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What actually causes the damage in UC?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/30/2016 4:28 PM (GMT -6)
Is is the presence of feces that damages the colon? Is it the mechanical motion of the cramping itself that damages the colon?

I'm trying to figure out if firming up stool is helpful or hurtful. I think I've had the epiphany that oatmeal actually bulks up my stool a little. The firmer stool stays in the colon longer and results in fewer painful spasms, but does that ultimately aggravate it more?

Or does the lack of spasms give the colon a chance to rest and heal despite the presence of poop?
Posted 9/30/2016 4:41 PM (GMT -6)
What happened at your doctor's appointment today?
Posted 9/30/2016 4:51 PM (GMT -6)
He thinks I may have had a reaction to the Asacol and is switching me to Lialda. He's also sending me back to have my blood rechecked and check C. Diff for the third time, and I'll also be doing an upper gi CAT scan just in case there is an upper gi component.

If the Lialda doesn't work by next Wednesday, he's referring me to a GI that specializes in Colitis on Orlando. Thank goodness, yes please!
Posted 9/30/2016 4:51 PM (GMT -6)
The inflammation is what is damaging the colon. The ulcers will be present no matter what you eat or don't eat until the inflammation goes away. Cramping is a result not a cause. And the cramping is not necessarily from food trying to pass through. I severely cramp during flares when gas tries to pass through. When you are inflamed your colon is narrower and it makes it more difficult for air or food to pass through.

That said, I think you are overanalyzing this. Even if food or feces aggravates the ulcers, you can't starve to death. Remission is the goal.

Food choices are unique and personal to the individual. What bothers you may be completely different from what bothers me. Oatmeal for me during flares is a big no no. Fiber is not a good idea. Bulking the stools makes things more painful. A low residue diet usually works best.
Posted 9/30/2016 4:54 PM (GMT -6)
Has he increased any of your med dosages? Does he have you on the maximum of Lialda? Lialda is basically the same drug as Asacol. Did he prescribe any rectal meds? That's great that he is doing some more testing, but if you are going bloody diahrea up to 15 times per day with bile, you need a more immediate solution. Testing takes time. He already knows you have UC so what is he delaying for?
Posted 9/30/2016 4:58 PM (GMT -6)
That's really interesting, because I feel like I'm noticing the exact opposite is true for me. (Shocker for UC, huh?) The less material I have in my system, the more my peristalsis increases, and thus the more my colon cramps and the more I bleed.

Basically, I only really bleed if my colon is cramping. Minus the cramping, it really does not seem to bleed. For some reason with me, it seems to only really cramp really badly when it has nothing to push along.
Posted 9/30/2016 4:59 PM (GMT -6)
He did not increase dosages. Pretty frustrated with him at this point.
Posted 9/30/2016 5:41 PM (GMT -6)
"What actually damages the colon in UC?"

Uc is believed to be an autoimmune disorder (or at least immune deficiency) where your immune system goes haywire and starts attacking self, which causes inflammation, bleeding, and ulceration within the large intestine. That in turn causes diarrhea, mucus, urgency, and frequent bms. We're not sure exactly what the immune system is targeting for an attack (is it something a common bacteria?, or a bacteria/virus/fungus that it cannot destroy) what triggers that sudden attack. There's some theories thrown around (an immune resistant type of MAP/tuberculosis bacteria, a fungus, etc.). However the jury is still deliberating on that one.
Posted 10/1/2016 1:17 PM (GMT -6)
To answer your question specifically its the dysfunctional T cells (helper or killer types). The problem is we dont know what they target.
Posted 10/1/2016 5:07 PM (GMT -6)
I thought it was the fungus (both both CD and UC).....

ibdnewstoday.com/2016/09/30/fungus-identified-as-key-factor-in-crohns-disease-patients/
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