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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/22/2007 11:30 AM (GMT -6)
This ones for Quincy I'd say!!

I know that UC is just one type of Colitis. For instance isn't there colitis caued by a parasite (infectious colitis ?). My question is do all forms of colitis present themselves in the same way. Are all the medical symtpoms the same? For instance if a GI looks at you via a scope test how does (s)he know that your inflammation is due to UC and not due to a parasite. (Blood test?). Does this show up in the biopsy results?

If inflammation is, as they say, jus the symptom then where do they look for the reason?

Many Thanks,

D

 

Posted 8/22/2007 1:21 PM (GMT -6)
My understanding is that to have UC you must present ulcers in the colon. The other forms have a different presentation.

Sue
Posted 8/22/2007 1:43 PM (GMT -6)
A stool sample sent for culture would show if there was any infection. Not sure if the pathology of a biopsy would show parasitical involvement??
Posted 8/22/2007 2:34 PM (GMT -6)
There are many things that can mimic UC's pattern of inflammation, ulcerations and symptoms.

Ulcers aren't always present in every UC patient because there are varying degrees of inflammation and symptoms, but for some, ulcerations are in other bowel afflictions as well.  So, it's not always the only determining factor.

It's definitely a process of elimination...which my GI did during diagnosis.  UC was the first assumption and the last on the cross-off list.

I found this site...might be helpful.

http://www.emedmag.com/html/pre/gic/consults/061502.asp

q

 

Posted 8/22/2007 3:41 PM (GMT -6)
Quincy,

Vague question but what is the likelihood of UC being diagnosed incorrectly....ie rather than one of the other types of colitis, in the "conveyor-belt" type hospital enviroment many of us are faced with?

D
Posted 8/22/2007 4:10 PM (GMT -6)
Interesting query Damo. I personally think there's a less likelihood of being misdiagnosed today as compared to many eons ago. Although, one is always at the mercy of the doctor (be them good or not) who initially does the diagnosis.

I think some may have UC as well as another disorder/bacteria bug/parasite/allergies at the same time if UC is the most obvious.
What I wonder is how many of us have leaky gut syndrome?

What I'm thinking is that if "we" saw a doctor at the initial onset of symptoms, it could possibly be dealt with if it is bacteria/parasite/allergy...before the body has a chance to overreat and set up the process of UC. My theory....but who sees a GI firstly? and how long after the initial onset do we have UC symptoms?
I know I didn't start out bleeding until 3 years later after the 3 weeks of solid diarrhea. My "then" doc didn't do stool samples...but I'm sure I had food poisoning of some sort. I lost 17 pounds in those 3 weeks.

I know there have been a few whose dignosis was changed from UC to CD once it started to act like CD.

quincy
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