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What Does "Moderate To Severe" Mean Exactly?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/2/2008 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
Some of you may have read my previous thread,where I explain my new diagnosis,going from Procto-Sigmoiditis.to Pancolitis.The Pancolitis is described as moderate to severe.But what does this mean?

The way I infer it,is that some inflammation is moderate,some is severe.I'm curious to hear other peoples interpretation of this.I have a follow up with my GI in six weeks(funny how I'm also back on a six week taper of Pred!),so I'm going to ask him to be a little more specific.

I guess it's no big deal treatment wise,but I do love elucidation!
Posted 3/3/2008 12:03 AM (GMT 0)
SL, there are criteria to determine whether active UC is mild, moderate or severe. If you meet some but not all of the criteria for severe, I think they code it as moderate to severe. It applies to the colon as a whole. Here's a summary:

http://health.yahoo.com/digestive-resources/classification-of-ulcerative-colitis/healthwise--uf6043.html
Posted 3/3/2008 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the link Judy,that has clarified things greatly for me.I thought the diagnosis was based purely on the scope,but obviously the answers given to the docs questions also form part of the diagnosis.My low blood loss goes in the moderate bracket,whereas my high frequency of toilet visits(was up to 15-20 per day)most certainly goes down as severe!

If it was based purely on the C-Scope visuals,I couldn't see how it would be anything but severe,it looked an awful mess to me!
Posted 3/3/2008 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
I was the same way - no fever, increased heart rate and rarely anemia, but I did have the frequency and blood loss. So I've always been moderate to severe until my last scope, when I was "inactive." :-)
Posted 3/3/2008 4:29 AM (GMT 0)
That yahoo link is very helpful. Based off of my recent hospitalization, my UC was definitely severe, because of the fever, sweats, and racing heart (and all the other symptoms). But when my GI saw me and suggested I go to the hospital, he said when he sees the high fever and racing heart it's dangerous because it can lead to Toxic UC. So what does Toxic UC mean and how is that different than severe UC? Obviously it sounds worse, but then what?
Posted 3/3/2008 4:44 AM (GMT 0)
Essentially, it's the same thing as toxic megacolon. Here's a link fo ryou"

http://www.emedicine.com/med/byname/megacolon-toxic.htm
Posted 3/3/2008 5:08 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Judy. Always good to know these things.
Posted 3/3/2008 6:42 AM (GMT 0)
Hey, they don't call me the "Google Queen" at work for nothing!
Posted 3/3/2008 9:47 AM (GMT 0)
Google Queen,I like that!
Posted 3/3/2008 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
Uh oh, looks like we need a crown for our Google Queen! :)
Posted 3/6/2008 9:07 AM (GMT 0)

I get really confused by this ! I have the frequent visits to the loo to clasify me as having svere UC, ( and urgency )but have no bleeding and don't feel ill. I wonder if this could be IBS ?

My GI here in the UK is a bit dismissive and doesn't seem to want to discuss much due to lack of time. Also don't have a specialist nurse to ask .

Posted 3/6/2008 11:53 AM (GMT 0)
Supernurse,have you had a Colonoscopy?If you have,they would have diagnosed Colitis by visually being able to see it(ulceration,inflammation).If you haven't had a C-Scope,then it's not a definite diagnosis.In fact,if you haven't had one,get one done asap!
Posted 3/6/2008 11:58 AM (GMT 0)
Yes I did have a colonoscopy which gave me my original diagnosis of UC. However lots of people have both UC and IBS. What I want to know is how can you tell the difference ...............without having a colonoscopy every time ????How can you tell if you have a flare of UC or an episode of IBS ?

Posted 3/6/2008 12:09 PM (GMT 0)
I don't think you really can in all honesty.My C-Scope last week revealed Pancolitis.My Colon is a mess from one end to the other.Despite that,I wasn't bleeding,but was going to the toilet up to twenty times a day.To some degree I don't think it's important to know.You're on meds for Colitis,so that's being treated anyway.

What I usually do,is just take loperamide occasionally,if I need to be somewhere.Also sometimes use Bucopan for spasms and pain(luckily I don't get much of that).

Maybe someone else here has a way of telling,I'm sure we'd all like to know if so!
Posted 3/6/2008 3:26 PM (GMT 0)
I typically qualify something as an IBS attack if I don't have my other UC symptoms. Another thing that signals IBS to me is if it happens after a specific food. If it's just a sudden attack, probably IBS. My IBD symptoms last longer and cause me more grief. The IBS symptoms are usually gone as soon as I "expel" that food.
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