I've been diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis… Now what?

Well you are probably a bit shell shocked and confused as to what the hell this disease is.

 What to Expect After an Ulcerative Colitis Diagnosis

So, you’ve made it from frantically Googling in the middle of the night to the doctor’s office—good job! Now what? From there, you’ll need to have several different kinds of tests to get a reliable diagnosis, according to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. They’ll range in invasiveness from a friendly-but-frank discussion of your symptoms to a full-on colonoscopy. The process could involve several visits, and may require a trip to your primary care doctor, who will then refer you to a specialist (called a gastroenterologist). Here’s what to expect your gastroenterologist to do:

'Ulcerative colitis is painful, crippling and humiliating'

The disease occurs when a sufferer's immune system attacks the colon, causing it to develop ulcers, which ooze blood and mucous. It is not known what causes it, though there are a number of theories. Some researchers believe that viral or bacterial infections can trigger the disease; others that environment and diet play a part; or it is possibly an auto-immune condition that occurs when a sufferer's immune system malfunctions for no particular reason. There is evidence that links certain genes with a vulnerability to colitis, as 16% of sufferers have a close relative with the condition. However, colitis manifests itself differently in every patient. The fact that it is unpredictable and chronic means it is often referred to as a life-limiting illness.

How to Know if Your Bathroom Issues Are Actually Ulcerative Colitis

Plus, why this condition should be on your radar.

Ulcerative Colitis vs. Crohn’s Disease – Similarities And Differences

The two most common IBDs are Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Both are conditions characterized by chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. They do share many similarities, yet they also have key differences between them.

(Hopefully) an inspiring story about my life with Ulcerative Colitis!

I just wanted to share my experiences of ulcerative colitis in the hope that it may help some of you out there with colitis!

A Surprise Medical Solution: Hypnosis

Major hospitals are finding hypnotherapy can help sufferers of digestive conditions like heartburn, colitis, acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome.

Can strawberries help cure intestinal inflammation?

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts have found that strawberries are not only delicious, rich in vitamins and low in calories — they can even help with inflammatory bowel diseases.

Could Viruses Attacking The Microbiome Be Responsible For Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

The possible role of the microbiome in inflammatory diseases has been a busy area of research recently, with a study in May showing that gut bacteria may play a role in multiple sclerosis. The relationship between bacteria in the gut microbiome and IBD is an active area of research, but new research published in Nature Microbiology yesterday suggests that viruses called phages, which infect gut bacteria may be important in controlling the disease.

Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Don’t Mean the End for Athletes

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis aren’t sexy diseases. They involve a part of the body that people are embarrassed to talk about publicly. And in a career where your physical health is the key to your success, it is incredibly brave to speak openly about having a chronic illness.

Cure Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Without Medication

I’m here to tell you it’s possible to alleviate symptoms of inflammatory bowel diseases, like Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis and it doesn’t always have to take dangerous medications. You can do so with a change in diet or by consuming healing nutraceuticals...

Does Food Poisoning Cause Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

What causes inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)? No one knows for sure, though both genetic and environmental factors likely contribute. A new study in Science, modeling disease in mice, suggests that recurrent infections might be a major trigger for IBD.

Here’s Exactly What to Know About Ulcerative Colitis Treatment

If you’re one of the people with mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis, you’ll probably begin your treatment journey with a type of anti-inflammatory medication called a 5-aminosalicylate, or 5-ASA1. In fact, the American Gastroenterological Association calls the 5-ASA category “the mainstay of therapy for mild-moderate UC1.” Many people who take a drug like this take their tablets by mouth after a light meal or snack, along with plenty of water, according to the U.S. Library of Medicine. This is the standard first line of treatment and the most common starting point.

I'm sick. It's not my fault. And I shouldn't have to pay more for my health insurance.

Here’s what this disease does to one’s body: My colon, left to its own devices, gets inflamed to the point of ulceration. To control the disorder, I take an immunosuppressant every day, enough to keep things in check. When flares occur, there’s pain, diarrhea, and a significant chance of my pooping my pants. It’s not only inconvenient; if left untreated, the long-term consequences of the disorder can be catastrophic. But there is nothing about this disease that ties it to choices I’ve made. I was 22 when I was diagnosed. None of it was my fault.

Living with UC and Pouchitis

I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2007, but my colon was whipped out before I even had time to really process what that even meant. Because I'd been so unwell, the recovery was a long one. One year after that, I had surgery to create my J-pouch. A J-pouch is basically a replacement rectum, built from loops of small intestine and connected to the anus.

Living With Ulcerative Colitis

Over the past year, I’ve had a lot of ups and downs when it comes to my UC; I’ve felt great, I’ve felt terrible, I’ve been on various medications, and had a few colonoscopies. Not the average life of a 20-something. And that’s the hardest part.

Lobotomies were once used to treat this gut disease, part of a shameful medical history

In May 1951, a 35-year-old Boston woman who had been treated for years for ulcerative colitis and a variety of mental disorders — with little success — was given a lobotomy by doctors affiliated with the Lahey Clinic, then in Boston. Her doctors drilled two holes into her skull and cut or melted away two wedges of her brain’s cerebral cortex using a technique developed by James Poppen, a Lahey neurosurgeon.

My invisible illness: What it's really like having a disability no one can see

The IBD and stoma community on social media has been a lifeline for me. I wouldn’t have been able to deal with my illness or the operation in the way I have without them.

My struggle with Ulcerative Colitis and the start of a journey to cure myself

About a week ago I shared a personal story on Facebook about my struggle with health and gut issues, the ineffectiveness of medical institutions in helping me, and my plan for how to matters into my own hands and address this head on. The level of interaction and response that my post got absolutely blew me away and showed me that the topic of struggling with and learning how to overcome health issues is something that needs to be discussed much more than it is.

Myths of Living with Ulcerative Colitis

One of the most important responsibilities of being diagnosed with a chronic illness like ulcerative colitis (UC) is learning as much about the condition as possible. Typically, most people turn to Google for answers. But a lot of times internet searches lead to misinformation.

Stanford scientists link ulcerative colitis to missing gut microbes

Bacteria normally inhabiting healthy people’s intestines — and the anti-inflammatory metabolites these bacteria produce — are depleted in ulcerative colitis patients, a Stanford study shows.

The Best Diet For Ulcerative Colitis: Splitting Fact From Fiction

Many people claim to have “cured” their ulcerative colitis with diet or supplements. Unfortunately, there is no diet or pill that can cure the disease.

Ulcerative Colitis Diet: Foods to Eat and Avoid

While ulcerative colitis is not caused by any specific diet, research shows that certain foods trigger symptoms so for this reason an ulcerative colitis diet has emerged.

Ulcerative Colitis, Abe’s Affliction, Is a Long-Term, Debilitating Disease

It irritates and inflames the innermost lining of the large intestine and rectum, causing ulcers or sores. Symptoms can include uncontrolled diarrhea, rectal bleeding, weight loss, diminished appetite, abdominal pain and frequent need to use the bathroom.

What We Eat Affects Everything

How men and women digest differently, diet changes our skin, and gluten remains mysterious: A forward-thinking gastroenterologist on eating one's way to "gutbliss"

When the Body Decides to Stop Following the Rules

When I learned 11 months ago at age 29 that I had a chronic illness, I understood that my life was going to change. I knew I would stop eating certain foods, limit stress and think more strategically about when to have children. What I didn’t anticipate was the loss of control over my life that I thought I had, until the gastroenterologist uttered the words “ulcerative colitis.”