Quiz: Do You Have Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms Under Control?

Do You Have Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms Under Control?

Find out whether the ulcerative colitis symptoms you experience are mild, moderate, or more severe.
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Updated on June 27, 2025
Medically Reviewed by

When symptoms such as stomach pain and fatigue appear, it’s not always obvious whether they’re one-off occurrences or part of an oncoming flare. Plus, some people with ulcerative colitis (UC) experience symptoms differently, so what one person may consider mild abdominal pain, another may consider quite severe.

Taking stock of symptoms, though, is only one part of the equation. “Most of the time, we supplement the symptoms that patients are describing to us with some kind of objective evidence,” says Tauseef Ali, MD, head of the crohn’s and colitis program at SSM Health St. Anthony’s Hospital in Oklahoma City and an assistant clinical professor of medicine at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. “That includes blood work or stool tests, [which can] show the markers of inflammation are elevated.”

One of the most important goals of UC treatment is reducing the underlying inflammation in your colon. “Uncontrolled, long-standing inflammation puts patients at risk for surgery and [complications, including] cancer,” says Dr. Ali, who is also the author of Crohn’s & Colitis for Dummies.

Lessening that inflammation should help reduce symptoms and lead to longer periods of remission. But keep in mind that managing it is an ongoing process, since there’s no cure for UC. “You can’t just take a medication and forget it,” says Ali. “You need regular follow-ups and continuous assessment and reassessment.”

Take this 10-question quiz to gain a better understanding of the symptoms you have and gauge whether UC is truly under control.

This assessment is part of a series aimed at helping you check in on UC before your next checkup with your doctor. Take more assessments.

Question 1

How long did the most recent remission last?

  • A. Not very long — maybe a week or so
  • B. Not as long as I would’ve liked. I’ve had longer periods of remission in the past.
  • C. About as long as it usually does. It was in line with what’s normal for me.
  • D. It lasted a while, actually!
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Yuying Luo, MD

Medical Reviewer

Yuying Luo, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine at Mount Sinai West and Morningside in New York City. She aims to deliver evidence-based, patient-centered, and holistic care for her patients.

Her clinical and research focus includes patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction such as irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia; patients with lower gastrointestinal motility (constipation) disorders and defecatory and anorectal disorders (such as dyssynergic defecation); and women’s gastrointestinal health.

She graduated from Harvard with a bachelor's degree in molecular and cellular biology and received her MD from the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She completed her residency in internal medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she was also chief resident. She completed her gastroenterology fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital and was also chief fellow.

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Jen Laskey

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Jen Laskey is a writer, editor, and content strategist. She has worked on EverydayHealth.com in various capacities since its inception, and her writing has appeared in many major publications, including SAVEUR magazine, EatingWell magazine, NBC, TODAY, and Fodor's Travel guides. She has also served as the senior editorial director of Twill Health, leading editorial strategy and daily operations for Twill's health and mental health apps.

In addition to writing about health, mental health, and wellness, Laskey writes regularly about food, wine/spirits, travel, and the arts. She is the author of Jen’s Candy Jar: Artisanal Candy Recipes for Special Occasions and is the founding executive editor of the multi-award-winning wine & spirits online trade magazine SevenFifty Daily.

She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in writing from Bennington College and Columbia University.

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EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Additional Sources
  • Fact Sheet: Arthritis and Joint Pain [PDF]. Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. January 2015.
  • Ulcerative Colitis. Cleveland Clinic. November 5, 2023.
  • What Should I Eat? Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.
  • Miller C et al. Constipation in Ulcerative Colitis: Pathophysiology and Practical Management. Frontline Gastroenterology. November 2021.
  • Salwen-Deremer JK et al. Poor Sleep in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is Reflective of Distinct Sleep Disorders. Digestive Diseases & Sciences. July 2022.
  • Armuzzi A et al. Characteristics, Clinical Outcomes and Patient-Reported Outcomes of Patients With Ulcerative Colitis Receiving Tofacitinib: A Real-World Survey in the United States and Five European Countries. BMC Gastroenterology. January 19, 2023.
  • Regueiro M et al. Burden of Fatigue Among Patients With Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease: Results From a Global Survey of Patients and Gastroenterologists. Advances in Therapy. February 2023.
  • James SL et al. Characterization of Ulcerative Colitis-Associated Constipation Syndrome (Proximal Constipation). Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Open. October 2018.