My father had that.   Please get that fully treated.  It can cause a lot of
problems.  Good luck.
Harv

Hi-- reference your colitis---Before anyone laughs at this, read the whole
thing----there are solid scientific tests and backing, plus official
organizations and support groups on this

Electrolytes make a whole lot of sense to me, and I can back up exactly why
it is so, for me, and many many ostomates or colitis people.
I had ulcerative colitis for many years, and finally had to have my entire
colon removed.
I am much better now, much.
After the surgery, the surgeon came to my room and asked how  felt.
I said, I felt horrible, 120 years old, no energy to even move, and I felt
just terrible.
The surgeon said "GREAT!"
He said, "Because I want you to always remember how you feel right now, so
you can avoid it".
"Here's how"
"A colon does only a few things"
"The big, big words here are Recycles and for Re-Use"
"A colon absorbs water from the watery output of your small intestines and
recycles it, that's why stool is usually firm"
"A colon absorbs electrolytes and recycles them into your body for re-use,
your nervous system depends on this"
"A person without a colon, or a non-functioning colon can lose from 1/2
teaspoon to 1/2 tablespoon of salt a day per laboratory tests analyzing
their stool. A regular person has almost no salt loss in their stool, their
salt loss is from sweat"
"That amount of salt/electrolyte loss per day is very dangerous".
"Advice---never pass a water fountain without taking a sip"
"Advice--salt your foods, you loose salt every day, and 4 to 8 hours without
some salt will put you in the hospital ER"
"You will feel terrible all over and very old if you don't do this, plus it
is dangerous"

Yep, I have ended up in the ER with dehydration and/or salt loss, getting
IV's of electrolyte solutions.

Also, I am in an Ostomy association, a chapter group of about 200 of us, and
this is common knowledge.

By the way, where a colonoscopy is placed makes a whole lot of difference in
the output.
If in the left side descending colon, the stool will be fairly firm. Most
water  and salts re-absorbed.
If on the horizontal transverse colon, left side, more watery output. Some
water and salts not absorbed (shorter colon)
If on the horizontal transverse colon, right side, even more watery output.
Not much water, or salts absorbed (even shorter colon)
If at the start of the Ascending colon, right, by appendix, then very watery
output. No water or salts absorbed (no colon at all)

I am the last category, called an illeostomy. We were taught what I wrote
above about dehydration and salts, very very important. Until I really
learned this, I was in the ER more than a few times. So exhausted that I
thought I would die.

I don't have all the references to back this up anymore, I was an internet
webmaster (ostomies) since about 1996, then passed it on to younger people.

BTW, if the ileum, which is the last 6  to 12 inches of the small intestines
is removed, or is not functioning properly, the B-12 monthly  shots are
mandatory. The ileum is the part of the small intestines that has the job of
absorbing B-12. B-12 pills are useless, they can't be absorbed if the last 6
to 12 inches is not functioning properly, or is removed.
Without B-12, nerves misfunction, also.

Oddly, after an illeostomy, cholesterol goes way down---fat is absorbed on
the colon too, so they taught me to add a bit of fat to my diet. Our bodies
do need some of it.

Wish I still had all my references on lab tests on ostomies, but just hope
you check out what I am saying, for your own trust in this.

Check out     uoa.org    (United Ostomy Association)

They have most of this, if you search, plus they have a message group.

I hope this steers you down a path that will really help you.
Ostomates? There are 500,000 of us in the US, and 50,000 more each year,
approx.
You never hear of us, because in the US, anything about "stool" seems to be
a forbidden subject.
Ostomates?  Sammy Davis Jr, Murder She Wrote woman, the grandmother on
Golden Girls, Fred Astaire, The Pope, temporary after being shot, Geo Bush's
son, no not Jeb, another son, he admits it but doesn't want to be a poster
boy evidently, Control tower person at O'Hare Field (I've talked with that
person in the hospital), a NFL Quarterback, my sister, me, and on and on and
on. All functioning very well----(now)

I hope it helps you.
You bet salt and water and B-12 are important.
My colon got so diseased and non-functional that it had to be removed to
save my life, if yours is sick, this may help you, because your body depends
on what it can, or cannot, do.

But, an appropriate caution, have a good gastroenterologist check you out.
Don't do this on just my words.

Best---
Ron,    slow, 1 fingered typist----this took over an hour--but people are
worth it

Dogone, I wasn't going to spend hours on this, but it is definitely worth
it.

Here are a few links that may help

http://www.ostomy-winnipeg.ca/woa0105g.html

http://www.ostomy-winnipeg.ca/woa0302e.html

http://www.ostomy-winnipeg.ca/woa0104f.html

http://www.ostomy-winnipeg.ca/woa0503j.html

http://www.ostomy-winnipeg.ca/woa0502l.html

http://www.geocities.com/mr-ostomy/usefullinks.html

Best----
Ron