Does Surgery Eliminate Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative colitis is an ongoing disease that affects the colon. Symptoms of this disease include fecal urgency, bloody diarrhea and severe abdominal cramps. Treatment of this condition is varied, depending on the severity. For some, dietary changes are all that is needed to put the disease into remission, which means there aren't any symptoms of the condition. For others, medication regimens are necessary. In the most severe cases, the patient may have to resort to surgery. While surgery is the only cure for the disease, there are numerous factors to consider before having the procedure done.

Reasons to Consider Surgery

• According to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, 25 to 40 percent of sufferers will have surgery. In most cases, surgery to cure ulcerative colitis is an elective procedure. It is done when the ulcerative colitis affects the patient's life to a point where he feels he has no other option. There are some exceptions to this rule. If the patient develops colon cancer, if the colon becomes perforated, or if the patient develops toxic megacolon, emergency surgery may be needed.

Preparation is Key

• Unless the surgery is an emergency, the patient should follow his "flare up" diet for at least six weeks prior to the procedure. This is the bland diet that is followed during a bout of UC. Mental health counseling is sometimes suggested to help the patient cope with the almost sudden freedom after the healing time following surgery. This is especially true if the patient has lived with restrictive ulcerative colitis for a prolonged period.

Proctocolectomy

• A proctocolectomy is a procedure in which the rectum and colon are removed from the body. In lieu of having these organs, a surgeon will attach a pouch to the small intestine that empties into a bag that covers stoma, which is a hole in the abdomen through which bowel movements will empty. This type of surgery requires a lifetime of after care regimes, including caring for the stoma and changing the waste bags.

Ileoanal Pouch Surgery

• Ileoanal pouch surgery is a surgery in which the entire colon and rectum are removed, which totally eliminates the ulcerative colitis. For a few months after the surgery, you will have an ileostomy or opening in your abdomen that empties bowel movements into a pouch. Once your intestines are healed, a second surgery is performed to remove the ileostomy. During that surgery, the small intestine is attached directly to the rectal sphincter muscle. After that surgery, you will have normal bowel movements; however, they may be more watery and frequent than normal.

Surgery is Not a Cure-All

• Despite the fact that surgery will cure ulcerative colitis, it doesn't cure all of the side effects of the condition. Joint pain, dry eyes and skin conditions may all remain following the surgery. In most cases, these can be treated successfully using over the counter medications or home based physical therapy.