Know the early symptoms of ulcerative colitis
Bloody stool, diarrhea and persistent stomach cramps should be evaluated, says UCI Health expert
IN THE NEWS: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation in the large intestine.
The early symptoms of UC can be difficult to differentiate from other gastrointestinal conditions, making it challenging to diagnose. Dr. Robert Fearn, a gastroenterologist with the UCI Health Chao Digestive Health Institute tells Everyday Health that some of first symptoms of the condition include blood in the stool, diarrhea and persistent stomach cramps.
“My patients often experience symptoms for several months before a diagnosis. They tell me their symptoms were initially dismissed as a passing bug or irritable bowel syndrome. But it’s important to recognize early signs of ulcerative colitis so you can get diagnosed, start treatment and prevent complications.”
Fearn says that inflammation also triggers the stretch receptors of bowel nerves, which sense the presence of stool in the colon and can cause cramping pain. At first, cramping and tenderness may feel mild and easily be passed off as gas or a pulled muscle. He says if it continues, your doctor may want to test for another cause, such as IBD.
Fearn is a fellowship-trained UCI Health gastroenterologist with extensive experience treating the full range of gastrointestinal disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease and intestinal failure. He is also an assistant professor at the UC Irvine School of Medicine Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology. He is also affiliated with the new sports nutrition program at the UCI Health Chao Digestive Health Institute. There, a team of physicians and registered dietitians partner with patients to balance the microbiome and nutritiously fuel the body to maximize athletic performance.
Make an appointment by calling 888-717-4463.
About UCI Health
UCI Health is one of California’s largest academic health systems and the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Established on July 1, 1976, UCI Health has grown into a 1,461-bed health system that includes UCI Health — Orange, UCI Health — Irvine, its newest facility, UCI Health — Irvine Rehabilitation Hospital, four Community Network hospitals and a growing network of ambulatory care centers across Orange and Los Angeles counties. As Orange County’s only academic health systems, UCI Health is home to the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center based in the county, the region’s only American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, American College of Emergency Physicians Gold Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department and a nationally recognized regional burn center verified by the American Burn Association. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people across Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County through excellence in patient care, research and medical education. Follow UCI Health on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.