Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a lifelong inflammatory disease of the colon and rectum. The autoimmune disease causes changes in stools (poop) ranging from diarrhea and bloody stools to constipation and urgent bowel movements.
Why Your Poop Changes
Changes in the consistency, color, smell, or frequency of stools are often the first clue that a person with UC is moving from a period of low disease activity (remission) to an active flare. Recognizing these changes can ensure that the appropriate treatments are dispensed to reduce symptoms, avoid potentially serious complications, and achieve remission.
This article explains how ulcerative colitis causes changes in stools and bowel movements. It also lists foods that trigger UC flares and ways to effectively treat stool-related symptoms of ulcerative colitis.
Why Does Ulcerative Colitis Affect Stool?
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic condition, meaning that it is persistent with recurrent episodes. Currently, there is no cure for UC.
UC causes intestinal inflammation and the development of open sores (ulcers) in the lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum. This can lead to significant changes in stools and bowel habits by:
- Increasing fluids in the intestine, leading to diarrhea and loose stools
- Increasing intestinal contractions, which also promotes diarrhea along with pain and cramping
- Increasing the production of intestinal mucus,
- Causing bleeding from ulcers and disrupted tissues, resulting in bloody stools
- Making the intestine hypersensitive, leading to bowel urgency (the sudden need to defecate)
- Causing ulcerative proctitis, in which inflammation is limited to the rectum, causing constipation instead of diarrhea
RELATED: Poop Color Chart: Why Is My Poop That Color?
What Are The Stool Symptoms Of Ulcerative Colitis?
In people with ulcerative colitis, stool changes are due to the inflammatory damage of the lining of the large intestine. This can cause changes in the color, appearance, texture, and smell of stools as well as the frequency of bowel movements.
Color/Appearance
A Bristol Stool Chart is a tool used by healthcare providers to characterize bowel movements based on how a stool looks. It classifies stools into seven groups, broadly categorized as:
- Types 1-2: Suggestive of constipation
- Types 3-4: Within the range of normal stools
- Types 5-7: Suggestive of diarrhea
In addition to the texture and appearance of stools, the color of stools can also hint at problems associated with UC:
- Red or maroon stool: This suggests bleeding from the lower digestive tract (colon and rectum)
- Black or tarry stool: This suggests bleeding from the upper digestive tract (esophagus, stomach, and small intestine)
- Stools with whitish goo: This is caused by the overproduction of mucus in the intestines.
Stool Smell
Foul-smelling stools are common in people with UC. There are several reasons for this: