How could ulcerative colitis just disappear?

[Trish913]

My husband is 41. Six years ago he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, and it extended from inside his rectum all the way up and around the first bend in his colon. He never took medication for it, because he's hardheaded - but he smokes, and the nicotine had kept him from ever having any flare-ups. Today he had a follow-up colonoscopy, and the doctor seemed very shocked to find that my husband has absolutely NO signs of ever having the ulcerative colitis. Now we are wondering, was it actually something else mimicking the UC....or more specifically, could it have been a problem caused by something he was ingesting? At the time of his diagnosis, he was married to someone who did other things to try to hurt him. We just wonder if she could've been slipping him something that caused a problem that just looked like UC.....otherwise, how is it suddenly just gone?? Thanks in advance for your help!

[specialmom]

The good news is even if it was mimicking, he has no symptoms.  Miracles happen?  I'm glad his symptoms have improved.

[Red_Star]

What are the periods of flare-ups or remission for ulcerative colitis?...

"Ulcerative colitis has alternating periods of flare-ups and remission. During remission, the disease seems to have disappeared. The periods of remission can last from weeks to years."

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Springer - Mimics of Ulcerative Colitis...

"Infectious colitides such as Clostridia difficile, hemorrhagic E. coli, Campylobacter, Aeromonas, and Salmonellosis can often present as severe ulcerative colitis. Other infectious pathogens, which also need to be included in the differential diagnoses, include Amebiasis, Shigellosis, Cytomegalovirus, and Rotavirus. Inflammatory diseases of the colon which can present as UC include Crohn’s disease, ischemic colitis, radiation colitis, eosinophilic colitis, colorectal cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, and allergic reactions to medications such as mesalamine products, NSAIDs, and antibiotics."