Ulcerative colitis treatment options
Ulcerative colitis is a medical condition affecting the lining of the colon and rectum. It causes an inflammation to occur in this area of the body that is very painful. The cause of ulcerative colitis is not yet known, however heredity is thought to be a major factor. If your parent has ulcerative colitis the changes of you having it to are high. There is no single treatment for it that is effective for everyone. Most medical doctors will use whatever ulcerative colitis treatment is best for the individual need. Various other conditions can arise in the body due having ulcerative colitis that need to be treated in individuals as well. For instance, the eyes, skin, lungs or joints may also become inflamed and require treatment. The goal is to offer the patient the most effective treatment for this disease that will give the patient the greatest benefit while at the same time produce the least amount of negative side effects.
Anti-inflammatory medications are used for mild cases of ulcerative colitis. It may also be treated with a controlled diet and lifestyle changes. Treating this disease with medications is not without side effects however. Sometimes the side effects are intolerable and the doctor will suggest surgery. If the symptoms become worse or if there is a possibility of cancer developing in the colon, surgery is strongly suggested. There are two types of surgeries done for ulcerative colitis. These are the minimally invasive kind using laparoscopic techniques and conventional surgery. The medical doctor will determine which kind is best for the individual.
The most common kind of surgery done for ulcerative colitis is the Ileoanal pouch surgery. The patient who under goes this surgery will still be able to have a normal bowel movement afterwards. A temporary ileostomy is done which will be reversed later once the J-pouch the surgeon has formed at the small intestine has a chance to heal. A temporary iliostomy is an opening in the front of the abdomen in which the elimination process will take place until it is reversed. This type of surgery is done with the laparoscopy technique which only requires a small incision. There is a danger of the newly created pouch lining to still become inflamed however. The inflammation may then be treated with anti inflammatory medications. If the patient undergoes a Proctolectomy it means that the ileostomy that is created is permanent and the patient will wear a bag on the outside of the body to collect waste. The doctor removes the entire colon and rectum. There is still a possibility for an infection and inflammation with this type of surgery too. Before the patient undergoes such surgeries the doctor tries to treat ulcerative colitis with mediations however. It is only the most severe forms of colitis that require surgery.
There are alternative treatments as well. Since surgical intervention is no a guarantee cure many people will seek alternative therapies for this chronic disease. Alternative therapies include the use of vitamin supplements. Vitamin D is especially important to supplement with as well as Vitamin B12. Iron is also used. A vitamin D deficiency can lead to chronic diarrhea. Extract from the aloe plant is also used to treat ulcerative colitis. Aloe is instrumental in reducing inflammation and promotes wound healing. It also reduces swelling. When diet and nutrition is used to treat ulcerative colitis the patient will be instructed to avoid milk and milk products if the patient is found to be lactose intolerant. Most people who have a mild case of ulcerative colitis can live a normal life with only moderate symptoms if they watch what they eat and take vitamin supplements for their condition.
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