If you are unable to work because of Ulcerative Colitis you may be able to make a TPD claim for a lump sum from the Total & Permanent Disablement insurance contained within your superannuation fund. There is no necessity for you to have been involved in an accident or to have suffered a work related injury to make a TPD claim. If you suffer from total and permanent disability, you may be able to make a TPD claim in addition to receiving your super early as a result of your condition. Our TPD solicitors can advise you in detail as to the requirements of a successful submission, they will prepare all relevant paperwork and will obtain full supporting documentation. Our TPD lawyers will give you advice on the likely success of your claim to a super fund, without further obligation. It costs nothing to use our advice service.

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Ulcerative Colitis - TPD

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease also called IBD. It affects the lining primarily of the large intestine or colon and, unlike Crohn’s disease, does not affect any other portion of the digestive tract. No one knows the cause of ulcerative colitis but it appears to be related to an abnormal immune system. It is not clearly an autoimmune disease but it may be. Symptoms of ulcerative colitis are made worse by things like stress and certain foods but these things do not cause the disease to occur.

There are two peak ages for getting ulcerative colitis. The first is 15-30 years of age and the second peak occurs at 50-70 years of age. It tends to start in the rectal area but eventually spreads upward to involve the entire colon. Risk factors include having a family history of ulcerative colitis and being of Jewish ancestry.

The major symptoms of ulcerative colitis tend to start slowly or sometimes suddenly. Symptoms are mild in half the people and severe in the other half. There are attacks of the disease that are interspersed between relatively periods. Things that trigger attacks include physical stress, emotional stress, respiratory infections and certain foods.

The major symptoms include having crampy abdominal pain that disappears after a bowel movement. Abdominal sounds such as gurgling or splashing are heard over the lower portion of the abdomen. There can be blood and pus in the stools and diarrhoea, which can be multiple times during the day. Fever is possible as is weight loss. Some people notice tenesmus, which is rectal pain during and after a bowel movement. Children with the disease grow slowly and there can be non-gastrointestinal symptoms, too, such as mouth ulcers and joint pain. Less common symptoms are gastrointestinal bleeding, nausea and vomiting, and skin ulcers or lumps.

Tests done to show the presence of ulcerative colitis include a colonoscopy with a biopsy that will be indicative of ulcerative colitis. Colonoscopy can also screen for colon cancer and remove any polyps found. People with ulcerative colitis have a high risk of colon cancer and need regular follow up to make sure they don’t get it. Other commonly performed tests include a CBC, barium enema, C-reactive protein and sedimentation rate or ESR. The blood tests look for inflammation of the bloodstream typical of an inflammatory disease.

Treatment of ulcerative colitis has three goals: to control the onset of the attacks; to prevent repeated attacks; and to allow the colon to heal properly. If there is an acute attack, patients sometimes need to be in the hospital in order to receive IV corticosteroids and other medications. IV fluids and nutrients are given to replace what is lost and to allow for a bowel rest.

Foods that worsen the diarrhoea should be avoided and small amounts of food should be eaten several times per day. Water should be drunk copiously and high fibre foods should be avoided. Fatty foods should also be avoided. Some people do not tolerate milk products so dairy products need to be stopped if at all possible. Lactaid can be used to make dairy products more palatable.

You should also avoid emotional and physical stressors. You can speak to your doctor or to a therapist about reducing emotional distress and learning how to cope with stressful circumstances in your lifetime.

Medications for ulcerative colitis can include 5-aminosalicylates such as mesalamine or sulfazine. Immunomodulators can be used such as azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine for severe symptoms. Steroid medications are commonly used to reduce the effects of a flare up so that the person can get back to their normal life as soon as possible. Remicade is used if nothing else seems to work.

Surgery is used to remove the colon and to remove the chance of colon cancer. It is used for those who have not responded to medical therapy and still have symptoms. If precancerous signs are seen on the colon, the colon is removed and the patient receives an ileostomy.

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