How would you know about toxic megacolon and so on?

If you have ulcerative colitis and it would go to a state that is so serious it could kill you, how would you know? What symptoms would you have and would it come on suddenly? Stuff like toxic megacolon or any other complication of ulcerative colitis that could kill you, I'm just curious what you would notice.

It would be scary to think something like this could happen any time, so if you could tell me what kind of things you would notice were this to happen, maybe it would be reassuring to know if you definitely don't have anything like that or if something like that could be happening. I hope that makes sense

When I was first diagnosed with UC/Crohn's.... It started out as going to the bathroom 30 times a day, mostly blood. Then I vomited if I ate anything. Then I had a stomach ache and felt very weak. I developed a bump on my bottom and a fever. A fistula opened up. My blood pressure plummeted. We went to the hospital because by then I was too weak to stop my husband from taking me. I was septic and had megacolon. I believe I was in the small hospital for one week, transferred to another hospital for a second week and then transferred to Dallas Baylor for another week.

I felt ill but did not feel so sick that I ever thought I could die. Although looking back I wonder how I missed that I was in serious trouble. I hadn't eaten in over 3 months.... My doctor's at all 3 hospitals were amazed that I could still function mentally and that I could still try to get up to walk. I think I was just so sick by that time that I really couldn't think straight and I had gotten used to the pain. At that time one of my doctors told me if we didn't get my disease under control he didn't think I'd make it another 3 to 6 months. That's when I realized that IBD is a serious disease and that it can kill you.

The next time I started to get sick (1 year later) was with an obstruction. After 2 hospital (with 2 week stays each time,) visits due to an obstruction.....The obstruction cleared while in the hospital, I was ready to go home the next morning if everything went ok that night.. I felt pretty good and the new labs and MRI were both good. I was relieved that I was ok....then suddenly my stomach blew up like a balloon, my intestines started twisting and a new CT showed magacolon again. Antibiotics, steroids and luck helped me out with that episode.... But I was back in the hospital less than a week after being let go from that episode with another obstruction that led to a colonoscopy.

Because of the 1st episode I sorta know when I am in trouble.... .once the twisting and cramping start.....it is just a matter of hours where I go from ok to serious.... My CRS and GI know that if I go to the hospital--its really bad.

I don't play around with my symptoms anymore. When I have a fever and am in pain.. I now go to the hospital. I ended up having surgery... 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2022 each time. I am compliant with my meds. I do not try to tough it out.

And poopydoop is right.... For me ...it doesn't happen at all one time. I've been struggling for awhile.

Clo