Understanding ulcerative colitis

(UC)

UC shouldn’t get to write your story.

Read on to learn more about UC, the risks of uncontrolled disease, and how working together with your doctor to set treatment goals can help you aim for more than just symptom relief.

UC shouldn’t get to write your story.

Read on to learn more about UC, the risks of uncontrolled disease, and how working together with your doctor to set treatment goals can help you aim for more than symptom relief.

Is your UC under control?

UC can be a progressive disease that causes inflammation in the large intestine (colon and rectum) that can lead to symptoms including increased bathroom trips (frequent bowel movements) and abdominal pain. 

Uncontrolled UC can potentially result in damage to the colon lining and may increase your risk of developing serious health complications—including hospitalization, surgeries, colon cancer, and colectomy. If you're on treatment and still have persistent symptoms or regularly use steroids, your UC may be uncontrolled. UC symptoms may include:

Progressive disease — A progressive disease is a condition that worsens over time.

Bowel urgency

Abdominal pain

Frequent bathroom trips

Bloody stools

Fatigue

There are a number of treatment options that can help address the inflammation in your colon. That's why it’s important to work with your gastroenterologist early on to recognize the signs and choose an ulcerative colitis treatment option that works for you and fits your treatment goals. 

ETHAN:

They put me on infusions, and it, it wasn’t, it wasn’t bad, but I didn't, like, really get that much symptom relief. But, like, I had gotten so used to having these symptoms, and it became so normal for me that every time my doctor would ask me like, oh, “How do you feel?” or like, "How's it going?" Every appointment I would be like, oh, I feel so much better.

KATIE:

Yeah.

ETHAN:

I feel so much better. And so, I didn’t realize that it could actually get under control.

I didn’t realize [my symptoms] could actually get under control.

Ethan, moderate to severe UC patient

Setting UC treatment goals

You shouldn’t have to choose between relief that’s fast and relief that lasts

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Strive for symptom relief

Managing UC symptoms can be challenging. Strive for a treatment option that can help provide rapid symptom relief, such as fewer bowel movements and fewer bloody stools.

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Pursue visible colon lining repairvisible colon lining repair

Even if you're not experiencing symptoms, inflammation from uncontrolled UC can lead to damage of the colon lining. Ask your doctor how tests, such as endoscopy checks, can help monitor treatment effectiveness by confirming visible repair of the colon lining.

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Aim for steroid-free remission

A key goal of UC treatment is to avoid the prolonged use of steroids. It's important that your treatment option can help you achieve lasting remission (meaning few to no symptoms) without the need for steroids.

What visible colon lining repair* in UC can look like

This tool can help you visualize the effect that chronic inflammation caused by uncontrolled UC can have on the colon lining, even while on treatment. You can ask your doctor to review your endoscopy images with you at your next visit and explain if they show damage.

Colon lining – The innermost layer of the colon wall.

Endoscopy – A procedure where a flexible tube-like instrument with a camera enters either through your mouth or your anus to examine the lining of the digestive tract.

Toggle to view

See real endoscopic images
Illustration of damage to the colon lining caused by inflammation
Endoscopy image showing damage to the colon lining caused by inflammation
  1. Ulcers
  2. Redness
  1. Bleeding
  2. Surface inflammation

Surface inflammation — Swelling and redness of the innermost lining of the colon.

Redness — A result of inflammation in the colon lining.

Ulcers — Open sores caused by inflammation.

Bleeding — A result of inflammation and open sores (ulcers).

See real endoscopic images
Illustration showing visible colon lining repair
Endoscopy image showing visible colon lining repair
  1. Absence of ulcers
  2. Less redness
  1. Less bleeding
  2. Smooth lining 

*The images above are shown for educational purposes only to illustrate a damaged colon and visible colon lining repair. Degree and location of UC damage and repair will differ by patient. Areas that were visually assessed may not represent repair of the entire colon lining. Images are not of RINVOQ patients. Results are consistent with RINVOQ clinical trials.

Partner with your gastroenterologist

When a patient comes to me and they’re telling me their symptoms are still uncontrolled, then [it may be] time to think about changing their medications.

Dr. Asher Kornbluth, board-certified gastroenterologist Dr. Kornbluth is a paid consultant of AbbVie.