Ulcerative colitis causes serious inflammation in your large intestine, triggering symptoms like cramping and rectal bleeding. At Specialists in Gastroenterology in St. Louis, Missouri, the board-certified gastroenterologists understand all the different ways this frustrating disease can affect your body. They offer comprehensive management on-site, including effective IV infusions. To get ulcerative colitis symptom relief, call the office or schedule an appointment with online booking today.
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease. This disease occurs when the inner lining of your large intestine, which includes your colon and rectum, becomes highly irritated.
The inflammation always occurs in the lowermost part of your large intestine (the rectum), but may sometimes affect another part of your large intestine (colon).
Ulcerative colitis causes a variety of very uncomfortable and distressing intestinal symptoms.
Ulcerative colitis causes symptoms varying from mild to severe based on the amount of large intestine affected. With mild-to-moderate cases, common symptoms include:
In severe cases of ulcerative colitis, these symptoms can intensify and may also include fever, dehydration, appetite loss, and unintended weight loss.
These symptoms are largely the same as those connected with Crohn’s disease, the other inflammatory bowel disease. The skilled GI doctors at Specialists in Gastroenterology can diagnose your disease and help you start individualized treatment.
You may have blood, stool, and imaging tests to rule out other causes of your symptoms. For a definitive diagnosis, you need a colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy.
These minimally invasive procedures allow Specialists in Gastroenterology to view the inner lining of your large intestine and extract a tiny tissue sample for a biopsy.
Treatment emphasizes inducing remission and avoiding relapse. The four types of medications used in ulcerative colitis treatment include aminosalicylates, steroids, immunomodulators, and biologics.
Specialists in Gastroenterology has an on-site IV infusion center where they deliver Remicade®, iron, and Entyvio®. They also offer Stelara® loading, administering the first dose of the medication on-site before you administer your own future doses at home.
If medication isn’t effective or you can’t use ulcerative colitis drugs for any reason, surgery may be needed for severe ulcerative colitis. Although surgery to remove your large intestine can cure ulcerative colitis, it’s a major surgery requiring lifestyle adjustments.
At Specialists in Gastroenterology, the expert GI physicians offer all-encompassing ulcerative colitis solutions. Book your appointment by phone or through online scheduling today.
