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What do you think causes bleeding?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/8/2008 8:57 PM (GMT 0)
Does anyone have any information, articles, study information on this?

I started thinking about the process of the colon, the ulcers, and how bleeding would occur.  Something, like seeds scraping it?  Or more intense contractions to move something like a potato skin or corn kernel through the colon?  Why would some of us have it only occasionally?

If we didn't eat food but only used liquids that had adequate nutrition, would our colons stop bleeding?  Has anyone tried this? 

It would be interesting to see some kind of graphic on how food moves through the body, food is digested, and is processed in the colon.      

 

Posted 9/8/2008 10:10 PM (GMT 0)

Maybe this question seems odd.  I was trying to visualize the process itself.  It might help to figure out what to do or what to avoid. 

If anyone has seen an article that might help explain it, even if it's a diagram or children's educational material, I'd love to see it.

Thanks!  

Posted 9/8/2008 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Potato

This is how my DR explained it to me--- prob not very techincal

Inflammation usually causes the ulcers which cause the bleeding. then when you are healing and the ulcers scab over- the food going thru your digestive tract scrapes against the scabs and eventually ends up bleeding again. The inflammation is the first part of the problem and that is what the meds target. Stop the inflammation stop the bleeding eventually-
Posted 9/8/2008 11:20 PM (GMT 0)

Ah ha!

Thanks, Terps.  That would explain why the bleeding might be one of the last things to resolve. 

It's too easy to think it might be some kind of food I could avoid or other way to stop it, especially when D, urgency and cramping seem to be mostly resolved.  Lately, it seems like it's on my good days that I see a little blood.  Weird.        

Posted 9/8/2008 11:30 PM (GMT 0)
Ok, so I must be the weird one! Currently flaring just diagnosised officially 8/25/08 been on canasa since 8/25/08 just got my asacol today. Last week the probiotic, multi enzyme, and psyillum. Anyway my blood is gone, for the most part, I still have D and mucus along w/ the pain and other luxuries.

Gigi1227

Currently Flaring
Diagnosis 8/25/08
Canasa
Asacol
Mega Probiotic
Multi Enzyme
Psyillum
Posted 9/8/2008 11:48 PM (GMT 0)
The disease is marked by inflammation and ulceration of the colon mucosa, or innermost lining. Tiny open sores, or ulcers, form on the surface of the lining, where they bleed and produce pus and mucus. Because the inflammation makes the colon empty frequently, symptoms typically include diarrhea (sometimes bloody) and often crampy abdominal pain.

It doesn't necessarily only happen from eating corn, nuts, hard foods, stool is stool, if it's formed or liquid you can still bleed. Bleeding is more likely caused because of frequency.

And there is no scabbing inside your body, sores need air in order to scab over, internally the sores/ulcers just heal by getting smaller not by scabbing...if a doctor ever told me that I can scab internally I'd be finding another doctor.

:)
Posted 9/9/2008 12:01 AM (GMT 0)

pb4 said...

It doesn't necessarily only happen from eating corn, nuts, hard foods, stool is stool, if it's formed or liquid you can still bleed. Bleeding is more likely caused because of frequency.

And there is no scabbing inside your body, sores need air in order to scab over, internally the sores/ulcers just heal by getting smaller not by scabbing...if a doctor ever told me that I can scab internally I'd be finding another doctor.

:)

This would be the opposite of what I'm experiencing, though.  Lately I've had blood appear when I'm not having frequency (yikes, I'm afraid to say it but the other day I only went twice!) or much D.  

Terps mentioned the explanation was probably not very technical.  

But I'd assume that as the ulcers heal, something must protect them, even if it wasn't a scab.  Maybe more mucous.  Or adhesions, which I think occur internally after surgery. 

After googling this, I read somewhere that it is possible to cauterize some of the bleeders.  It was mentioned more for polyps and diverticulitis.  The inflammation is probably too big a problem for us to use that, though.  And even if cauterized, the inflammation might just pop up somewhere else within the diseased area. 

Just a bit of a ramble. 


Posted 9/9/2008 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
Internal sores would just get smaller as they heal, they wouldn't be covered with excess mucus or anything like that, they get smaller but they do commonly lead to scar tissue from the sores, so they do leave a mark of sorts in that regard.

:)
Posted 9/9/2008 2:37 AM (GMT 0)
Potato, my experience has been like yours -- frequency has gone way down, stool has gotten harder, and then wham! a "big" bleed comes along to freak me out. I'm wondering if a tiny bit of fiber might help (and drinking more liquids?)
Posted 9/9/2008 3:46 AM (GMT 0)

emory, I think the metamucil wafers have really helped me a LOT.  They were the 3rd kind of fiber I tried.  If you're not using any fiber, I'd give it a try. 

Posted 9/9/2008 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
I just added a tiny bit today, Potato! (A 1/4 teaspoon of Metamucil...everybody says start slow). Thank you!
emory
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