[wyck]

If you ever have a flare up I would suggest getting a colonoscopy, they can tell somewhat accurately which one you have. There is an additional procedure (don't know the name) where they fill you with white liquid and perform an abdominal CT scan during a flare up. Since the ulcers are in different locations for each disease they can visually see where the problem is.

Also treatments are not always the same, for example in Europe they sometimes treat Colitis with nicotine (if the patient is a smoker or has recently quit), but doing so with a Crohn's patient would have a negative effect.

I agree that the steroid use is typically the same (and asacol), but Colitis seems less affected by diet than Crohns, if you have a severe case the only help is medication and diet has little to no effect outside abrasive materials.

I'm not being negative about the site, I do think it is great that people can come together as a community, I just had some concerns.