How does ulcerative colitis cause fatigue. What are the main symptoms of ulcerative colitis-related fatigue. Which strategies can help manage fatigue in ulcerative colitis patients. How does inflammation contribute to fatigue in ulcerative colitis. What role do sleep disturbances play in ulcerative colitis fatigue. How can nutritional deficiencies impact energy levels in ulcerative colitis patients. What is the connection between medications and fatigue in ulcerative colitis.

Understanding Ulcerative Colitis Fatigue: More Than Just Tiredness

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects millions worldwide. While abdominal pain and diarrhea are well-known symptoms, many patients also experience debilitating fatigue. This overwhelming exhaustion can significantly impact quality of life and daily functioning.

Fatigue in ulcerative colitis is not simply feeling tired. It’s a profound sense of exhaustion that persists even after rest or sleep. Abby Bales, a physical therapist from New York City, describes her experience: “When I was flaring, and for the last year before surgery [to remove my colon], the fatigue was absolutely unreal.”

The Prevalence of Fatigue in Ulcerative Colitis

Research published in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases reveals that approximately two-thirds of people with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including ulcerative colitis, experience persistent fatigue. For many, this fatigue lasts at least six months and sometimes up to a year, indicating it’s a long-term challenge for IBD patients.

Even during periods of remission, fatigue remains a concern. A study in the Journal of Clinical Medicine found that about half of IBD patients in remission still experienced fatigue, which may be linked to underlying undetected depression.

Recognizing the Signs: How Ulcerative Colitis Fatigue Manifests

Ulcerative colitis fatigue is more than just feeling sleepy. Dr. William Katkov, a gastroenterologist at Cedars-Sinai Gastroenterology, explains: “People with ulcerative colitis can experience malaise, a profound kind of fatigue that makes it difficult to carry out normal activities.”

Patients often describe their fatigue using phrases like:

• “Brain fog”
• “Zombie mode”
• “Overwhelming heaviness”
• “Woozy or fuzzy”
• “Completely wiped out”

This fatigue can be unpredictable, coming on suddenly and varying from day to day. It may affect memory, concentration, work performance, and the ability to exercise and socialize. The emotional toll can be significant, potentially leading to reduced confidence and depression.

Unraveling the Causes of Ulcerative Colitis Fatigue

Several factors contribute to fatigue in ulcerative colitis patients:

Inflammation and Its Impact

How does inflammation contribute to fatigue in ulcerative colitis? The body’s response to inflammation in the colon can directly affect energy levels. Chemical signals produced during inflammation can act on the brain, causing tiredness and depleting energy reserves.

Sleep Disturbances and Fatigue

What role do sleep disturbances play in ulcerative colitis fatigue? Research indicates that sleep disturbances are the strongest predictor of fatigue in IBD patients. Poor sleep quality can exacerbate fatigue and create a vicious cycle of exhaustion.

Anemia: A Common Culprit

Anemia, a frequent complication of ulcerative colitis, can result from blood loss, diarrhea, and poor nutrient absorption. The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation explains that anemic IBD patients lack sufficient healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body, leading to fatigue and weakness.

Medication Side Effects

How can medications contribute to fatigue in ulcerative colitis patients? Some medications used to treat UC may cause fatigue as a side effect. For instance, steroids can lead to insomnia, indirectly contributing to fatigue. Antidepressants, particularly when first prescribed, may cause lethargy but can also help manage anxiety or depression associated with UC.

Nutritional Deficiencies and Their Role in Fatigue

How can nutritional deficiencies impact energy levels in ulcerative colitis patients? Deficiencies in key nutrients can significantly contribute to fatigue. The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation highlights that iron, vitamin B12, and folate deficiencies are particularly linked to weakness and fatigue in IBD patients.

These deficiencies can occur due to:

• Malabsorption in the inflamed intestine
• Dietary restrictions
• Increased nutrient loss through diarrhea

Regular nutritional assessments and appropriate supplementation may help address these deficiencies and improve energy levels.

The Psychological Dimension: Stress, Anxiety, and Depression

Emotional and psychological factors play a significant role in ulcerative colitis fatigue. Anxiety, depression, and stress are consistently associated with fatigue in IBD patients, according to Crohn’s & Colitis UK. However, the relationship is complex, and it’s not entirely clear whether these psychological factors cause fatigue or result from it.

Living with a chronic condition like ulcerative colitis can be emotionally taxing. The unpredictability of symptoms, concerns about social situations, and the impact on daily life can all contribute to stress and anxiety. These psychological factors, in turn, can exacerbate fatigue, creating a challenging cycle for patients to navigate.

Strategies for Managing Ulcerative Colitis Fatigue

While fatigue can be a persistent challenge for ulcerative colitis patients, several strategies can help manage and alleviate this symptom:

Optimizing Disease Control

How can better disease control help reduce fatigue in ulcerative colitis? Achieving and maintaining remission is crucial for managing fatigue. Work closely with your healthcare provider to optimize your treatment plan. This may involve adjusting medications, exploring new therapies, or considering surgical options in severe cases.

Prioritizing Sleep Hygiene

Given the strong link between sleep disturbances and fatigue, improving sleep quality is essential. Some tips include:

• Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule
• Creating a relaxing bedtime routine
• Avoiding screens before bed
• Ensuring a comfortable sleep environment

Regular Exercise

While it may seem counterintuitive when feeling fatigued, regular physical activity can boost energy levels. Tina Haupert, a nutrition coach with ulcerative colitis, found that incorporating exercise helped manage her fatigue. Start with low-impact activities and gradually increase intensity as tolerated.

Nutritional Support

A balanced diet tailored to your individual needs can help combat fatigue. Consider working with a registered dietitian specializing in IBD to develop a nutrition plan that addresses potential deficiencies and supports overall health.

Stress Management Techniques

Implementing stress-reduction strategies can help manage both psychological symptoms and fatigue. These may include:

• Mindfulness meditation
• Deep breathing exercises
• Yoga
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy

The Importance of Open Communication with Healthcare Providers

Dr. Katkov emphasizes the importance of addressing fatigue in ulcerative colitis treatment: “Fatigue should be addressed by both the patient and the treating physician.” Open communication about fatigue and its impact on daily life is crucial for developing an effective management plan.

When discussing fatigue with your healthcare provider:

1. Be specific about how fatigue affects your daily activities
2. Keep a fatigue journal to track patterns and potential triggers
3. Discuss any sleep issues or mood changes you’re experiencing
4. Ask about potential nutritional deficiencies and testing options
5. Explore the possibility of adjusting medications if fatigue is a side effect

Emerging Research and Future Directions in Ulcerative Colitis Fatigue Management

As the impact of fatigue on ulcerative colitis patients becomes increasingly recognized, research in this area is expanding. Some promising areas of investigation include:

Biomarkers for Fatigue

Researchers are exploring potential biomarkers that could help identify and measure fatigue objectively. This could lead to more targeted treatments and better monitoring of fatigue in UC patients.

Novel Therapeutic Approaches

Studies are investigating new therapies that may help alleviate fatigue in IBD patients. These include:

• Targeted anti-inflammatory treatments
• Microbiome-based interventions
• Cognitive enhancement therapies

Personalized Management Strategies

As our understanding of the complex interplay between ulcerative colitis, fatigue, and individual patient factors grows, there’s increasing interest in developing personalized management strategies. These tailored approaches could help address the unique fatigue patterns and triggers experienced by each patient.

While fatigue remains a significant challenge for many ulcerative colitis patients, ongoing research and improved understanding of this symptom offer hope for better management strategies in the future. By working closely with healthcare providers, implementing lifestyle changes, and staying informed about new developments, patients can take proactive steps to manage fatigue and improve their overall quality of life.

Is Your Ulcerative Colitis Causing Fatigue?| Everyday Health

Before Abby Bales, a physical therapist in New York City, had surgery for ulcerative colitis, she couldn’t make it through the day without taking a nap.

Bales was more than tired. She was experiencing fatigue — an overwhelming sense of exhaustion that is not relieved by rest or sleep and is a common symptom of ulcerative colitis.

“When I was flaring, and for the last year before surgery [to remove my colon], the fatigue was absolutely unreal,” Bales recalls.

Like Bales, about two-thirds of people with an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as ulcerative colitis, experience persistent fatigue, according to a study published in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. What’s more, the research found that for most people, the fatigue lasted at least six months and, in some cases, a year, suggesting it’s a prevalent and long-lasting problem for people living with IBD.

Another study, published in September 2021 in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, found that about half of IBD patients in remission experienced fatigue, which can be a symptom of underlying undetected depression.

“Fatigue is not a universal symptom of ulcerative colitis, but it’s a common one,” says William Katkov, MD, a gastroenterologist at Cedars-Sinai Gastroenterology in Santa Monica. “The important point is that fatigue should be addressed by both the patient and the treating physician.”

If you’re living with ulcerative colitis and experiencing fatigue, it may feel as if you’ll never get your energy back. But by tightening control of your condition and making some healthy lifestyle changes, you can manage your fatigue.

What Ulcerative Colitis Fatigue Feels Like

Fatigue is more than just feeling tired, according to Dr. Katkov. “People with ulcerative colitis can experience malaise, a profound kind of fatigue that makes it difficult to carry out normal activities,” he says.

Tina Haupert, a nutrition coach living in the South Shore of Massachusetts who was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2011, agrees. Before addressing her fatigue with dietary changes and exercise, she “pretty much always felt tired. ”

According to research by the British organization Crohn’s & Colitis UK, people with IBD often describe their tiredness with phrases such as “brain fog,” “zombie mode,” or “overwhelming heaviness” or feeling “woozy or fuzzy” or “completely wiped out.”

The group also found that IBD fatigue tends to be unpredictable: It can come on suddenly, without warning, and vary day-to-day. It can also affect memory and concentration, interfere with work, make it harder to exercise and socialize, and take a hefty toll on emotional well-being, leading to reduced confidence and depression, Crohn’s & Colitis UK reports.

Experts agree that making sure fatigue doesn’t interfere with quality of life, the ability to work, and the capacity to have a normal social life is central to treating a chronic condition such as ulcerative colitis. “We don’t want to settle for a lower quality of life than what can be achieved with aggressive treatment,” Katkov says.

What Causes Ulcerative Colitis Fatigue?

People with ulcerative colitis may experience fatigue for a number of reasons, including:

• Inflammation In some cases, fatigue is caused by the body’s response to inflammation in the colon, says Katkov. Chemical signals produced during inflammation can act directly on the brain to cause tiredness and deplete energy.
• Poor sleep The Inflammatory Bowel Diseases research found that sleep disturbances were the strongest predictor of fatigue in patients with IBD.
• Anemia A common complication of ulcerative colitis, anemia can result from blood loss, diarrhea, and poor absorption of certain nutrients. According to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, people with IBD who develop anemia do not have enough healthy red blood cells to carry sufficient oxygen throughout the body, leading to fatigue and weakness.
• Medications Fatigue can be a side effect of some medications taken for ulcerative colitis. In addition, taking steroids for ulcerative colitis can lead to insomnia and contribute to fatigue. Antidepressants, particularly when they are first prescribed, can cause lethargy but can also help battle any anxiety or depression that comes from living with ulcerative colitis.
• Nutritional deficiencies Iron, vitamin B12, and folate deficiencies have also been linked to weakness and fatigue, notes the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.
• Emotional and psychological stress Anxiety, depression, and stress are consistently associated with fatigue in people with IBD, according to Crohn’s & Colitis UK. It is not entirely clear, though, whether anxiety, depression, and stress cause fatigue or are a result of fatigue. “With any patient, but especially someone with a chronic disease, you want to consider their emotional life, stress, and depression,” says Katkov.

9 Tips for Managing Ulcerative Colitis Fatigue

The key to easing fatigue is not to ignore it. “Fatigue is a sign that something requires attention,” Katkov says.

1. Get Your Ulcerative Colitis Under Control With Treatment

Because fatigue is often related to the symptoms and inflammation of ulcerative colitis, it’s more prevalent when the disease is active. “When ulcerative colitis is well controlled, a patient is not expected to have fatigue,” Katkov says. Work with your doctor to find the best treatment approach for your condition.

2. Rule Out Other Causes of Fatigue

“Go through the full list of diagnostic possibilities,” Katkov advises. For example, if your ulcerative colitis is in remission and you’re still experiencing fatigue, have your healthcare provider run a blood test to check for anemia or vitamin deficiencies. “You may also want to ask your doctor whether a medication or a recent stressful situation might be triggering your tiredness. Get to the root of the problem and address it,” he adds.

3. Move More

It may seem counterintuitive, but activity can ease symptoms and give you energy. According to a research review in The American Journal of Gastroenterology, exercise has been shown to decrease the risk of both fatigue and flares. Haupert, who blogs about food and fitness at Carrots ’N’ Cake, suggests trying to do something active every day, even if it’s a short walk around your neighborhood. “Even though I battle fatigue, I always feel better and more energized after some exercise,” she says.

4. Try to Sleep Around Eight Hours a Night

“A growing body of evidence suggests that disordered or inadequate sleep can significantly impact health,” says Katkov. “And fatigue is central to that.” As a rule of thumb, the National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults get seven to nine hours of sleep each night. If tossing and turning at night is leaving you feeling fatigued the next day, talk to your doctor about ways to improve your sleep. Also, consider cutting back on caffeine and removing distracting electronic gadgets from your bedroom.

5. Eat Your Vitamins

There’s no cure-all diet for ulcerative colitis or fatigue, but eating well certainly plays a role in overall health, says Katkov. He suggests you educate yourself about a healthy, balanced diet and reach for foods that are rich in essential nutrients but don’t aggravate your digestive tract.

6.

Plan Ahead

Have a big event on the calendar? “Make sure you have time to rest before and after,” Bales recommends. “Stress and lack of sleep don’t do anything good for your immune system.”

7. Rethink the 9-to-5 Workday

“When fatigue is significant, adjustments in work are appropriate and recommended,” Katkov says. If fatigue is making it hard to get through the workday, consider asking your employer whether they would allow you to work more flexible hours.

8. Try to Reduce Stress

Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, yoga, meditation, reading, and tai chi, can help release tension and stress and, as a result, buoy energy. You may also want to consider seeing a therapist to help with the anxieties around living with this disease.

9. Learn Your Fatigue Triggers

Everyone’s different, so try to figure out which habits wear you out and which tend to put a little pep in your step — and act on them accordingly. “Manage your life in a way that works for you,” advises Bales, who also works as a running coach. “If that means you work out in the morning and go to bed early in the evening, that’s the way you need to do it.”

Additional reporting by Ashley Welch.

Ways to Manage Fatigue if You Have Ulcerative Colitis

For people experiencing an ulcerative colitis (UC) flare, fatigue is one of the most common side effects that occur outside of the GI tract. Nor does it necessarily go away when the flare is over.

According to a review published in 2020 in the journal Advances in Therapy, up to 47 percent of people with ulcerative colitis report having fatigue at the time of their diagnosis. Another study, published in March 2022 in the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, found that even people whose UC is in deep remission experience fatigue, which shows that it can be triggered by more than just inflammation.

Although fatigue can seriously deplete your energy reserves, certain lifestyle changes can help you fight back. Here are eight strategies you can try.

1. Catch Some Z’s

A good night’s sleep can help you feel more rested throughout the day. “I try to sleep for at least 10 hours,” says Brooke Bogdan, 28, a public relations professional from Cleveland who was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2013. “If I get less than nine hours,” she says, “I don’t feel well.”

Bogdan recommends that you go to bed and get up at the same time every day. If you struggle to fall asleep at night, make sure you don’t look at a screen before bed. A study published in June 2020 in the journal Nature and Science of Sleep found that using a phone for at least 30 minutes before turning off the lights to go to bed was linked to poor sleep quality. The researchers suggest that the blue light emitted by electronic devices may suppress a person’s production of melatonin, a hormone that helps people feel tired.

2. Stay Active

Although exercise can boost your energy, going for a run or lifting weights can be challenging when you already feel exhausted. Bogdan tries to remedy this problem by going to the gym first thing in the morning, before a long workday tires her out.

Exercising with other people can also be a good motivator, says Effie Siamalekas, 25, a videographer in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, who was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2015. Although she’s been in remission since July 2016, she occasionally feels tired and tries to stay active by playing soccer, going to a driving range, or rock climbing with friends.

3. Eat a Healthy Diet

When you’re tired, you may be tempted to eat something sweet for an instant energy boost. But that’s a bad idea because that brief sugar high will inevitably turn into a sugar crash. Choose foods like eggs, peanut butter, bananas, and oatmeal (if you can tolerate fiber) instead, says Neilanjan Nandi, MD, a gastroenterologist and associate professor of clinical medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Staying hydrated is also important when you’re battling fatigue, says Emily Parris, 22, who was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2013 and had her colon removed. “Drinking a lot of water is a challenge,” she says, “but it makes me feel much better.”

4. Open Up to Friends and Family

If you’re feeling too tired to go to a relative’s birthday party, for example, be honest about it. Parris says she hid her fatigue from family and friends for a long time because she was embarrassed. “But after I shared what I was going through, they were really supportive,” she says. “Plus, it made me stop looking like a flake when I couldn’t go out.”

5. Address Emotional Fatigue

Living with ulcerative colitis can be emotionally exhausting, especially during flares. Even when you’re in remission you can feel as if you’re “walking on eggshells,” Parris says, because you’re constantly worried about another flare.

In addition, people with ulcerative colitis often feel alone. A review published in June 2021 in the journal Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology noted that people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have higher rates of anxiety and depression than people who don’t. If you feel emotionally overwhelmed by your symptoms, ask your doctor for help. Some practices have psychologists who specialize in treating people with GI conditions.

6. Plan Your Day Carefully

If you’re experiencing an ulcerative colitis flare, you have only a limited amount of energy to spare. If you usually feel more energetic in the morning, plan to tackle your most demanding tasks at that time. Don’t overcommit when it comes to your social calendar. “Be realistic with yourself and know your limits,” says Parris. She suggests picking one or two events a week and planning for them. For example, if you have an upcoming dinner on a Saturday night, she says, spend that morning and afternoon relaxing instead of running errands.

7. Monitor Your Iron Levels

If you’ve experienced blood loss from an ulcerative colitis flare, your fatigue may be a sign of iron deficiency — a condition that is more likely to affect people who have IBD compared with people who don’t, according to a study published in 2021 in the American Journal of Managed Care. At the same time, the study suggests that anemia is often underdiagnosed and undertreated.

Other symptoms of iron deficiency may include chest pain and pale or yellow skin. Your doctor can check your iron level with a blood test and treat any deficiency with oral supplements or iron infusions. Once you’ve replenished your iron stores, consider eating more iron-rich foods, like meat, fish, and cooked leafy green vegetables.

8. Give Yourself a Break

The fatigue you feel because of ulcerative colitis is much more severe than the tiredness a healthy person feels after a long day. Plus, it’s usually accompanied by other symptoms. “If I’m really tired,” says Bogdan, “I will also get nauseated.” Says Parris, “Going to the bathroom multiple times a day is tiring for anybody. It’s basically like having the stomach flu 24/7.”

Bogdan recommends that you listen to your body and rest when you need to. “Don’t push yourself,” she says. If you sense a flare coming on, taking a break or a nap is a good idea, especially because it might help you feel better later. “Don’t feel that you have to keep up with everyone else,” Bogdan says. “You have a chronic illness that you have to manage.”

Ulcerative colitis / Diseases / Clinic EXPERT

Ulcerative colitis is a severe chronic disease characterized by erosive and ulcerative lesions of the colon mucosa, progressive course and frequent complications (bleeding, perforation, narrowing of the lumen, etc.). The second name of this disease is non-specific ulcerative colitis (NUC).

Clinical trial of patients with bowel disease is being recruited

Clinic EXPERT invites you to participate in a long-term phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the drug in patients with moderate or severe inflammatory bowel disease.

More details

Duration of participation: 58 weeks.

We welcome patients aged 18 to 65 with:

• Crohn’s disease
• ulcerative colitis.

In order to participate in clinical trials, a patient must meet the criteria set by the drug company. If you are interested in this study, sign up for an initial paid evaluation consultation with a gastroenterologist Kharitonov A.G. or to the gastroenterologist Sokolova K.S. to determine if you can participate. Participants in the study are guaranteed free examinations, specialist consultations and treatment with drugs from the pharmaceutical company.

You can contact us by phone 8 (812) 426-35-35:

• Mon-Sat: from 09-00 to 21-00
• Sun: from 09-00 to 16-00.

The causes and origin of ulcerative colitis of the intestine have not yet been determined, despite the study and research on this topic.

Symptoms

Symptoms characteristic of ulcerative colitis can be divided into three groups:

• general
• intestinal
• extraintestinal

General symptoms

These are manifestations of the disease on the part of the whole organism as a whole, are not specific for ulcerative colitis and occur in many diseases: cervical symptoms

These are various disorders in bowel function, such as:

• diarrhea
• in rare cases – constipation
• blood and mucus in the stool
• “false” urges, imperative (urgent) urge to defecate
• pain in the abdomen (more often pain occurs in the left iliac region, but can spread throughout the abdomen)
• bloating, rumbling of the abdomen.

When these symptoms appear, it is recommended to be tested to rule out ulcerative colitis.

Extraintestinal manifestations of the disease

The disease has manifestations in other organs, which may appear before symptoms in the intestines.

These are changes from outside:

• skin (rashes, pustules on the skin)
• oral cavity (sores in the oral cavity)
• eyes (pain, pain in the eyes, redness of the eyes, lacrimation and photophobia, decreased vision, discoloration of the iris)
• joint damage ( pain, swelling, redness, stiffness of the joints)
• damage to the liver and biliary tract (yellowing, itching of the skin)
• other conditions (anemia, including iron deficiency, malnutrition).

Exacerbations of ulcerative colitis are manifested by frequent stools, increased body temperature and laboratory parameters (ESR, C-reactive protein).

The following degrees of severity of exacerbation are distinguished:

Mild

• stools with blood less than 4 times a day
• pulse, temperature, hemoglobin and ESR are normal.

Moderate

• stools with blood more than 4 but less than 6 times a day
• pulse not more than 90 bpm less 105 g/l
• ESR above normal, not higher than 30 mm/h

Severe

• stool with blood more than 6 times a day
• pulse more than 90 bpm
• body temperature more than 37.5 C
• hemoglobin less than 105 g/l
• ESR more than 30 mm / hour

Mild to severe attacks can be treated in outpatient/day hospital settings. With a severe attack, hospitalization is necessary.

In severe forms, patients are recommended to undergo mandatory examination and treatment in a hospital, since any diagnostic, therapeutic procedures and interventions can have serious complications with a risk of death.

With any severity of the disease, you should immediately contact a gastroenterologist for help, as a mild attack can worsen to severe at any time, which is a life-threatening situation.

Diagnosis

The EXPERT Clinic has developed a clear algorithm for diagnosing ulcerative colitis. Necessary comprehensive examination includes:

Laboratory methods

• The infectious nature of the disease is excluded: the patient’s feces and blood are examined for bacteria, viruses, protozoa and fungi.
• clinical, biochemical blood tests, coprogram
• immunological screening for inflammatory bowel disease (blood for ASCA, pANCA)
• feces for calprotectin (reflects the presence of inflammation in the intestine)

Instrumental studies

90 016

Sigmoidoscopy with biopsy. It is very important to assess the condition of the mucosal surface, as well as to perform a biopsy with further examination of a piece of mucosa by a morphologist.

Important! The volume of the necessary examination can only be determined by a gastroenterologist.

Treatment

Ulcerative colitis is a fairly serious disease that can progress (abruptly or gradually) /. Some patients initially have resistance to the drugs used or it develops during treatment, and life-threatening complications are possible.

Depending on the specific clinical situation, the following are used in the treatment:

• preparations containing 5-acetylsalicylic acid. Both in the form of tablets, granules or capsules, and in the form of dosage forms for administration into the rectum (suppositories, ready-made enemas or foams)
• corticosteroids in the form of tablets, regular or rectal (introduced through the anus), infusions
• immunosuppressive drugs
• biological therapies.

All types of drug therapy must be prescribed and monitored by a gastroenterologist, because:

• these drugs have serious side effects on other organs and systems
• some patients have initial resistance or gradually develop resistance to drugs

The EXPERT Clinic adheres to the principle of stages in treatment.

At the first stage, a treatment plan is drawn up, which includes:

• regimen
• diet
• selection of basic therapy with 5-aminosalicylic acid preparations
• if necessary – antibacterial drugs, pre- and probiotics, since exacerbation of ulcerative colitis in most cases is accompanied by severe intestinal dysbacteriosis

At the second stage, the effectiveness of the therapy is evaluated:

• clinical symptoms become less pronounced, then the regimen and diet are expanded, a date for a second visit to the doctor is set.
• If there is no improvement in well-being during the ongoing therapy, the issue of prescribing stronger drugs (systemic and local glucocorticoids, cytostatics, biological therapy) is decided. However, it should be noted that in case of a very severe course of the process, these drugs can be prescribed immediately, at the first stage of treatment.

The third stage of treatment is carried out after achieving a stable remission.

It is a scheme to gradually reduce the doses of prescribed drugs to maintenance.

Even after achieving the long-awaited remission, the patient is advised to be attentive to himself and regularly see a gastroenterologist, as the risk of disease recurrence is high.

Almost all patients need to take anti-relapse therapy recommended by their doctor. Some drugs help reduce the risk of developing colon cancer.

Prognosis

Ulcerative colitis is a severe chronic disease that worsens over time without adequate treatment, symptoms become more pronounced, exacerbations are longer and more frequent, and there is a high probability of complications (rupture of the intestinal wall, intestinal bleeding).

Patients with ulcerative colitis have a significantly increased risk of developing bowel cancer. In this regard, long-term maintenance treatment is often prescribed.

At the moment, it is impossible to cure ulcerative colitis with the help of drugs, however, properly selected therapy in most cases allows achieving a stable and long-term remission of the disease.

If you have any of the symptoms listed above (abdominal pain, diarrhea, blood or mucus in your stool), you should seek immediate medical attention.

Remember that it is very important to start treatment in the early stages of the disease, because in advanced cases, as a rule, long-term, difficult and expensive therapy is required.

Recommendations

To prevent the development of the disease, as well as relapse, it is necessary to adhere to a correct, balanced and regular diet – avoid fast food, canned, flavored foods, fried, smoked; It is recommended to eat at the same time. It is important to protect yourself from stressful situations.

During the period of exacerbation, patients are recommended a sparing diet that meets the following requirements:

• elimination of coarse fiber (raw vegetables, berries, fruits, nuts, seeds, poppy, sesame, bran, legumes, etc.)
• foods are steamed or boiled
• warm food is rubbed or (for constipation) boiled vegetables are grated on a coarse grater
• chemical irritants of the intestinal mucosa are excluded (spicy, salty, pickled, sour foods)
• high-protein foods are recommended (lean meat, turkey, low-fat river fish, egg white, soy products, cottage cheese, etc.)
• special therapeutic food mixtures sold in pharmacies (Modulen, etc.).

In order to prevent relapses, all patients are recommended to consult a gastroenterologist once a quarter for the necessary correction of drug therapy.

Frequently asked questions

Can ulcerative colitis be cured?

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic autoimmune disease. The body produces antibodies against the mucosa of its own colon, as a result of which the mucosa is damaged. What causes the production of these antibodies is still not known. Without knowing the cause, it is impossible to find a cure for it.

Thus, the available drugs are aimed at reducing the intensity of the inflammatory process, allow achieving remission, but cannot completely cure the disease.

The only possible cure is surgical treatment (removal of the colon). Indications for surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis are the low effectiveness of conservative therapy or the impossibility of its continuation, intestinal complications of ulcerative colitis (toxic dilatation, intestinal perforation, intestinal bleeding), as well as colon cancer or a high risk of its occurrence.

What causes disease?

For what reasons this disease develops is still not exactly known.

A significantly higher incidence of ulcerative colitis among the urban population, in contrast to the rural population, has been established. It is assumed that genetic predisposition and environmental factors (ecology, malnutrition, stress) play a role in the occurrence of the disease.

Is the disease a contraindication to pregnancy?

Ulcerative colitis is not a contraindication to pregnancy, however, before planning it, it is important to achieve a stable remission of the disease, it is necessary to conduct a series of examinations, as well as select medications that can be used during pregnancy.

Can ulcerative colitis present with constipation?

Ulcerative colitis may present with constipation due to rectal spasm due to inflammation. It is recommended to undergo a complete examination to exclude this pathology.

Is there an increased risk of getting ulcerative colitis if a close relative has the disease?

Having a family member with ulcerative colitis increases your risk of getting the disease.

Treatment histories

Case №1

Patient N., 23 years old, turned to the gastroenterologist of the EXPERT Clinic with complaints of pain in the lower abdomen before defecation, mushy stools up to 4-5 times a day with an admixture of scarlet blood, general weakness .

At the beginning of her illness, when the patient noticed blood in the stool, she tried to treat herself, assuming that it was hemorrhoids, but without effect. Over time, the situation worsened, and the state of health worsened: general weakness increased, the number of bowel movements increased to 5-6 per day, the pain intensified. She called an ambulance several times, underwent rectoscopy and colonoscopy. According to the results of the research, the mucosa of the rectum, sigmoid colon is inflamed, bleeding, with multiple erosions. The patient was prescribed a course of anti-inflammatory drugs. The state of health remained the same, the girl began to notice an increase in body temperature up to 37.2 C, lost weight by 9kg.

In the EXPERT Clinic, the examination was carried out in stages: a thorough examination of the skin, tongue, measurement of temperature, height, weight, palpation of the abdominal cavity. Then – general clinical tests, the results of which revealed iron deficiency anemia, in the coprogram – a large amount of mucus and erythrocytes. The doctor ruled out an infectious process: no harmful bacteria were found in the feces. The patient underwent rectoscopy, FGDS, abdominal ultrasound. Based on the results of the entire examination, a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, acute course, and intestinal dysbacteriosis was made. The doctor also noted HP-associated superficial gastritis, and the first stage of gallstone disease.

The patient consulted an experienced nutritionist: given the severity of the inflammation, she was explained the diet, indicated the permitted and prohibited foods and how to prepare them. The gastroenterologist prescribed drugs to restore the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, normalize the outflow of bile, iron preparations to eliminate anemia. Given the presence of intestinal dysbacteriosis with the growth of opportunistic flora, a course of intestinal antibiotics and probiotics was prescribed.

After a week of therapy and diet, the patient’s condition improved, and after two months all symptoms gradually disappeared. The patient leads a normal life, routinely visiting the attending physician 2-3 times a year.

Treatment of osteopathy in Moscow – prices at the clinic “Medline-Service”

Osteopathy is a drug-free and non-traumatic treatment method.

An osteopath is a highly qualified doctor who is able to determine with his hands where failures have occurred in the body, which organs and bone structures are displaced relative to their normal position and are limited in movement, what is the cause of muscle spasm and pain.

Despite the fact that in Russia osteopathy is a relatively young branch of restorative medicine, in Western Europe, the method of osteopathy is one of the leading methods for the treatment and prevention of many diseases. The reason for this popularity is that:

not only diseases of the spine, joints, nervous system, but also many chronic diseases of internal organs can be effectively treated with osteopathic treatment: headache (migraine), back pain, radiculitis, protrusion, herniated discs, scoliosis, osteochondrosis, various neuralgia, edema, varicose dilatation of the veins of the lower extremities, cramps in the legs, humeroscapular periarthritis, pinching of the sciatic nerve (sciatica), numbness of the fingers of the extremities, muscle hypertonicity, flat feet, disruption of the digestive tract and much more: numbness of the fingers of the extremities, intercostal neuralgia, arthrosis, arthropathy, neuralgia, fatigue pain in the spine, consequences of spinal injuries, flat feet, consequences of craniocerebral injuries, consequences of surgical interventions, dizziness, sleep disturbance, feeling of heaviness in the head, edema, congestion in organs, hypertension and hypotension of neurovegetative genesis, vegetative-vascular dystonia, diseases of the digestive system, pain in the stomach, biliary dyskinesia, constipation, flatulence, problems of the genitourinary system, decreased potency, erectile dysfunction, diseases of the respiratory system, chronic bronchitis, the effects of pneumonia, some types of bronchial asthma, diseases of the ENT organs: rhinitis, tonsillitis, noise in the ears, gynecological diseases: uterine fibroids, dysmenorrhea, algomenorrhea, infertility, fibrous obstruction of the tubes, problems during pregnancy: toxicosis, impaired uterine tone, psycho-emotional reactions, perinatal CNS lesions, mental retardation, hypertonicity, neurosis, memory loss.

a trained osteopath is able to identify the root causes that led to the development of the disease, often veiled by various compensatory reactions of the body and syndromes – such as local pain, neurological disorders.

modern osteopathy uses predominantly soft, non-stressful, absolutely safe methods of manual intervention during osteopathic treatment;

a wide range of osteopathic techniques (more than three and a half thousand), allows you to choose an individual, most effective treatment program;

positive results of osteopathic treatment appear after the first session, the duration of the full course rarely exceeds eight procedures;

The osteopathic effect not only has a therapeutic effect on various diseases, but generally harmonizes the body, makes it more stress-resistant, that is, it is a preventive measure for maintaining good health.

At any age, at any stage of life – from the moment of conception, birth to old age, osteopathy is an effective means of preventing and treating any functional diseases.

Osteopathy is

An osteopath is not a magician and not the Lord God. He is a man armed with knowledge about the body and methods of manual HELP for the body in various sufferings. It is very important to understand that osteopathy is not a magic wand, but a method that has its own possibilities (albeit very large ones!) And limits. An osteopath is precisely an assistant to the body’s self-regulation system, a “foothold” for the body, a specialist who can figure out what really bothers organs and systems, where is the real cause of a particular pathological condition. As the founder of carniosacral osteopathy, an amazing doctor and the greatest specialist, William Garner Sutherland, said, “We don’t do miracles. Healing is not guaranteed. We work at the limit of our own therapeutic possibilities. Our skills, skills, professionalism are the only guarantee.”

Osteopathy for children

Osteopathic treatment begins from the first minutes of a child’s life and accompanies him during growth and development. The range of problems that are successfully solved with the help of our techniques is quite wide: the consequences of birth injuries, hypertensive-hydrocephalic syndrome, perinatal encephalopathy, hypertonicity, torticollis, minimal brain dysfunctions, psychomotor retardation, hyperactive behavior, attention disorders, etc. Diseases of the ENT organs : sinusitis, sinusitis, otitis media, frequent colds. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: constipation, regurgitation, biliary dyskinesia. Developmental disorders of the musculoskeletal system: posture disorders, including spinal scoliosis.

Prevention for pregnant women

Pregnancy places increased demands on a woman’s body and can cause various general disorders that require the help of an osteopath:

Pain in the back, pelvis, swelling, headaches, difficulty breathing, pain in the lower abdomen, constipation, heartburn, etc.

Comprehensive treatment techniques help both mother and child, at all stages of pregnancy, childbirth and after.

Chronic diseases

First of all, these are a variety of pain syndromes in the spine and joints (osteochondrosis, arthrosis, herniated discs, myofascial pain, headaches), recovery from injuries and fractures, assistance in the treatment of diseases of internal organs (colitis, gastritis, dyskinesia, constipation, lymphostasis , gynecological diseases). Also, an osteopath will help in recovery after abdominal operations (prevention of adhesive processes, improvement of microcirculation and peristalsis of internal organs).

The hands of an osteopath are a perfect tool, tuned to determine the smallest deviations in the structure of tissues, the position of organs and the spine. Such high sensitivity is achieved by many years of training in the osteopathic school. In our clinic, all osteopaths – doctors, in addition to higher medical education and basic specialty (traumatology or neurology), have completed an additional 4-year training under the European program.

Having determined the source of the ailment, the osteopath, using a large arsenal of soft, precise and highly effective manual techniques, eliminates it. But just to relieve the pain is not enough for a full treatment. It is very important to restore symmetry to the body, to balance the joints, muscles and organs in general. And then such a balanced organism will be resistant to any external influences, injuries, infections, geomagnetic anomalies, stress. Such prevention of future diseases occupies an important place in osteopathy.

Restoration of family relations.

One of the “side” effects of osteopathic treatment is the restoration of family relationships. How does this happen?

First of all, physical “stresses” in the body are removed. A person has more energy to solve family problems, he can pay more attention to his soulmate and children.

Further, when conducting somato-emotional release, many people change their attitude towards life in general, work, relationships and love.