Can You Die From Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is not considered to be a life-threatening condition, but some of the complications listed in this article can be. Developing infections such as sepsis, bowel cancer or toxic megacolon could cause you to have an increased risk of death slightly over the general population. By taking your medication as prescribed and seeking early treatment for new symptoms you can help to reduce these risks.
References
Severe Dehydration And Vitamin Deficiencies
People with UC are susceptible to dehydration and vitamin deficiencies, especially when not treating UC. The reason for this is because diarrhea can lead to significant water and nutrient loss in the body.
You may even feel like you cant take in enough water or nutrients to stay hydrated and healthy. Some complications from UC-related dehydration and vitamin deficiencies are:
- general fatigue
- urinary and kidney issues
Your doctor is there to help you develop strategies to avoid dehydration and vitamin deficiencies during a UC flare-up. To prevent this, you can try drinking a lot of water, avoiding caffeinated or carbonated drinks, and staying away from any prune or veggie juices. But sometimes these methods alone arent enough. Your doctor can recommend specific multivitamins that will help you stay hydrated and also boost your immune system.
Ulcerative Colitis Life Expectancy
Thanks to improved medical treatment, people with ulcerative colitis are no more likely to die early than people who do not have ulcerative colitis. Appropriate diagnosis and treatment help many people with ulcerative colitis live long lives.
Talk to your doctor about your individual condition and how you can best combine treatment and lifestyle changes to manage your for many years to come.
Recommended Reading: What Is Moderate Ulcerative Colitis
Is A Colon Cleanse Actually Beneficial What You Must Know
The colon cleanse has been used throughout history to improve the bodys natural detoxification processes, restore digestive health and improve someones overall quality of life. In fact, the use of water to cleanse tissue throughout the colon, called colon lavage, has been practiced since as early as 1500 B.C. in ancient Egypt.
Whats the purpose of cleansing your colon? To flush out built-up waste stored by rehydrating old stool thats become impacted. Most colon cleanses use water to infiltrate hardened stool and loosen it up so it can be passed more easily.
The ultimate goal of a colon cleanse whether its a type of enema or a colonic is really to help the digestive organs do their job in the best way possible, managing things that get in the way and interfere with normal bowel functions. Colon cleanses arent necessarily needed by every person, but some people can really benefit from eliminating waste, bacterial matter and toxic material thats stored in their bodies.
How do you know if you could benefit from a colon cleanse? Keep reading.
Dont Miss: Good Foods To Eat With An Ulcer
What Are The Symptoms Of Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis symptoms often get worse over time. In the beginning, you may notice:
- Diarrhea or urgent bowel movements.
- Abdominal cramping.
- Liver disease.
- Loss of fluids and nutrients.
Symptoms are similar in pediatric ulcerative colitis and may also include delayed or poor growth. Some ulcerative colitis symptoms in children can mimic other conditions, so it is important to report all symptoms to your pediatrician.
Recommended Reading: What Do Diabetic Ulcers On The Feet Look Like
Secondary Outcomes: Side Effects And Polyp And Adenoma Detection Rates
Side effects were reported in all studies but with different patterns and classifications, precluding meta-analysis. Globally, severe side effects such as flare of disease in IBD patients undergoing colonoscopy were very uncommon without significant differences between different preparations as reported in the 4 studies. Gould et al 1982 failed to incriminate castor oil as a more likely cause of exacerbation of colitis than an equally effective dose of senna. On the contrary, bowel disturbances were more common following senna than castor oil . Of note, authors used high doses of senna . Lazzaroni et al 1993 reported significantly better results for patients treated with the drug combination of PEG plus simethicone regarding reduction of general malaise and sleep disturbances . Manes et al 2015 noted that PEG low-volume with bisacodyl was better tolerated than PEG high-volume as evidenced by a significantly higher number of patients who described no or mild discomfort . No severe adverse events were reported in the 2 groups. In the study by Kim et al. 2017, overall adverse events during preparation were observed more frequently in the PEG high-volume group than in the PEG low-dose plus ascorbate, although the difference was not statistically significant . However, patients in the PEG high-volume group reported significantly more nausea than those in the PEG low-volume plus ascorbate . Finally, no study reported the polyp or adenoma detection rates or dysplasia findings.
What Can You Do If You Believe Youre Being Undertreated
First and foremost, Bonthala recommends developing your health literacy. Dealing with chronic illness can be very overwhelming and daunting. There are a lot of medical terms and medications its a lot to take in, she says. She recommends using the Crohns & Colitis Foundation to learn more about your illness and find resources and medical professionals in your state to help you.
If you believe youre not receiving the right ulcerative colitis treatment and youre concerned about your symptoms, Bonthala says its important to advocate for yourself. Doctors have the ability to tailor your treatments, depending on the severity and progression of your disease, so dont be afraid to speak up and ask about other options if you feel your current treatment isnt working.
For her part, Bonthala is optimistic about treating ulcerative colitis. I always tell my patients that we have the same goal: Get to full remission, she says. Outside of taking a pill or getting an infusion or injection, I want you to be like everybody else and live your life as if you dont have this disease.
Also Check: How To Treat Diabetic Ulcers On Toes
Complications Caused By Nutritional Deficiencies
Some of the complications of malnutrition include:
- Dehydration diarrhoea causes your body to lose fluid, which can lead to dehydration. Severe dehydration can damage your kidneys.
- Anaemia reduced iron in the diet combined with losing blood from the bowel can lead to anaemia .
- Weight loss reduced appetite and poor absorption of food nutrients can cause weight loss.
- Reduced growth inadequate nutrition during childhood and adolescence can impair a childs growth and physical development.
Poor Growth And Development
Ulcerative colitis, and some of the treatments for it, can affect growth and delay puberty.
Children and young people with ulcerative colitis should have their height and body weight measured regularly by healthcare professionals.
This should be checked against average measurements for their age.
These checks should be carried out every 3 to 12 months, depending on the person’s age, the treatment they’re having and the severity of their symptoms.
If there are problems with your child’s growth or development, they may be referred to a paediatrician .
Also Check: Signs Of A Bleeding Stomach Ulcer
It Helps To Have A Network Of People With Ulcerative Colitis
Hopefully, youll find yourself with a tight-knit group of friends and family members who are ready to support you through even your very worst days. But no matter how well-intentioned those loved ones are, the only people wholl really get what its like to live with ulcerative colitis are other people who have it.
Even my best friend and my boyfriend will never understand what Ive gone through like my friends that have ulcerative colitis do, Skomski says. Until you live it, you dont know what it feels like to go through all those years of people not believing you, having the worst pain in your life that you have no understanding of. For a really long time, when I was in my denial phase, I thought, I dont need to have those people in my life, its just gonna make me feel like the sick girl all the time. But to have people that have gone through the same thing changed my life. I dont think I would be so positive and would embrace it as much as I do if it werent for having those people in my life that have the same disease as me.
It can also be such a relief to save valuable energy by skipping a few steps in the explaining process. Im so used to having to go through the whole song and dance of This is what I went through, Skomski says. When I connect with people that have ulcerative colitis, I dont have to do that. Its like a weird bond that I didnt know that I wanted or needed, but I definitely do.
Looking At Symptom Control And Relapses Of Uc
In a typical year:
of people with ulcerative colitis have symptoms under control
experience mild disease activity
experience moderate disease activity
experience severe disease
The longer a person with UC maintains symptom control, the less likely he or she is to experience a relapse, or flare-up, in the following year.
Learn about treatment options for ulcerative colitis.
Read Also: What Causes Ulcers On The Feet
Symptoms Of Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis symptoms can vary, depending on the severity of inflammation and where it occurs they typically develop over time. Most people experience mild to moderate symptoms, but the course of ulcerative colitis may vary and some people have long periods of remission. The symptoms depend on the location of the disease-causing inflammation. If you have ulcerative colitis, you may have the following signs and symptoms:
- Diarrhea, often with blood or pus
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- An increased risk of blood clots in veins and arteries
What Can I Expect If I Have A Diagnosis Of Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a lifelong condition that can have mild to severe symptoms. For most people, the symptoms come and go. Some people have just one episode and recover. A few others develop a nonstop form that rapidly advances. In up to 30% of people, the disease spreads from the rectum to the colon. When both the rectum and colon are affected, ulcerative symptoms can be worse and happen more often.
You may be able to manage the disease with medications. But surgery to remove your colon and rectum is the only cure. About 30% of people with ulcerative colitis need surgery.
Don’t Miss: Ulcerative Colitis Iv Infusion Treatment
Not Everyone Will Understand The Intensity Of Your Disease
Although ulcerative colitis can affect many aspects of your physical health, its often considered an invisible illness. Depending on the severity of symptoms on a given day, people with the condition can often still move around without any obvious signs that theyre in pain or discomfort. It puts a lot of pressure on your shoulders when you are chronically ill and it’s not visible, because you have to explain yourself time and time again, Skomski says. And since people between the ages of 15 and 30 are one of the more at-risk age groups for developing ulcerative colitis, people with the condition are sometimes perceived as too young to be sick.
People may also have a hard time wrapping their head around the pretty major lifestyle adjustments you might have to make with ulcerative colitis. My lifestyle’s not like a typical 20-something, Sam says. I think a lot of my friends see this as the intense period of their life: staying up all night, going to concerts that go until the middle of the night, going to bars, things like that. And I just can’t.
How Do You Know If Youre Not Receiving The Right Treatment
Anyone with a chronic condition such as ulcerative colitis should keep records of their care and closely monitor their symptoms. In particular, Bonthala recommends keeping an eye on your bowel movements, including the frequency, whether they are loose, if theres blood or mucus present, and if you suddenly experience constipation all of which could be signs that you need to change your treatment regimen.
If you suddenly develop intolerances to foods you used to stomach just fine, thats another sign that you may be undertreated.
Bonthala says your doctor should monitor your inflammation levels by testing for high levels of C-reactive protein in your blood. Your doctor can also test your stool for fecal calprotectin, a substance that your body produces when your intestines are inflamed.
Recommended Reading: Ulcerative Colitis Biologics Side Effects
Warning Signs Of Perforated Bowel And Hemorrhaging
A perforated bowel is a hole in the wall of the intestine which can occur as a consequence of toxic megacolon, but can also be caused by intestinal infections, and certain types of medication.
A full colonoscopy during acute severe ulcerative colitis may also increase the risk of perforation, according to the January 2019 review in the BMJ Postgraduate Medical Journal.
This perforation is so dangerous because the contents of the intestine, which contain a large number of bacteria, can spill into the abdomen and cause a serious infection called peritonitis, notes the Crohns and Colitis Foundation.
Signs of bowel perforation include severe abdominal pain, a high fever, and heavy rectal bleeding or hemorrhaging. As a caregiver, look for, or ask about, sudden and dramatic increases in the amount of blood in your loved ones stool.
If you suspect perforation, call 911 or go to the emergency room. Massive hemorrhaging in a patient with ulcerative colitis is an emergency condition that requires immediate medical attention and possibly surgical care to repair the hole in the colon wall.
Ibd And An Increased Risk Of Death
People with IBD do have a greater risk of death than the general population . This is perhaps not surprising, but it can be a bit confusing. There are a great many reasons someone with IBD might die: complications from surgery, a reaction to the medication, developing a serious related condition , or from a completely unrelated condition. In some cases, its unknown if a persons IBD actually contributed to their death or not.
Also Check: How To Tell Stomach Ulcer
Recommended Reading: Diabetic Ulcer On Big Toe
You Could Develop Toxic Megacolon
If ulcerative colitis remains untreated, the inflammation can spread to the deeper layers of your colon and result in a very dangerous complication called toxic megacolon. This condition can lead to life-threatening infections, kidney failure, or a colon rupture and needs to be treated immediately.
At this point, there is really no other option for medical treatment than surgery, Bonthala says. Surgery for toxic megacolon typically involves removing all or part of your colon.
Does Ulcerative Colitis Make You Immunocompromised
Ulcerative colitis doesnt make you immunocompromised. Some of the medicines that treat it may change the way your immune system responds. This change is different for each medication. Some of these changes may increase the risk of certain infections or other issues. A discussion with your health care team before starting a medication is the best way to understand these risks and ways to prevent them.
You May Like: How To Treat Venous Stasis Ulcers
What Should I Eat
Its not always easy knowing what foods best fuel your body, especially when you have Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis. Your diet and nutrition are a major part of life with inflammatory bowel disease , yet there is no single diet that works for everyone.
Nutrition affects not just your IBD symptoms, but also your overall health and well-being. Without proper nutrients, thesymptoms of your Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis can cause serious complications, including nutrient deficiencies, weight loss, and malnutrition.
We have several tips for a healthy diet thats well-balanced and nutrient rich. These tips are for educational purposes only. You should work with your doctor or a dietitian specializing in IBD to help you develop a personalized meal plan.
Watch our with Emily Haller, registered dietitian at Michigan Medicine! Tune in to hear Emily review diet facts, debunk myths, speak about restrictions, and highlight ongoing research.
What To Eat During A Flare
All of the diets above are intended to be temporary and followed during a flare-up. Working with a dietitian can help prevent deficiencies in certain micronutrients, which is common with IBD.
During a flare its helpful to eat four to six small meals per day rather than fewer larger meals. Its also very important to drink fluids because diarrhea can occur with a flare and cause dehydration.
Dont Miss: Ulcerative Colitis Bad Smelling Gas
Don’t Miss: How To Heal Leg Ulcers Quickly
You Could Develop Chronic Fatigue
When you have active inflammation, your body is running a marathon, Bonthala says. You waste a lot of energy. Research backs this up: A study published in the March 2020 issue of the Journal of Crohns and Colitis found that people who were in remission reported less fatigue than people with active ulcerative colitis or Crohns disease, another type of IBD.
Ulcerative Colitis Surgical Procedures
The standard surgical procedure to treat ulcerative colitis is a proctocolectomy. This surgery removes both your colon and your rectum .
There are two types of proctocolectomy procedures used to treat ulcerative colitis.
-
Proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis: Removal of the colon and rectum, and creation of an internal pouch that eliminates the need for a permanent external ostomy.
-
Proctocolectomy with end ileostomy: Removal of the colon, recturm, and anus and creation of an external ostomy.
It can feel overwhelming when you are recommended for one of these surgeries. We can help you understand whats involved with each surgery, and be prepared for life after your proctocolectomy.
Also Check: Different Types Of Ulcerative Colitis