Whether you’re seeing your gastroenterologist for a check-up or scheduled for a colonoscopy, it’s always important to be prepared for your visit and to maintain good communication with your doctor—making the most out of each experience. There are 2 main reasons for UC tests and procedures:
How much of your time is your UC impacting? Find out and make a personal action plan.
When you’re living with UC, tests are a routine part of taking care of yourself and managing your condition. Watch this video to understand the basics and help prepare for future visits to your gastroenterologist.
Blood Tests
Even though blood tests alone can’t diagnose ulcerative colitis, they’re an important tool in diagnosis and monitoring of the disease. These are only some of the blood tests used for UC. There are others your doctor may recommend.
Imaging Tests
These are tests that take pictures of different parts of your body to provide a clearer view of your condition. They show your doctor areas of disease activity and possible complications. These are only some of the imaging tests used for UC. There are others your doctor may recommend.
A standard X-ray of your abdominal area can show narrowing, widening, or development of a perforation of the intestines or an intestinal blockage—possibly from inflammation or scarring. It may also be done to rule out certain UC complications.
Biomarker Tests
Found in blood (and other body fluids or tissues) are biological molecules called biomarkers. These molecules are a sign of a normal or abnormal process—or of a condition or disease. At the same time, biomarkers can assist in seeing how well a person's body is responding to treatment.
Ways Biomarkers Can Help With UC Monitoring
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Having a good relationship with the right specialist for your UC can help you both have a clear idea of what is going on with your body and how to manage it.
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Your doctor relies on what you tell him or her to get the full picture of how your disease is affecting your life. Use resources like the Doctor Discussion Guide to help make appointments go a little more seamlessly.
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When you and your doctor have a good sense of what’s going on with your UC, you’ll be able to confidently move toward a treatment plan that’s right for you.
Learn about treatment options for ulcerative colitis.