Do I Have Ulcerative Colitis?

Are you between 15 and 35?

Do you have abdominal pain and cramping?

Do you have diarrhea that lasts longer than a few weeks?

Do you have blood, mucus or pus in your stool?

Do you have rectal pain (rectal pain refers to any pain or discomfort in the anus or rectum)?

Do you feel an urgency to defecate?

Are you often unable to defecate despite the urgency?

Do you have the feeling that you need to have a bowel movement, even if you’ve already had one (tenesmus – “the feeling of a residue”)?

Have you recently lost any weight unintentionally?

Do you feel lack of energy and constant fatigue?

Do you have fever?

Do you have any of the following condition: painful and swollen joints, areas of painful, red and swollen skin, mouth ulcers or irritated and red eyes?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have ulcerative colitis. Your bowel habits can be altered due to a change in your diet or lifestyle, but if you experience persistent changes in your bowel habits, please see your doctor for further analysis.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease of the large intestine (colon and rectum), meaning that the lining of the colon and/or rectum becomes inflamed and develops tiny open sores called ulcers. Inflamed colon loses its ability to absorb water and certain nutrients resulting with diarrhea. UC is a condition with “flares” and remissions (the symptoms come and go). There is no cure for UC, so treatment goal is to reduce the inflammation and have longer periods of remission. Please make an appointment with a gastroenterologist for diagnosis and treatment.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammation of the large intestine with the development of ulcers on the inner lining of the colon and/or rectum. UC symptoms usually develop gradually and can differ, depending on the location and severity of inflammation. Currently, there is no cure for UC so the treatment goal is to extend periods of remission (periods without symptoms) and make flare-ups (periods when symptoms appears) less severe. Please see a gastroenterologist for diagnosis and treatment. If you have ulcerative colitis, your doctor and you will need to monitor it during whole life.