Ulcerative Colitis Treatment

In many cases, treating ulcerative colitis will involve lifestyle changes and medication. When lifestyle modifications and drugs have not been effective, surgery may be necessary. Surgery for ulcerative colitis involves removing the colon and rectum. Some of the different types of surgeries that may be used to treat this condition include a proctocolectomy with standard ileostomy, an ileoanal anastomosis, and a proctocolectomy with continent ileostomy.

Information on Ulcerative Colitis

An Overview of Ulcerative Colitis Treatment Options

For someone with ulcerative colitis, treatment goals are focused on:

Controlling inflammation
Allowing the digestive tract to heal and then preventing flare-ups
Relieving ulcerative colitis symptoms
Maintaining quality of life
Delaying the need for surgery.

Depending on how serious your condition is, your doctor may recommend one or several different treatments. Some possible treatments for ulcerative colitis include:

Medications
Dietary changes
Other lifestyle changes
Nutritional supplementation
Surgery.

Your healthcare provider will consider a number of factors before deciding on which specific treatment or treatments make the most sense for your particular situation. Some of the factors that he or she will consider include:

The severity of symptoms
Complications you may be experiencing (see Ulcerative Colitis Complications)
Other treatments you have tried in the past.

While ulcerative colitis can seriously affect your life, and may require special care at times, it's rarely life-threatening. The treatments that are now available for ulcerative colitis can help reduce your symptoms and allow you to live an active life.

(Ulcerative Colitis Treatment Continued: Page 2)