HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

What are the chances of my UC spreading?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 9/17/2009 5:33 AM (GMT -5)
I had another colonoscopy a few days ago, and the according to the results that came back, the inflammation does not extend beyond the sigmoid colon. The doctor has told me that I have left-sided UC, but I still can't help but worry about it spreading to the entire colon. I know that this is entirely possible, but what are the chances of it happening?

I've had these symptoms for an year now, and was diagnosed only one month ago. I've been on Salofalk ever since and it appears to be working fine; there is no blood, mucous, or constipation.

confused
Posted 9/17/2009 6:18 AM (GMT -5)
No one can really tell you if your Uc will spread. It depends on many factors - genetics, severity, lack of medication compliance and the unknown. Not much is really known about how Uc is activated and many of the thoughts out there are just guess work and the same can apply to the advancement of the disease. The best you can do is take care of your body, comply with your medications and/or diet and get plenty of rest.
Posted 9/17/2009 6:27 PM (GMT -5)
It seems as if the Salofalk/Pentasa/Asacol is working fine.

I stopped taking it a day before my colonoscopy, and by the time I came back home from the procedure the next day, I had lots of mucus and slight bleeding. As soon as I started taking it again, the bleeding and mucus stopped. I am also taking omega-3 and eating regularly to maintain nutrition.

I know that I'm not as bad off as others who have pancolitis and have several BMs in a day, but I'm worried that in a couple of years time I'm also going to end up that way. I've also read about the side effects of Prednisone, which gives me all the more reason to worry.
Posted 9/17/2009 9:17 PM (GMT -5)
i have gone from left sided to pancolitis and back to left only.....seems it can spread and retract....
Posted 9/17/2009 9:32 PM (GMT -5)
How long did it take for it to progress from left-sided to pancolitis? I just had a bout diarrhea recently, though it seems to have settled down now. I don't know if it was something I ate, but everything was fine until after the colonoscopy on the 14th.

Is there anything at all I can do to prevent it from spreading?

Post Edited (Max89) : 9/17/2009 8:35:01 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/17/2009 9:44 PM (GMT -5)
It's best not to worry because UC is unpredictable. Just try to take reasonable care of yourself, as Sherry recommends above. I've had it for 30 yrs; usually my sigmoid section flares the worst. A few times the inflammation climbed up my descending colon, but medication stopped that within a month. Try to read up on UC & stay informed about treatment options so that you can participate in managing your condition together with a reliable gastroenterologist. Allow yourself time to relax & also do things you really enjoy that take your mind off problems. It sounds like you're doing well on your current med-- reason to stay positive about your future. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])
Posted 9/18/2009 1:54 PM (GMT -5)
I too was diagnosed with pancolitis and my first few flares that I experienced were hell, however my last couple of flares have not been as bad.  I am coming out (I think) of a flare at the moment which I have successfully treated with pred enemas (have always required oral pred before) and was told at my last appt that although initial colonoscopies showed pan colitis more recent ones have shown left sided.
Posted 9/18/2009 2:18 PM (GMT -5)
I think the rate I have heard is that 50% of people who have left sided or distal colitis have it eventually spread upward. However, that 50% number is a little skewed because a lot of those folks are asyomptomatic (meds don't help them) or don't take their meds. I have read many many presentations/journals/etc. that if you continue to take your drugs, there is a good chance you will still stay in remission longer, a good chance that if you have a flare it will be far less troublesome than your initial diagnosis and there is a good chance the UC will even regress. Now all three things won't happen for everyone, but at least hopefully you are positively impacted by at least one of them. In the end, taking your meds is key. Tums looks like a good example of a regressing disease!
Posted 9/18/2009 5:47 PM (GMT -5)
Max..welcome to the forum.

I was diagnosed over 20 years ago and use the same meds as I did at that time.

You have to realise there are many whose UC spreads and there are many reasons as to why it's not recognised.

Use your meds WISELY with knowledge as to how they work and what your symptoms are. Have regular c-scopes at the very least every 3 years.

If you set up a nice 5ASA regimen for yourself (oral and rectal to treat flares and taper to maintenance instead of off the enemas).....you hopefully will be able to control your symptoms nicely for the rest of your life.

Pred scares me too....and my goal is to NEVER be on it. It's never crossed my GI's lips in all the years, even though I enquired during a bad flare. He smiled and said..."there's improvement, be patient"...I was and I'm grateful.

No use in fearing your UC spreading if you're using your meds properly. Besides, if you can use 5ASA meds, it's believed that they can also help protect the colon from cancer. A plus to me since my risk is higher now that I also have UC-related liver disease (PSC).

quincy

Posted 9/18/2009 6:25 PM (GMT -5)
Not sure there is anything specifically you can do to keep it from spreading....too unpredictable....take your meds and try to keep the inflammation down... things that I did not do...which resulted in spreading...then new meds have helped it retract a bit...
Posted 9/18/2009 6:40 PM (GMT -5)
My GI told me that it spreads in about 20% of cases. He said there was no way of predicting whether it would spread or not, but didn't think that not using oral meds, if you're well controlled with enemas would cause it to spread.

I had read on a few websites that when it does spread, it usually does it within the first 5 years. I don't know if that's true or not.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply