Colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes a significant amount of pain and discomfort for those afflicted with this condition. It tends to cause greater problems in the gastrointestinal system, and can often lead to the surgical removal of the colon. It is important to emphasize that this is a disease, and is not merely irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the symptoms of which are often similar to those of a bowel disease but they are not as serious and generally not as painful.
There are several symptoms of colitis. The main one is pain in the abdomen area; usually quite severe pain. This pain is often coupled with changes in the patient's bowel movements, both in frequency and in type. In addition to these symptoms, someone with this disease will likely experience changes to his or her colon. These changes usually involve the surface of the colon becoming much redder and the colon tissue to swell. Blood and mucus can be found in the stool and there can be indigestion-related symptoms like heartburn, reflux and gas. In addition to all this physical discomfort, the patient may also experience depression, fatigue and other disease anxiety symptoms.
Treating colitis will depend on the severity of the inflammation levels and the symptoms present. If the disease is in its early stages, then it can be controlled through the use of medicine, specifically antibiotics to reduce the swelling. Diet can also play an important role by avoiding the kinds of foods that will exacerbate the symptoms, namely foods high in fiber, dairy products for some, and usual culprits like alcohol and caffeine. If the disease is in its later stages, then surgery, specifically removal of the colon, may be the only option.
A bowel disease like colitis can be very difficult to deal with both emotionally and physically. Ideally the symptoms will be identified early on and this will allow regular treatment that reduces the need for invasive surgery, like a colostomy. For people struggling with this kind of disease, there are support groups online that they can join to learn about ways to make living with this disease bearable.
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