What it is
Medicines can treat flare-ups and help keep symptoms away. If medicines do not work, surgery to remove the colon may be an option.
People who have had it for many years are offered regular colonoscopies to check for early signs of bowel cancer.
Common signs
- Diarrhoea, often with blood or mucus
- Tummy pain
- Needing to go to the toilet often and urgently
- Tiredness
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
How it is usually diagnosed
- Blood and stool tests, including calprotectin
- Colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy with biopsies
- Sometimes a scan
Records worth keeping
Keeping these together makes each appointment easier, especially when you see a new doctor:
- Colonoscopy reports
- Biopsy results
- Blood and stool test results
- Gastroenterology letters
- Medicine lists
Questions to ask your doctor
- How do I recognise a flare-up early?
- Which medicine suits me best?
- How often do I need a colonoscopy?
When to get help right away
Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have:
- Heavy bleeding from the bottom, severe tummy pain or a high temperature with frequent bloody diarrhoea: get urgent help the same day
This page is general information. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace a doctor who knows your history. Medfold keeps your records organised; it does not interpret them.