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Is there a difference which side your colitis is on?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/21/2008 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
I hear people say that they a left sided uc and was wondering what the difference is.






Len34
12 Salofalk per day
3 Imuran per day
Posted 1/21/2008 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
cabdrivr, UC generally starts in the rectum and when it's only there it's called proctitis. If it extends up into the S-curve, the sigmoid colon, it is called proctosigmoiditis. Left-sided UC involves the rectum, the sigmoid and the colon up to the splenic flexure, where the colon turns right across the abdomen. Pancolitis involves the entire colon. As far as symptoms, people with pancolitis tend to have more diarrhea and weight loss because the colon can't absorb the fluid back out of the stool. People with proctosigmoiditis tend to have somewhat more solid stools.

The location of the UC doesn't predict how often it will flare or how difficult it will be to get into remission. Proctitis can be just as stubborn as pancolitis.

And welcome to HealingWell!
Posted 1/21/2008 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
Judy has it right.

There is also a description in the Ulcerative Colitis Resources sticky thread:

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=273435

 

Posted 1/22/2008 12:55 AM (GMT 0)
In other words, left-sided is less severe than pancolitis. There's no such thing as UC starting on the right side, as far as I know. If you have inflammation in isolation on the right side, you'd probably be looking at Crohn's colitis as Crohn's can strike any where and can appear in isolated patches. UC starts at the rectum and works its way up and around in a solid spread of inflammation.
Posted 1/22/2008 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
I know Judylin said "tend to" but I just wanted to say that I only have UC in my rectum and sometimes have lots and lots of D.  My colon looked good with no ulcers last colonoscopy but rectum was bad, and I was having constant D so much I was so weak and went to the hospital 2 weeks later.  It took me about a month for it to slow down.  That is my wacko case.  I think sometimes you just never know with this disease.

Posted 1/22/2008 1:17 AM (GMT 0)
Another difference is in treatments. The mesalamine enemas are affective in the left side of the colon, but not the right since they can't "back track" that far to help.
Posted 1/22/2008 6:02 AM (GMT 0)
Inflammation higher in the rectum and above will cause diarrhea. A classic symptom of proctosigmoiditis is diarrhea, but remember that there are different degrees of inflammation.

princesscolon...if you were diagnosed with UC in the rectum only, you wouldn't have left-sided UC....or is it that your original diagnosis was extended past the sigmoid to the splenic flexure and your inflammaiton now is just in the rectum?

quincy
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