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Posted 12/15/2008 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
when i was first diagnosed 1 year and a half ago they did my colonoscopy and they told me that i had pancolitis. ive been in remission ever since except for this small flare once. is it possible that they tell me next time i get my colonoscopy it can get downgraded to like protitis, Proctosigmoiditis or left sided colitis?? does that happen to alot of people?
Posted 12/15/2008 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
I was wondering the same thing because my UC is MUCH more subtle than it was when I was first diagnosed. I hope this is possible! :)
Posted 12/15/2008 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
One doctor referred to my UC as pancolitis, but my others doctors don't use the term. What I  know is my whole colon can be inflamed, or sometimes it is found to be only inflamed in certain areas.

Maybe I'm missing something, but what difference does it make what it is graded? 

Either you are flaring and need more aggressive treatment to get it under control, or you are not and need to be on a maintenance regimen (whether that is diet, drugs, etc.).

Seems you are both experiencing the latter...that's good!

Posted 12/15/2008 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
If you were diagnosed with Pancolitis, your future flares can be limited to Proctitis, Sigmoiditis or left sided however your colon has the potential of being inflammed to Pancolitis again. So basically it means that yes it can be downgraded but it has the potential of involving your whole colon again. For instance, I have left sided and for my last several flares it has only been limited to my rectum/sigmoid area but if it gets severe enough, it can involve my entire left side again.
Posted 12/16/2008 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
pancolitis is the terms used for UC affecting the entire colon and not just an area or 2. So yes, it very well can happen, flares can differ from one to the next.

:)
Posted 12/16/2008 8:51 AM (GMT 0)
flares differ depending on the extent of the inflammation. Remember the pattern of UC...upwards inflaming, downwrds healing The rectum will be involved becasue that's where it starts...
Think thermometer.

That's why I stress the rectal meds...because early symptoms will start there if the rest of the colon is quiet. They may not be the symptoms one is used to during a flare.

When the colon heals..from the top of the inflammation to the rectum...symptoms are usually seen as still flaring...but they are usually the same symptoms when a flare has started after being in a normal state.

Eventually one can learn to deal with flares very early and have one's flare/inflammation areas remain in the rectum.

q
Posted 12/16/2008 8:44 PM (GMT 0)
I d'ont understand exactly what your saying here as I have severe left sided colitis that has put me in hospital several times this year but no longer have any inflamtion lower down sig area or rectum, in my latest colonoscpy the GI said my' tail- end' as he put it was completely clear,but 35cm down my left side were 'very nasty,'his words again,bad enough for him to offer me sugery,personally I d'ont do any rectal meds any more,because I d'ont belive they any difference,and often though they were making things worse,as the lower part of my colon cleared up nicely since I stopped.
Posted 12/16/2008 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
Last colonoscopy I was told I had pancolitis....from what I understand the risks of developing colon cancer are greater with pancolitis. I would be very relieved to hear for certain that it can be downgraded based on active inflammation that the time, instead of a permanent doom-and-gloom development of UC that cannot be undone....good post.
Posted 12/21/2008 9:19 PM (GMT 0)

Cyn555 - I was diagnosed with severe pan-colitis when I had my first flare in 2000, and was hospitalised.  But, in the following 8 years - I have had numerous flares - all of them left-sided.

I have also read many times that this is quite common and that the first flare you suffer is often the worst. This was definately the case for me!

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