How to spot the signs of Crohn's Disease and Colitis
Take a minute to read up on the symptoms of conditions which affect more than 26,000 Scots - and that number is growing
Last updated 27th Sep 2022
The charity Crohn's & Colitis UK is appealing for more to be done diagnose bowel diseases earlier in Scotland.
More than 26,000 people in Scotland have either Crohn's or Colitis, both forms of inflammatory conditions.
What is Crohn's/Colitis?
Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBDs). They can cause painful sores (ulcers) and inflammation (swelling) in your gut.
Crohn’s and Colitis are lifelong conditions, which means you will always have it. But that doesn’t mean you will always feel unwell. Treatment like medicines and surgery can help you feel a lot better.
There is another type of IBD called Microscopic Colitis, which usually gets better after treatment.
More than 26,000 people in Scotland have one of these conditions - but that number is growing as awareness grows, and the Nation has some of the highest rates of inflammatory bowel conditions in the world.
What are the symptoms?
The most common signs of Crohn's Disease and Colitis are the following.
- Severe pain in the tummy area (abdominal pain). Where you have the pain may depend on where the Crohn’s is affecting your gut. You can find out more in Types of Crohn’s.
- Diarrhoea – this is passing looser poo more often than is normal for you. In Crohn’s, the poo may sometimes be mixed with mucus, pus or blood. You may need to reach a toilet quickly – this is known as urgency, or often – this is known as frequency.
- Extreme tiredness – also known as fatigue. This can be due to the condition itself, from the weight loss that can happen with flare-ups or surgery, from lack of iron or a lack of sleep if you keep getting up in the night with pain or diarrhoea.
- Generally feeling unwell. This may include having a raised temperature and feeling feverish.
- Loss of appetite and weight loss. Inflammation in the gut may stop your body from absorbing nutrients from the food you eat, leading to weight loss.
- Anaemia. Lack of iron can lead to anaemia, where there are fewer red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body. This is more likely if you’re losing blood, aren’t eating much, or your body isn’t able to fully absorb nutrients from food. It can make you feel very tired.
What to do if you have these symptoms
If you are experiencing some of these symptoms the charity recommends the following advce.
Don't delay seeking help: Not everyone's symptoms are the same, and they might come and go in 'flares'.
Make an appointment with your GP: Speak to your GP first the foremost, make sure to tell them how 'flares' compare to what you'd usually expect, and take notes before visiting if possible.
Use emotive language with your GP: Don’t be afraid to use emotive language to say how bad things are for you, such as 'I'm not coping with...' or 'I'm concerned about...'