Archive for the ‘Colitis Treatment & Medication’ Category

When diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, the sufferer will have so many questions that require answering as to how it will impact on their life, the symptoms, the daily living during periods of ill health and how to deal with them. But there is also the important requirement of knowing about, understanding and how to use the available ulcerative colitis treatment that can make a big difference.

In consultation with their doctor or hospital consultant, the sufferer will mostly likely be offered a course of anti inflammatory drugs to initially bring the inflammation of the large colon under control and then to continue the medication in order to try and maintain a period where the inflammation disappears and the function of the colon becomes settled. This settled period can last from weeks to years where the sufferer can expect to enjoy a quality of life similar to that before the diagnosis.

There will also be available to use of steroids to bring the inflammation under control. Administered in powerful dosages, the steroids are extra assistance to fight the disease and bring relief to the sufferer as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, the symptoms don’t disappear overnight but through the effect of the steroids they are reduced gradually as the inflammation reduces. Depending on the strength of the attack, this can take from a week to several weeks. The course of steroids will still have to be taken once the worst of the symptoms are over as there requires to be a gradual reduction of the dosage to wean the patient off them.

Depending on the severity of the colitis attack, a sufferer may have to be admitted to hospital in order for the symptoms to be brought under control. There, further medication will be administered with the possibility of greater strength steroids being used. This is only undertaken where the treatment used up to that point has not had the desired affect and the sufferer is regressing to a level of even greater discomfort and pain.

Where colitis symptoms are unable to be brought under control, the only option is for surgery where the infected large bowel is removed and an ileostomy formed. This does not happen to the vast majority of colitis sufferers as conventional medication can and does control the outbreak of attacks.

When people encounter discomfort and pain in the abdominal area, there can be a tendency to ignore it or take “over the counter” medication in order to alleviate such symptoms as diarrhoea. They may try to control it with these mild medications when in fact they are fighting a losing battle. The discomfort and pain can increase to very high levels which can only be addressed with the appropriate diagnosis and prescribed medication. It is important for those with such symptoms, and others having just been diagnosed with colitis, to seek out the knowledge of others, those that have experienced all the symptoms, in order to make their daily experiences easier and ease their undoubted anxieties.

In order for the doctor to know more about what is happening to you during the early stages of you being diagnosed with colitis, you will have to undergo some tests. Yet  the probability of what you are about to endure with your first colitis attack will be much more intense and far less hospitable than anything your doctor or consultant requires to undertake.

At the doctor’s surgery, you will be asked to provide samples of blood, urine and probably a stool. All will be used to analyse exactly what you have and how your body is coping so far. They will probably want to have a look at your rectum and the lowest part of your bowel to confirm the inflammation. You need to recognise that being given a colitis diagnosis really does make you leave your inhibitions at the door. You just have to recognise the fact that it is essential to gather as much information about your condition as possible and if you consider that if you had an eye problem the doctor would want to examine you eye, so in that respect it really is no difference. You should hold on to this attitude as it will be very beneficial to you throughout your colitis experience. 

In all probability, you will be put on a course of medication. This normally falls into two types. The first is anti inflammatory medication which will assist in reducing the inflammation and once it is under control it will be used to try and prevent the infected part of the bowel becoming inflamed again. The second type is steroids. There is no getting round this, but to enable your body to fight colitis it needs a helping hand. And this takes the form of steroids.

No doubt you will have heard about steroids and the effects that they can have on the body and probably someone you know will say with alarm “you should not take these”. If you have come across this or are very wary of taking such medication then perhaps this little piece of advice will create a realistic view of the matter for you. When you are in pain, real pain, when moving hurts, when walking hurts, when going to the toilet hurts, when literally doing nothing hurts you need help. And that means effective help. And that comes in the form of steroids. You will probably be given them in both tablet and foam form (especially if your colitis is restricted to the left hand side of the bowel). That is right, foam as well! Make sure you take the anti inflammatory and steroid tablets exactly in the amount your doctor prescribed.

Colitis can be vicious in its ferocity and it takes a period of time for the medication to bring the attack under control. Without it, the inflammation of the large bowel and all the symptoms related to that will go unchecked, bring even greater pain and discomfort to the sufferer. To really understand what it is like to endure a colitis attack and understand what is required to get through it and how to start living again, it is very beneficial to discover those who have the exact experience of what you now face.