IBD - Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Gastroenterology located in St. Clair Shores and Macomb, MI

IBD - Inflammatory Bowel Disease services offered in St. Clair Shores and Macomb, MI

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition that typically begins between the ages of 15 to 35. That means you face a lifetime of managing the disease, but the challenge is made easier with ongoing care from the experienced team at G.I. Medicine Associates, P.C. Their expert gastroenterologists specialize in advanced treatments that help keep your IBD in remission, giving you the ability to enjoy life with minimal gastrointestinal distress. To schedule an appointment, call the office in St. Clair Shores or Macomb, Michigan.

IBD - Inflammatory Bowel Disease Q&A

What is inflammatory bowel disease?

IBD is a general term for several diseases that cause chronic inflammation in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The two most common types of IBD include:

Ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis refers to inflammation and ulcers in the tissues lining your rectum and large intestine. The inflammation can spread through the top layer of the large intestine, causing widespread damage.

Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease can develop anywhere in the GI tract but most often affects the far end of your small intestine and the beginning of your large intestine. Crohn’s disease causes patches of inflammation that can penetrate deep into the intestinal wall.

What symptoms occur due to inflammatory bowel disease?

IBD symptoms range from mild to severe and go through periods of active illness followed by remission. You may experience one or more of the following:

Diarrhea
Abdominal pain
Nausea and vomiting
Unintended weight loss
Blood in your stool
Frequent or urgent bowel movements
Loss of bowel control
Rectal pain and bleeding
Fever
Fatigue

Some people with IBD develop inflammatory problems in other body areas, including their skin, eyes, and joints.

Does inflammatory bowel disease cause complications?

Without treatment, IBD may cause serious complications, including:

Intestinal blockages
Fistulas (tunnels created by inflammation)
Abscesses
Anal fissures (tears)
Perforated colon
Severe rectal bleeding
Bile duct disease
Dehydration
Anemia

IBD also increases your risk of developing colon cancer.

How is inflammatory bowel disease treated?

Since there’s currently no cure for IBD, the team at G.I. Medicine Associates, P.C. create individualized treatment plans to reduce inflammation and ease your symptoms.

The primary treatments for IBD include:

Medications

Your provider chooses from among many medications, prescribing the ones that target your symptoms. You may need any of the following:

Antibiotics
Steroids
Anti-inflammatory drugs
Anti-diarrheal drugs
Immune system suppressants
Biologic therapies

The team at G.I. Medicine Associates, P.C. prescribes advanced biologic medications if you don’t improve with other treatments.

Surgery

If you have Crohn’s disease, your provider can surgically remove the patches of inflammation and reattach the ends of the intestine. This isn’t a cure because Crohn’s can recur, but surgery gives you significant symptom relief.

If you have ulcerative colitis, removing the entire colon and rectum is the only surgical option. Surgery cures ulcerative colitis but also involves changing how your body passes wastes.

If you need experienced care for IBD, call G.I. Medicine Associates, P.C., to book an appointment.