Kate Calleja keeps a folder in her attic filled with notes, medical summaries, copies of books and flyers about inflammation. She also saves emails with details about her medication history, the supplements and herbs she takes, dietary information, and the emotional aspects of her Crohn’s diagnosis. She fired this message to tell her friends suffering from gastrointestinal symptoms where to start. She knows that when she has inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) like Crohn’s disease, her road to remission can be long and winding.
Calleja, a 36-year-old business executive from Allentown, Pennsylvania, began experiencing symptoms of Crohn’s disease during her first pregnancy seven years ago (although, in retrospect, she may have had symptoms since childhood). she says).
She and her doctor attributed the blood in her stool to hemorrhoids, which are common during pregnancy, but the blood returned six months after giving birth. After she underwent a colonoscopy, her doctor diagnosed her with ulcerative colitis, one of her two main types of IBD. Inflammation in the lining of the colon is a sign of colitis, but she later learned there was inflammation in other areas of the gastrointestinal tract as well, changing her diagnosis to another type of her IBD, Crohn’s disease.
have a hard time getting a diagnosis
about 3 million adults in the United States live with IBD—A condition often confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which also causes impaired bowel function but does not cause inflammation (see below for more information). Patients often undergo multiple tests, doctor visits, and even misdiagnoses before he develops IBD. in fact, A study of Crohn’s disease patients Although it was found that in the majority of cases, the delay in diagnosis could extend to more than a year; Another investigation We showed that ulcerative colitis may not be diagnosed for up to 2 years after the first symptoms.
“The lag between the onset of symptoms and an accurate diagnosis is usually because clinicians don’t think about it first,” he says. Dr. David Rubinco-director of the Center for Digestive Diseases, University of Chicago Medicine, and chair of the National Science Advisory Board. Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. Many doctors first identify irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids, anxiety, and stress as the causes of abdominal pain, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation. Additionally, in women, the Crohn’s disease symptom of anemia (lack of healthy red blood cells) is often associated with menstruation.
Women may also underestimate the severity of their symptoms. Brooke Abbott, 37, thought the extreme fatigue she experienced for two years (along with intestinal problems) was a side effect of her busy schedule. Eventually, when she passed out from exhaustion, her doctor recommended a colonoscopy, and her exam revealed she had inflammation. She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis.Abbott currently writes a blog focused on her motherhood and his IBD Crazy Creole Mommy Chroniclesand she co-created IBD momcommunity and newsletters.
Diagnosis is relatively easy, Dr. Rubin says, once doctors know how to look for IBD and perform the appropriate tests, such as a biopsy or colonoscopy with additional imaging tests. Being honest with yourself and your doctor about what you’re experiencing can streamline the process.
“Symptoms can be embarrassing, and some people don’t like to talk about diarrhea or constipation, but being honest with your doctor or gastroenterologist can be very helpful,” says Dr. Laura WingateExecutive Vice President, Education, Support and Advocacy Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.
Difference between IBS and IBD
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is more common than inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), affecting 10 to 15 percent of the U.S. adult population, according to the American College of Gastroenterology. The main difference, he says, is that IBS has to do with how the brain and gut communicate. Dr. Ann Mary Montero, is a licensed clinical psychologist and an assistant professor in the Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases at the Indiana University School of Medicine. IBD is characterized by inflammation and may be linked to the immune system.
But they say IBS is not purely psychological. Dr. Kirsten Tillish, director of integrative medicine at the Greater Los Angeles VA and professor of medicine in the Vache and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases at UCLA. “The brain fine-tunes the behavior of the gut, so any disturbances in brain-gut interaction can cause the gut to become overactive in response to experiences, thoughts, and emotions.”
Another difference is that IBD is usually discovered through an endoscopy, colonoscopy, or biopsy, whereas IBS is not. “Your gut seems to be OK. It’s able to absorb things and pass things through, but it might be doing it too fast or too slowly,” says Dr. Tillish.
To figure out what’s going on, your doctor will do a thorough physical exam and medical history, looking for warning signs of IBD. If you’re having pain every week for no reason (rather than just a few times a year), it’s likely irritable bowel syndrome, Dr. Tillish says. Doctors may also test for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), another common intestinal disease that has symptoms similar to IBS. Dr. Nisha Cherama physician in internal medicine, integrative medicine, and functional medicine at Parsley Health in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Like IBD, researchers don’t know what causes IBS, but risk factors include changes in gut bacteria and antibiotic use (which may also play a role in IBD). Masu. Chronic stress. A diet rich in highly processed foods. And there’s also a family history of the condition, Dr. Tillish says. Montero said this is also associated with childhood trauma-related events and anxiety.
But while irritable bowel syndrome is common, it doesn’t mean you just have to live with your irritability. A variety of medications can help treat irritable bowel syndrome, and many people feel better by changing their diet or adopting meditation techniques, Dr. Tillish says.
find the right treatment
Determining the best long-term treatment for IBD depends on the severity of the patient’s disease and the location of the inflammation, Dr. Rubin says. After Kaleja was first diagnosed with colitis, her symptoms progressed. She spent hours on the toilet, she had to run to the toilet and she could not leave the house for half a day. Two years after she first saw blood in her stool, she used steroids and her symptoms finally eased.
“I was only in remission for a few weeks at the time, but after years of dealing with these symptoms, it was like heaven,” she says. “It felt like this veil had been lifted, and I thought, Okay, I’m home. I understand this.With this new clarity, Calleja began working with an herbalist to address inflammation. Her treatment, which combined Eastern and Western treatments, put her in remission for her four years.
Steroids can help reduce inflammation, but they shouldn’t become maintenance drugs, says Dr. Dr. Reeswana Chowdhuryassistant professor in the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Johns Hopkins University. amy beattie bet washington35 years old, lives with Crohn’s disease and currently Northeast Ohio Crohn’s and Colitis Foundationstarted on steroids and eventually moved to biologics after trying maintenance medications without success.
“The most important thing is [a doctor’s] “Inflammation can increase your risk of colon cancer, so it’s important to reduce inflammation,” says Dr. Chaudhry. Biologics are made from antibodies created in a lab to prevent proteins from causing inflammation.
Before agreeing to the first treatment your doctor suggests, Dr. Wingate and Chaudhry advise asking the following questions:
- What treatment options are available?
- What side effects do these drugs have?
- Can we talk about specific treatment goals and results?
- How will my illness and this treatment affect my ability to have children?
maintain remission
It’s important to find a doctor who will take your concerns seriously. Even after Ms. Abbott was diagnosed with colitis, her doctors dismissed many of her symptoms as related to pregnancy, childbirth, hemorrhoids, or just in her head. Without proper treatment, she ended up in the hospital for emergency surgery to remove her colon. Once she recovered, Ms. Abbott began advocating for her IBD community. That’s when she found a doctor she truly trusted. She said it was a doctor who, like her, was a person of color, and who made her feel understood and who communicated openly with her.
The doctor helped Abbott put together a treatment team that included a rheumatologist, endocrinologist, and gynecologist. “He said, ‘We’re going to fix your whole body so you can do what you want to do, like coach and travel and advocate and be your mom.’ It was meant to be,” she recalls.
Although there is no cure for IBD and its exact cause is unknown (genetic and environmental factors may play a role), researchers continue to investigate the disease and its reasons. The number of patients is increasing Not just in the US, but around the world.
“My idea for the future is to use anti-inflammatory treatments to get patients into remission and then switch to microbiome-based treatments that don’t involve immune modulation, but we’re not there yet,” Rubin said. says the doctor. Still, there is reason for optimism, he added. Stool tests can measure inflammation in the intestines and will soon be available to test at home. All of this could change the trajectory of this disease. ”
How to keep your gut healthy
Adopt these smart strategies whether you have a problem or not.
stress management
“The gut is your second brain,” says Dr. Challum. When your stress levels spike or you experience anxiety or depression, it can lead to gut problems. To manage stress, Montero suggests diaphragmatic breathing. Take a deep breath and exhale to make sure the air reaches your stomach.
She also recommends replacing helpful thoughts with unhelpful ones. For example, if you experience digestive symptoms, think of it as a signal to slow down and train your gut to fight stress, so you don’t panic that you need to run to the bathroom. This creates a sense of urgency.
Focus on dietary fiber and fat
Fiber keeps substances moving through the digestive tract. Fats, especially short-chain fatty acids and butyrate found in dark leafy vegetables, help line and protect the intestinal lining, says Dr. Chalam. When consuming fatty foods, choose grass-fed dairy products and nuts.
eat a variety of foods
To support your gut microbiome (the mix of bacteria in your intestines), Dr. Tillish says, eat a variety of plants. This promotes a healthy lineup of bacteria and changes the source of those bacteria. Regarding the oft-touted probiotic supplements, Dr. Tillish says his research hasn’t really proven their value, so while they’re probably not harmful, they may not be as effective as dietary changes. Masu.
move your body
You can also exercise regularly Promote Eliminates diverse bacteria in the intestines and improves overall intestinal health.at least one study I proposed yoga as a complement to medical treatment to control IBS symptoms. Other research This refers to 30 to 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity aerobic exercise three days a week.
This article was originally published in the September 2021 issue of the magazine. Prevention.
Deputy Editor, Health & Fitness
Mallory Creveling, an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and RRCA Certified Run Coach, joined Runner’s World and the Cycling Team in August 2021. She has over 10 years of experience covering fitness, health, and nutrition. As a freelance writer, her work has appeared in Women’s Health, Self, Men’s Journal, Reader’s Digest, and more. She also held positions on the editorial staff of Family Circle magazine and her Shape magazine. dailyburn.com. A former New Yorker/Brooklyn native, she is currently based in Easton, Pennsylvania.