Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis

If you are trying to figure out whether or not you have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis you should really consult your doctor and get it checked out.

In this article we will take a look at some of the symptoms for both diseases but this is not meant to replace medical advice from a qualified physician and if you are trying to figure out whether you have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis then you must seek professional advice.

Differentiating between Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis

Whichever disease you think you have, both can be extremely painful and potentially life threatening. The best thing to do is talk to your physician before making any decisions. In either case the disease can be very elusive and the causes are unknown.

The main difference between Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis is what part of the intestine is affected. In Crohn’s disease, either the small or large intestine may be affected. In ulcerative colitis the affected area is usually limited to the large intestine. In extreme cases ulcerative colitis can be treated by removing the colon entirely, although this leaves the recipient with a bag to collect their stool.

Another major difference when determining whether you are affected by Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis is the initial symptoms. Crohn’s disease is far more insidious in its onset. There is abdominal pain, weight loss, and a lack of motivation. Rarely is there the same obvious bloody diarrhea as one would find in ulcerative colitis.

An acute intestinal obstruction with vomiting or the appearance of a fistulous tract between the intestine and bladder allowing a stool to pass into the urine are usually the signs the will promote a diagnosis of the disease by a doctor.

In addition the treatment of Crohn’s disease versus ulcerative colitis is different. Usually some of the same drugs are used, but in most cases surgery is not an option. Eighty five percent of the people who elect to have surgery will have a recurrence in the next three years.

Another major difference is how diet will affect the diseases. In Crohn’s disease diet will play a very important role in how your body reacts, while ulcerative colitis appears to be not affected by diet.

Hopefully this has helped you to determine what symptoms and things you need to discuss with your doctor, and again if you are at all concerned seek immediate medical attention. There is no substitute for the opinion of a medical professional.