Learn the Signs and Symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
4/7/2023
Many people today suffer from the uncomfortable gastrointestinal (GI) of inflammatory bowel disease or IBD. Oftentimes, they assume these symptoms are something they’ll have to deal with for the rest of their lives. Our GI specialists in Washington want you to know, however, that you do not have to suffer from this disease. Help is available — and it may be closer than you think. At Washington Gastroenterology, we are here to educate you on gastrointestinal conditions and offer treatments that can help you get back to living your best life.
What is IBD?
Simply put, IBD is chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. You’ve likely heard of two conditions that make up this disease — ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. While it might just seem like something you have to live with, IBD can cause permanent damage to the GI tract as years progress.
The exact cause of IBD is not known, but it is believed to be related to an unchecked immune system. It is thought that a person with inflammatory bowel disease has an immune system that may not be responding properly to environmental triggers (viruses or bacteria) and has a close family member with inflammatory bowel disease.
The more common signs of inflammatory bowel disease involve:
- Bloody stool
- Fatigue
- Unexpected weight loss
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain
How is IBD treated?
After a diagnosis of IBD, our main goal is to decrease inflammation of your intestines and reduce your symptoms. There are a number of treatments we can try, and our goal is that, eventually, you will experience prolonged remission. Treatments our Washington gastroenterologists might suggest for inflammatory bowel disease may include:
- Dietary changes
- Anti-inflammatory medication
- Anti-diarrheal medication
- Vitamin D, iron, calcium, and other supplements
Our GI specialists at Washington Gastroenterology can help you identify a course of treatment ideal for your health needs. Finding a treatment that minimizes the signs and symptoms and inflammation could require a little experimentation, but our team will work with you during the process to determine the optimal solution.
Get help for IBD in Washington
If you suffer from abdominal pain, difficulty passing stool, diarrhea, or other GI symptoms on a daily or weekly basis, it could be due to inflammatory bowel disease. At Washington Gastroenterology, our experienced GI doctors can diagnose, treat, and help manage IBD and the unpleasant symptoms that accompany it. If you suspect you have IBD and want to start living life in greater comfort, please contact one of our Washington locations to request an appointment.