ok in brief without the gore .
He had mild symptoms for several yrs from about 17 I think - like the ones described below but he had a lot of bright red blood. He eventually went to the dr who diagnosed piles for several yrs!!
Then when he was about 25 he lost a lot of weight quite quickly. He went back to the dr and asked to be referred - he was sent to a proctologist who diagnosed proctitis.
Proctitis is ulceration of the anal canal. The proctologist (who was a specialist in all types of bd) was reluctant to diagnose UC or Crohns intially and dh was treated with steroid foam (colifoam) and steroid tablets. This was in the February I think.
It was the following May when his weight really plumetted and he became very weak. He had an appt with the proctologist and when he went the dr refused to let him go home and admitted him.
That fortnight he was treated with steroid injections and given lots of blood and fluids because he was losing so much going to the toilet! I think at the worst point he was going to the loo 20 to 30 times a day - probably 10 times in the night!!
In the end the steroids didnt work and he had a ileostomy - like a colostomy but in the small intestine as the bowel was completely removed.
6 months later he went for recontructive surgery where they make a pouch from the small intestine - ie no bag needed.
Today - he is pretty much 'cured'. He doesnt have colitis because he doesnt have a bowel. He could still get crohns and he goes for 6mthly checks for ealry cancer signs etc.
He goes to the toilet more than avg but other than that he's quite normal.
Apols for lenght and hope I havent scared the living daylights out of anyone.