please help i am confused with the terms.....

anna paradise

New Member

Joined : Sep 2007

Posts : 9

Posted 9/8/2007 3:37 PM (GMT -7)

hi, and thanks to those who responded last time....my 10 year old was diagnosed with crohn's colitis and i do not understand the difference between that and ulcerative colitis and crohn's. please help as i am very confused and scared especially with the lack of sleep...i want to understand as much as i can to help him. thanks and all the best to all of you. A

UC in Dallas

New Member

Joined : Sep 2007

Posts : 18

Posted 9/8/2007 4:21 PM (GMT -7)

I'm very new to all this as well, just being diagnosed about a month ago, so maybe some of the experts can explain it better, but I'll tell you what I know. My G.I. was leaning towards the Chron's diagnosis due to symptoms that I had outside the colon (mouth ulcers) but the colonoscopy/biopsies showed severe ulcerative colitis. During a conversation he would refer to my condition as ulcerative colitis, so I asked him which I had, and he said there was a kind of overlap between the two, that I had Chron's-colitis. He also said the treatments were the same for both. I'm currently on Colazal and Prednisone for 2 months before I return for a follow up appt. So far after 2 weeks I've seen no improvement. If the 2 months pass with still no improvement I'm seeking a second opinion from a different G.I.

Technically the difference between the two: Chron's can affect the entire GI tract, from mouth to anus. The ulcers that form in the colon can go deep into the tissue, and fistulas can develop. Ulcerative colitis only affects the colon, and the ulcers only affect the innermost lining, not going as deep as Chron's. As far as how these diseases can overlap, I'm not sure. I understand that in the beginning it can be more difficult to discern between the two, hence the split diagnosis, but as time goes by the diagnosis can become more definite.

Hopefully someone can add to this because I'm still trying to make sense of it myself.

anna paradise

New Member

Joined : Sep 2007

Posts : 9

Posted 9/8/2007 4:45 PM (GMT -7)

thanks for your time and effort, it helped. i've been looking online all day and also reading up on alterrnative meds. good luck to you, this desease really is tough. A

pb4

Elite Member

Joined : Feb 2004

Posts : 20577

Posted 9/8/2007 5:43 PM (GMT -7)

I have crohns-colitis...that means that crohns disease is affecting the colon...it's still crohns, NOT a combination of both crohns and ulcerative colitis....crohns can affect the entire GI tract from the mouth to the anus, UC is limitied to the colon (hence the name colitis, "col"=colon, "itis"=inflammation)...but sometimes UC involves the rectom.

:)

My bum is broken....there's a big crack down the middle of it! LOL :)

bk1579

Regular Member

Joined : Sep 2007

Posts : 100

Posted 9/10/2007 5:27 PM (GMT -7)

I'm glad I read this...I had that question a while back when I was first being diagnosed...My colonoscopy indicated I had UC, but certain pathogens (I think that is the right word) that are USUALLY present only in CD was present in my bloodwork...So my GI refered to my disease as Crohns Colitis...I was confused then about why he was calling it that, but never asked the difference...Now he refers to my disease as ulcerative colitis...So, I'm still confused...I guess I would just say I have UC...Just had my second remicade infusion today...My dr. says one more in 4 weeks and then he will determine what medication to use next, whether it be continue remicade, or see what happens with something else...I'm curious as to what he has up his sleeve for me next...

pb4....I noticed you have lots and lots of posts on here, but I'm new to this forum, and wanted to tell you I laugh everytime I read the bottom of your posts..."My bum is broke...there's a big crack down the middle of it!"...That cracks me up!!!!

pb4

Elite Member

Joined : Feb 2004

Posts : 20577

Posted 9/10/2007 8:07 PM (GMT -7)

LOL, "cracks you up" he he!

bk:)

I think your doc must be confused, then again many get one DX only for it to be changed to another, not uncommon just frustrating...at least themeds used to treat UC are the same ones used to treat crohns-colitis...you could always get a second opinion....also, if you ever have issues with fistulas then you'll know for sure it's crohns and not UC.

:)

My bum is broken....there's a big crack down the middle of it! LOL :)

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