5 Crucial Things You Should Know If You Suffer From Ulcerative Colitis

People who have never experienced ulcerative colitis may think it means getting the frequent bad stomachaches or having a sensitive gastrointestinal system. However, people with ulcerative colitis know that the symptoms and effects of this inflammatory bowel disease (in which parts of the large intestine are inflamed and have ulcers) can be severe and affect life. 

Learning these seven facts about life with ulcerative colitis might help make the whole experience a little bit easier.

1. Ulcerative colitis can lead to severe fatigue

In some people, fatigue caused by ulcerative colitis might be too severe and can interfere with daily activities. About 75 percent of people with ulcerative colitis suffer from severe fatigue during breakouts. Moreover, approximately 30 percent of people in remission still have fatigue.

2. People with ulcerative colitis can experience different symptoms.

Ulcerative colitis can change your life and impact your health in many ways, but in some people, it might be unobvious which means that people might experience very slight symptoms.  

Unfortunately, some people you thought were friends won’t be able to handle the effect your disease has on your life. Many people with chronic conditions have lost their friends since people sometimes don’t understand it. However, on the other hand, you can trust people who are still with you and understand your situation. 

3. Learning which foods trigger flare-ups will take a lot of your time. 

Ulcerative colitis doesn’t occur due to poor diet but some foods can actually trigger flare-ups or worsen symptoms in many people with the disease. The most ulcerative colitis common food triggers are: 

• Foods high in fiber (like fruits, whole grains, and veggies)

• Spicy foods

• Dairy products

• Caffeine

• alcohol 

However, this is individual. It might be difficult to determine your own food triggers and can take a lot of your time. In order to identify your trigger, it’s wise to keep a food diary where you note everything you eat and any breakouts to help you find dietary triggers. 

4. The intensity of your symptoms might change over time.

The most common symptoms of ulcerative colitis are severe stomachache and diarrhea containing blood or pus. People with ulcerative colitis may also have fatigue, fevers, nausea, sharp weight loss, joint pain, and rashes. If you can’t stand that pain and other symptoms, consult your health care provider, and they will prescribe you some medications for pain management.   

5. Ulcerative colitis can affect mental health.

Experiencing symptoms of ulcerative colitis can make you emotionally exhausted. The good news is that there are some options that can help you handle emotional distress such as yoga, meditation, and breathwork. 

Many of ulcerative colitis sufferers had really dark days. It’s important to focus on both physical and mental health. Therapy should be an essential part of your life as well as journaling, meditating, and doing yoga. Keep in mind that your mental health is also essential, especially if you’re dealing with any chronic condition.