Ulcerative Colitis

We understand that you might feel nervous. A colonoscopy or other colon screening may seem daunting, but we do what we can to keep you relaxed and comfortable. We’ll perform non-invasive screenings whenever possible and can also provide sedatives or anesthesia to put you at ease, if needed. At AdventHealth, we want to find answers to your symptoms quickly and accurately. Exams for ulcerative colitis include:

• Barium Enema (Also Called Lower GI Series)
• Biopsy of Colon Lining Cells
• Blood Tests to Check Your White Blood Cell Count
• Colonoscopy
• Stool Culture to Check for Abnormal Bacteria Levels in the Bowel
• Upper Endoscopy (Esophagogastroduodenoscopy or EGD)

A proper ulcerative colitis diagnosis can put you on the path to wellness. Once we understand what’s going on, we can create an ulcerative colitis treatment plan to ease your symptoms, including stomach pain and discomfort, diarrhea with blood or pus, fatigue, fever, frequent bathroom trips, and rectal pain or bleeding. Our gastroenterology team will gently and clearly explain your condition and identify the type of ulcerative colitis you may have, including:

• Acute Ulcerative Colitis
• Chronic Ulcerative Colitis
• Left-Sided Colitis, Pain Throughout the Left Side of the Colon
• Pancolitis, a Severe Type Affecting the Whole Colon
• Proctitis, the Mildest Form Affecting the End of the Colon
• Proctosigmoiditis, Inflammation in the Sigmoid End of the Colon
• Ulcerative Colitis In Children

Establishing an ulcerative colitis treatment plan early can stop ulcerative colitis from getting worse and even prevent future complications like anemia or colon cancer. Whether you’ve had digestive issues for weeks or years, you can always start getting relief. The gastroenterologists at AdventHealth will start care as soon as possible, helping you find your way back to comfort, to energy, and to all the activities you enjoy.

Though ulcerative colitis isn’t completely curable, we can help treat it with medication, diet adjustments, and sometimes minimally invasive surgery. We’ll work with you to develop the best ulcerative colitis treatment options, so you have full freedom of choice and a completely personalized plan.

In some cases, the best course of care is surgery, or colectomy, in which we’ll remove a seriously damaged part of your colon to quickly eliminate intestinal pain and prevent future discomfort. Trust that we’ll use the most minimally invasive procedures possible, leading to minimal scarring and far shorter recovery times. Within our network of care, you'll find experts using the latest laparoscopic and robotic techniques so you can feel better sooner, in body, mind, and spirit.