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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/17/2015 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hi All -

I am sorry if this post is repetitive, I did not do a search. I was wondering if someone could share with me the common symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis. I am trying to figure out what's going on with me. I have lost all faith in my doctors and although I am on the hunt for new ones I was hoping someone here could give me a description and signs/symptoms list. Thanks in advance.
Posted 2/17/2015 3:32 AM (GMT 0)
my first symptoms were constipation and bleeding. after it got worse, it was mucous, urgency, diarrhea, pain/cramping, high frequency, weight loss, and malnourishment.
Posted 2/17/2015 3:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hi bananagirl --

Thank you for your response. This is helpful - and you've listed most of my symptoms. Can you tell me what tests can be done to show that someone has ulcerative colitis?
Posted 2/17/2015 3:37 AM (GMT 0)
Please do a simple google search for "ulcerative collitis symptoms" .............
Posted 2/17/2015 3:41 AM (GMT 0)
Zengrrl -

That's a bit harsh. Not for anything but I think I have a right to post this versus going to Google. I understand that I could have easily googled it but I truly wanted to here it from the people that actually suffer with this disease. I don't want to read it off a list from sites that I am not sure of. Google is not a doctor and although some sites are more trustworthy and accurate than others, I personally prefer to here what actual sufferers are experiencing. This to me is a valid post. I do apologize if this post has clogged up your feed but I really would rather here it from the sufferers versus a generic list from webmd. Thank you for your understanding.
Posted 2/17/2015 4:05 AM (GMT 0)
its not the clog, it is how impractical and inefficient it is.

btw, only scoping with biopsies and elimination of other types of colitis can diagnose.
Posted 2/17/2015 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry if I offended, but there are marvelously informative sites such as Mayo Clinic etc, that can answer your questions in a minute. And Wikipedia will list the various symptoms in a jiffy. Going this route, asking just plain folks you will get more personal responses of course, but often inaccurate and misleading, and as previous poster, inefficient. You should inform yourself about the disease as much as you can, I did, and then come here for more detailed information and personal support. And I'm very happy I did, when it comes to which med to choose, which diet is working for many, supplements, the latest research, etc. You have to be self-empowered. Best.
Posted 2/17/2015 4:28 AM (GMT 0)
and by the way if you're speaking about hearing a sound??? It's spelled h-e-a-r just say'in
Posted 2/17/2015 5:04 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, colonoscopy from a GI doctor is the main way to be sure. Good luck!!!
Posted 2/17/2015 5:28 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with zengirl. Look on the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation website. Also look at Mayo Clinic like she said, even WebMD could give you a quick list of symptoms. Because everyone is different, lots of people have differing symptoms. For instance, Joanna mentioned she had constipation as a symptom and my problem was the complete opposite.

Definitely check out ccfa and get an appointment with a GI to schedule a colonoscopy if you suspect you may have UC.
Posted 2/17/2015 5:31 AM (GMT 0)

zengrrl said...
and by the way if you're speaking about hearing a sound??? It's spelled h-e-a-r just say'in

I wish this site had a "like" button. Grammar N a z i right here. smilewinkgrin
Posted 2/17/2015 12:55 PM (GMT 0)

BTurc said...
I understand that I could have easily googled it but I truly wanted to here it from the people that actually suffer with this disease. I don't want to read it off a list from sites that I am not sure of.

Yeah, uh.... you know how questionable Mayo's site is... along with the Crohn's & Colitis foundation and those other medical sites. Not.

Keep in mind that when you post to an anonymous UC forum to self-diagnose, the replies you get may be:

- from other self-diagnosers (who don't actually have UC), or

- from bored kids with little internet supervision who don't actually have UC but like to get attention on the internet, or

- from grown adults who think they had UC once (!) or don't have UC but hang out here and confidently offer advice because they've adopted this as their virtual community and it gives them a sense of belonging, or

- from someone who actually has UC.

And if you think you can tell which of the above is correct for a person based on the number of posts they've made or how long they have been a member of the site, you are kidding yourself.

For heaven's sake don't take anything you read on a public anonymous forum as gospel when it comes to your health.
Posted 2/17/2015 1:09 PM (GMT 0)

zengrrl said...
and by the way if you're speaking about hearing a sound??? It's spelled h-e-a-r just say'in

If you're going to snark on another person for his spelling, you might want to make sure you're spelling everything correctly yourself. You know, like the name of the disease you have.

At any rate, BTurc, I'd say that you'd also get a more accurate, and concise, version of the common UC symptoms by looking at a reputable medical website, but I don't mind that you asked. UCers have rather varying symptoms. For instance, I didn't have any pain and not much blood, which is fairly uncommon when it comes to UC, especially considering I had pancolitis, but I had pretty much all of the other symptoms.

You'll need to see a gastroenterologist and have a colonoscopy to accurately determine if you have UC or not. Severe IBS with hemorrhoids could easily mimic UC, in terms of symptoms, but a c-scope will reveal if inflammation is present or not.
Posted 2/17/2015 1:15 PM (GMT 0)
Why did you lose your faith in doctors? I lost mine with Dr. Robert Gurney, a dermatologist in Reston, VA who gave me a ton of oral antibiotics and accutane growing up as a teenager and gave me my UC shortly after taking his meds
Posted 2/17/2015 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
hey BT -

ask all the questions you want yeah

the forum members here can:

a. answer your questions with kindness and hopefully helpful knowledge -

b. not read your post -

c. read, but not respond -

d. answer but not answer wink

my symptoms were similar to b girl's
Posted 2/17/2015 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
The symptoms of uc can overlap those of other conditions (e.g., bacterial colitis, crohn's, irritable bowel, and cancer) and diagnosis is a process that eliminates any doubt of those others. Generally, bloody diarrhea, urgency, mucus, and increased bms per day are the most common. Pain and abdominal discomfort are common. As is general fatigue, weakness, anemia, and dehydration. Symptoms vary a lot, some are mild, others are to the extreme (I had 20+ bms a day, toilet bowl full of blood, stabbing pains in my gut, etc at my last flare up of uc).

If you suspect you have a gastrointestinal issue, get a referral to a gastroenterologist specialist doctor. Self diagnosis is usually very wrong. They'll run stool tests to eliminate bacterial and other pathogens like CDIFF as causes. They'll order a colonoscopy to investigate visually, and take biopsies to send to the lab.

I hope you do not have uc, as it is an annoying and difficult disease, good luck.
Posted 2/17/2015 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
As I have said in other threads in the past, I probably always had IBS (I remember dealing with severe cramping and constipation as a teenager),but never got it treated as the symptoms gradually went away. My colitis was brought out most likely to due my dependence on Aleve for headache relief. From there, I knew something wasn't right because I constantly had to go, was always thirsty, frequent urgent diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and blood in the stool. All the time, I thought it was a bad stomach bug.

Through all of those symptoms, though, believe it or not the one thing that struck me the most when i knew something was wrong was my sudden loss of energy and strength. I will never forget the day I took my then 2 year old nephew to the park. It wasn't that hot outside, but I was sweating like crazy, couldn't cool off. I didn't even have the strength to carry him back to my car. I went to the doctor a day later and the testing began (CT, ultrasound, MRI,then finally a colonoscopy)...a month later, I was diagnosed with UC.

There were times I and those close to me feared it was cancer because as others have mentioned,the symptoms are similar. Hope you get the answers and closure you're looking for!
Posted 2/17/2015 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
I Googled symptoms and kept coming up with IBD. My grandmother (Ashke**** Jew) had it and I wanted a different diagnosis. I tried every diet, tea, supplement, stretches, exercises... Everything before I finally went to a doctor. By then I had uncontrollable bloody diarrhea. My abdomen was so swollen, the doctor made immediate appointments with GI and Gyno.

Got a colonoscopy and he gave me copies of the photos. The inside of my colon looked like a red peeling sunburn with a bloody rash. No wonder it wasn't working.

Just go to a doctor if you can afford it. They didn't just guess. They looked at cells under a microscope.

There are elimination diets you can try. If it's not IBD, you might find a solution. Every time I ate one of these diets, like nothing but rice for two weeks, things seemed to improve, but not completely and not for long.
Posted 2/18/2015 3:03 AM (GMT 0)
zengrl -

I don't think I've ever had someone make me feel as bad as you in such a forum that is supposed to show support. I will not return to this forum even though it was my very first post and very first visit. But, I had to return this last time to first off thank those of you that showed support but also tell you how rude you truly are. I know how to spell the word hear, I haven't been feeling well and made a typo error. If you don't like the post then skip it, why not just skip over it versus take the time to provide your comment. I was looking for help. I asked kindly. Anyway, I won't be back here to the Ulcerative Colitis forum.
Posted 2/18/2015 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
I already apologized. I'm not going to do it again. Please avail yourself of the help of this forum, I am relatively new and know nothing.
Posted 2/20/2015 3:42 PM (GMT 0)

BTurc said...
I just wanted to clarify something that Traveler said. You don't "develop" Factor V - you are born with it...(Lyme Disease Forum)

Did you say that to make them feel bad?
No, I don't think so. And no one read anything into it.

No one on this forum was rude.

Sometimes feeling bad makes me sensitive, sometimes feeling bad makes me snippy. I don't believe anyone here meant anything rude at all. Everyone was exceptionally helpful. There is some banter, but really, that's what friends do. And we all sure have a lot in common!

BTurc, you have been a Regular Member since 2011 with 40 posts. Surely you've read a grammar/spelling correction before? It's no big deal!

zengrrl has only been a Member since July 2014. Her comments are always helpful and to the point. She goes out of her way to offer practical advice. She is supportive and cheerful. She is a real asset to this community. I appreciate reading her comments and I hope she continues to participate.

Post Edited (Not Happy Yet!) : 2/20/2015 8:47:15 AM (GMT-7)

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