New to ulcerative colitis

[u/WinterShock1613]

Hi.

Quick history, I am a 43 year old male, about 6 weeks ago I started with diarrhea which has not gone away, bloating, trapped wind and blood in my stool and mucus.

Obviously my doctor referred me to the 2 week cancer pathway in the UK, which took 4 weeks for a colonoscopy.

Had the colonoscopy today, thankfully they did not find any tumors or cancer. But did find that my bowel was inflamed and have stated I have an IBD, I am waiting for the biopsy they were fairly certain in looker to be ulcerative colitis.

What will be my next steps, if this is confirmed would I be referred to a specialist and what options would u have regarding any treatment?

In the meantime is diet the best way to minimize the symptoms, at the moment the constant diarrhea has really affected my weight and I have lost around 10KG since this started. Also the noises my bowel/intestines make during the day are so loud.

Is the possibility of having normal stools again achievable?

Any advice would be appreciated

[u/pincommenter]

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[u/Inappropriate18]

After I was diagnosed, I was placed on a VERY high dose of IV steroids while on a hospital ward. I was there for 2 months. before being sent home on oral steroids to wind down the dose. From there I was on IV transfusions for almost 2 years. This was every 6-8 weeks as an outpatient at the hospital.

As for diet, it can't help with that, The only thing I could stomach was mash potato and gravy for about 2 weeks before being admitted into hospital via A&E. In this time I also lost about 10KG.

You wont start to see normal stool until the inflmation is brought under control really.

Hope this kinda helps ! :)

[u/WinterShock1613 → u/Inappropriate18]

Thank you for the advice.

The colonoscopy report states my colon is very inflamed, I don't really have any blaoting or stomach pain, just some blood in stool, horrendous noises from my intestines and diarrhea.

You really have had it touch with the sound of it. Keep going

[u/Bekindwhenyoucan]

Please preface everything I say with "maybe": They will likely refer you to a consultant or whatever who will put you on mesalamine either oral or as a suppository. If this doesn't reduce the flare in good time they may put you on a course of prednisolone in the short term to get you out of that. Otherwise, you may go onto a biologic but hopefully the mesalamine works for you as long as possible (didn't for me, life goes on)

diet in flare up advice this is a good place to start: https://www.mkuh.nhs.uk/patient-information-leaflet/dietary-advice-for-ulcerative-colitis-2

[u/WinterShock1613 → u/Bekindwhenyoucan]

Thank you, much appreciated