Colitis

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Causes

Signs/Symptoms

Care

Risks

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

• Colitis can increase the risk of cancer. For this reason, it is important to keep it under control.
• Rest often. When you feel better, you can begin normal activities.
• Avoid raw vegetables and fruit, spicy foods, alcohol, chocolate, nuts, and drinks that have caffeine in them (coffee, tea, cola). Milk, cheese, and ice cream may also upset your colon.
• Drink 8 to 10 (soda-can sized) glasses of water each day. This replaces some of the liquid you lose in watery stools.
• For pain relief, take acetaminophen. Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen; they may irritate the colon.
• Take any medicine your doctor prescribes exactly as directed. If you feel it is not helping, call your doctor, but do not quit taking it on your own.
• Since it is hard to avoid stress, control it by learning new ways to relax (deep breathing, relaxing muscles, meditation, or biofeedback). Talk to someone about things that upset you.

Call Your Doctor If...

• You go for several days without a bowel movement.

Seek Care Immediately If...

• You have a high temperature.
• Your stool is black or has blood in it.
• You have severe pain in your abdomen.
• You develop a skin rash.

IF YOU'RE HEADING FOR THE HOSPITAL...

What to Expect While You're There

• Medicine:
  • Pain medicine may be given in your IV, as a shot, or by mouth. If the pain does not go away or comes back, tell a doctor right away.
  • Anti-diarrheal medicine may be given to stop loose stools.
  • Steroids may be used to decrease the swelling and redness of the tissue in your colon.
  • Antibiotics may be prescribed to fight infection. They may be given by IV, in a shot, or by mouth.
• Abdominal X-ray: This picture of your abdomen will help the doctor judge the severity of your condition.
• Barium X-ray: In this procedure, your rectum and colon are filled with barium (a white chalky liquid). When the x-ray is taken, the barium outlines the colon.
• Colonoscopy (co-lun-OSS-co-pee): A soft tube with a lighted tip is gently passed through your rectum so that your doctor can inspect the interior of your colon.
• Sigmoidoscopy (sig-moyd-OSS-co-pee): The sigmoid (SIG-moyd) is the lowest end of your colon. A soft tube with a lighted tip is gently passed through your rectum to inspect this area.
• Cold/Heat: Putting a cool towel or heating pad (set on low) on your abdomen may relieve your pain.
• Activity: You may need to rest in bed until you are feeling better.
• Taking Vital Signs: These include your temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting your heartbeats), and respirations (counting your breaths). A stethoscope is used to listen to your heart and lungs. Your blood pressure is taken by wrapping a cuff around your arm.
• Blood: Usually taken from a vein in your hand or from the bend in your elbow. Tests will be done on the blood.
• Blood Transfusion: If you are losing too much blood, a transfusion may be needed.
• Other Care: Your rectal area may be sore from loose stools and rough toilet paper. Your doctor can prescribe an ointment.
• Surgery: If your colitis is serious, you may need surgery