Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
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Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Treatment in Phoenix & Gilbert, Arizona
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Treatment For Crohn's & Colitis At Digestive Institute Of Arizona
When an individual acquires inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), it can be difficult to manage. Inflammation builds up in your intestines, causing various discomforts and interruptions. At the Digestive Institute of Arizona, located in Gilbert and our satellite office in Phoenix, Arizona, our group of well-established gastroenterologists understands the effects of IBD. Our IBD specialists are committed to offer individualized IBD treatment & diagnosis for remission and better life quality.
Understanding Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
IBD is an umbrella term for two chronic conditions: Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis. Although they are similar in some ways, they have important differences.
- Crohn's disease: This inflammatory condition can affect any part of your digestive tract from the mouth to anus. Often, it causes inflammation that goes deep into the layers of the bowel wall.
- Ulcerative colitis: This condition only inflames the inner lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum. Inflammation is usually continuous and involves all or part of the colon.
Common Symptoms of IBD
The most frequent symptoms of both Crohn’s disease and Colitis include:
- Stomachache, cramps
- Chronic diarrhea with or without blood
- Feeling a sudden need to defecate
- A passage of blood through the rectum
- Tiredness
- Losing weight
- A rise in body temperature
Our Tailored Approach to IBD Treatment in Phoenix & Gilbert
The Digestive Institute of Arizona recognizes that IBD affects people differently. Our gastroenterologists’ approach towards IBD treatment at our clinics in Gilbert & Phoenix, Arizona, is comprehensive and considers your individual requirements, disease severity, and overall health. These are our treatment goals for IBD:
- Decreasing gut inflammation
- Controlling symptoms and attaining remission
- Averting future flare-ups
- Enhancing your quality of life
Treatment Options for IBD At Digestive Institute of Arizona
The Digestive Institute of Arizona offers many treatment options for IBD:
Medicines
The medications we prescribe relate to controlling immune response, reducing inflammation, and preventing complications. These can encompass corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, aminosalicylates, and biologics.
Nutrition Therapy
Our registered dietitian will develop an individualized plan that targets your symptoms as well as maximizing your nutritional status. Some of these interventions might involve dietary changes, enteral feeding (liquid supplements), or parenteral nutrition (IV feeding).
Fecal microbiome transplantation (FMT)
This is a new treatment that entails transferring healthy gut bacteria into someone’s gut to establish stability.
Surgery
Sometimes, surgery might be needed to remove damaged parts of the bowel or treat complications, including obstructions and fistulas.
The Importance of a Team Approach
Beyond our gastroenterologist, there is a team of professionals from the Digestive Institute of Arizona, including nutritionists, mental health experts, and nurses to help you through each step of your IBD treatment plan. We can collaborate with other specialists to provide you support during the process and increase your chances of managing IBD.
Living well with IBD
Although there isn’t any cure for IBD, you can still lead a fulfilling lifestyle once you have developed an ideal treatment plan alongside the necessary lifestyle changes. Our team can offer tips on:
- Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD) and Stress Relief: It worsens the symptoms of IBD. We can teach you how to deal with stress to control it and enhance your general health.
- Letting Go Of Smoking Habits: This habit has serious repercussions for people suffering from IBD. We provide guidance and materials that are useful for stopping smoking.
- Keeping Fit and Eating Right: Constant exercise, following recommended sleep hours, and controlled eating play vital roles in managing IBD and helping to improve overall well-being.
Frequently Asked Questions About IBD
The time it takes to experience relief from symptoms varies depending on the severity of your IBD and the treatments prescribed. There are patients who may begin experiencing some relief within weeks, while others might take longer than that. We will closely monitor your progress and adjust your treatment plan as needed.
All drugs have side effects. Our team will inform you of potential side effects related to each drug we prescribe and monitor any signs of adverse effects.
Adhering to a good quality diet can help increase your health and alleviate the symptoms that you are experiencing. We will have a registered nutritionist work with you in creating a plan that can fit with your dietary requirements as well as manage your symptoms effectively.
There are some clinical trials on improved or novel therapies against IBD. Before responding to any concerns about participating in a clinical trial, our team must first assess whether you are a good candidate or not.