
Colonoscopy of the large intestine. This test is the most accurate way to diagnose this condition. A healthcare provider uses a long, flexible tube with a tiny light and camera on one end to check the inside of your large intestine.
Imaging tests. These include X-ray, CT scan, or MRI scan.
Your healthcare provider will try to find the medicines that work best for you. You may take:
A type of anti-inflammatory medicine (called 5-ASA compounds or mesalamine) to help reduce swelling and inflammation in the intestines
Corticosteroids to help reduce inflammation
Antibiotics to fight bacteria, if there is an infection
Medicines to control your body’s immune system (such as immunomodulators or biologics)
Certain foods can make your symptoms worse. You may need to change what you eat. Stay away from any food that makes your symptoms worse. These foods vary from person to person. But certain foods cause symptoms in many people. These include high-fiber foods (such as fresh vegetables) and high-fat foods (such as dairy products and red meat). Keep track of foods that cause you problems. Food sensitivity testing and supplements to help repair the intestinal lining may also be beneficial.
Stress can also worsen symptoms. Reducing stress may help. Methods like relaxation exercises, meditation, and deep breathing can help you control stress. Your healthcare provider may be able to tell you more about these.
Surgery may help control or even cure ulcerative colitis. It is done to take out a severely affected part of the colon. If this is an option for you, your healthcare provider can tell you more.