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Does this sound like UC to you guys?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 12/31/2015 4:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hello!

Seems like a great community here. I am a 25 year old male.

Basically for the past 6 months I have had mostly diarrhea like bowel movements on average 2 times a day. Most of that time I also had a mild ache on my lower abdomen side.

I would go a few weeks here and there when things got back to normal but that would abruptly go back to diarrhea.

The past few months I've noticed a little blood in my bowel movements. It has never turned the toilet water red however. But it's enough blood to worry me.

I have no other symptoms besides the 2x a day diarrhea like bowel movements and some blood with dull ache sometimes on left side. I was looked at with an anoscope to look for hemmoroid as and I only had a small one. Maybe there could be one higher up not seen? The blood looks like a normal blood color.

I am getting a colonoscopy next week but I'm very worried about all my options. I didn't know if this really fit in with UC or not? Any thoughts are highly appreciated!
Posted 12/31/2015 5:01 AM (GMT 0)
from what you are describing it could be UC but it could also be infectious colitis or ibs-d
It is good that you are getting scoped as it is the gold standard for diagnosis for many things

have they dont any blood work or stool sampling?
Posted 12/31/2015 5:07 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the reply!

I was diagnosed with ibs d but then when I told them I was noticing some blood they wanted a colonoscopy.

No blood work or stool test except he took a tiny piece of stool that tested positive for hidden blood. He took the tiny stool sample directly from my rectum right after I was bleeding so I wasn't surprised.

You can have infectious colitis for this long (6 months)? I would assume that would have cleared up on its own before hand? Sorry for my ignorance in advance.

Post Edited (Solidsimpson) : 12/30/2015 10:11:33 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/31/2015 5:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hmm they can do some blood work to check if you have inflammation but it is not gut specific.
They can also check your stool for fecal calprotectin and fecal leukocytes. But things like NSAIDs will make them seem higher than the amount of inflammation.

Parasites or pathogens can cause infectious colitis that lasts awhile although I doubt it's severe colitis as you don't have urgency or cramping. Although if your rectum is not involved you wouldn't ( but you had rectal bleeding so I don't believe this is the case)

It's possible there is microscopic colitis

Don't get to stressed about the scope it's really not bad. The prep is gross but when you get the scope they knock you out and it's almost worth it.

Good luck
Posted 12/31/2015 5:31 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks again!

My "left side ache" was a mild cramp. Was pretty consistent for several months.

Microscopic colitis wouldn't have blood I don't think right?

I am unfortunately extremely stressed for the overall scoping experience. Not the scope itself though. The before hand and then waiting for results after.

Post Edited (Solidsimpson) : 12/30/2015 10:40:57 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/31/2015 1:25 PM (GMT 0)
Could just be IBS-D with worse hemorrhoids. Could be infectious colitis, yes even for 6 months if it's never been treated for said infection. Could be diverticulitis causing the bleeding. Could be IBD (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's).

Diagnosis is a process of elimination. Negative stool test for infections, colonoscopy with biopsies are all used. Infections and various forms of IBD look differently in colonoscopy and biopsies.
Posted 12/31/2015 2:13 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks!

Weird question but what counts as a bowel movement? Like an overall bathroom visit? Or is it actually how much comes out of you at each bathroom visit?

Like are 20 bowel movements 20 separate trips to the bathroom?
Posted 12/31/2015 2:44 PM (GMT 0)
I'd mention both to your doctor (I pass stool 3 times a day, but have the urge to go another 4 times), it might be helpful. Rectal inflammation often causes tenesmus, which is the constant feeling of having to poop but not actually passing anything. IBS and IBD both result in passing mucus (white stringy stuff) that isn't stool. You can pass blood.
Posted 12/31/2015 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
that question has plagued mankind for centuries - i think even fred flintsone and barny rubble debated that one -

most adopt the " if you sit on the toilet, it counts" - not sure i agree, so I use other indicators to measure my degree of wellness -
Posted 12/31/2015 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
Infectious colitis sounds accurate just because I got my first ever symptoms the day after a cross country road trip which included various rest stops. Unless it's just a coincidence... Not much info online available for it. Maybe it's pretty rare?
Posted 12/31/2015 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds like UC. And you won't have to wait your GI SHOULD tell you right when u wake up
Posted 12/31/2015 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks. I wonder what symptom difference there is between infectious colitis vs ulcerative colitis.
Posted 12/31/2015 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
The symptoms are often exactly the same: Symptoms may include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and blood in the stool. Proctitis, colitis, C. difficile are infectious/pathogenic in cause. All cause inflammation, which results in the same experience.
Posted 12/31/2015 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks! I guess they won't be able to get a stool sample during the colonoscopy.
Posted 12/31/2015 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
Also, I was on a PPI for an esophagus condition I have everyday for a full year. Looks like that could cause C Diff but who knows.
Posted 1/6/2016 2:58 AM (GMT 0)
Had my colonoscopy (overall a good experience).

Doctor said I have a little patch of irritation in sigmond colon and that it's probably from some food related infection I got 5 months ago. He wants it to just run its course instead of antibiotics. So looks like it was infectious colitis. Not sure yet about results of any tests but not sure it will matter. Doc didn't seem too concerned.
Posted 1/6/2016 12:02 PM (GMT 0)
Congratulations. I'm glad you don't have a lifelong, chronic illness like we do. Uc totally sucks!
Posted 1/6/2016 7:55 PM (GMT 0)
Doctor just called me. Biopsies show that it might be Crohn's disease but he's not so sure. Have to do an upper endoscopy now tomorrow.
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