Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

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• QWhy should I continue to be treated for IBD if I am feeling better?

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  A UCLA Health answered

  The goals of the treatments for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are first to get you feeling better and, more importantly, to keep you feeling better. Remission is the complete resolution of symptoms, but ideally, this should be accompanied by the healing of the previously inflamed mucosa (lining of the digestive tract). Most people take medications when they're not feeling well, but most people forget to take their medications when they are feeling well. This can lead to disease flares. For that reason, it is important to continue taking your medication even when you are well.

  Also, part of the treatment of IBD, which by definition requires multidisciplinary care, is to have a close contact with your surgeon. That way, you will know when surgery is just as appropriate as—if not more appropriate than—medication. It is also important to talk about what sort of diet you should be on when you're symptomatic and if there is a role for complementary therapies.

• QHow can I change my diet when I have active inflammatory bowel disease?

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  A UCLA Health answered

  You can modify your diet when you are having active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by eating small, frequent meals instead of large meals. Reduced fatty food consumption is important because rich, fatty foods can sometimes cause problems with gastrointestinal tract motility (movement). You may want to avoid milk products, particularly if you feel as though you're lactose intolerant. Also, certain types of tough fibers are harder to digest and may cause more spasticity, cramping and gas in your colon and small bowel. Therefore, you may want to decrease your fiber intake.
  
  The diet that doctors usually recommend is a low-residue (low-fiber) diet, particularly if you’re prone to symptoms of obstruction.
• QWhat routine exams do I need if I have inflammatory bowel disease?

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  A UCLA Health answered

  Healthcare maintenance is very important in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It's very important that you get routine monitoring with your gastroenterologist, which includes a physical exam and laboratory tests. The frequency depends on your symptoms and also what medications you take. If you've been on steroids for greater than 90 days of your life, you need at least one bone densitometry because steroids can increase your risk for osteoporosis and osteopenia.

  You will also need routine eye and dental exams because dental cavities and infections, particularly if you're on immunosuppressive medications, can increase your risk for complications. Periodically, you do need colonoscopies and skin exams. You will need to stop smoking and make sure that all your vaccinations are up-to-date. These are issues that you should discuss with your IBD specialist.

• QWhat is a low-residue diet for inflammatory bowel disease?

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  A UCLA Health answered

  The diet that doctors usually recommend for people with active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a low-residue diet. It is particularly suitable if you are prone to symptoms of obstruction.

  If you are on a low-residue diet, you should avoid seeds, popcorn, nuts, whole-grain breads and flours. Also, avoid dried fruits, raw vegetables and fruits, particularly the skins, pulps and peels. You may want to limit your milk and fat consumption and avoid tough and fibrous meats.

  It is also advisable to chew your food well and to eat slowly. Make sure your food is nearly liquid before you swallow it.

• QWhat can I do if I have problems with my medications for IBD?

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  A UCLA Health answered

  The treatment options for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are based on the disease's severity. This will dictate the types of therapies you are offered. If you have severe IBD, being on medications that are predominantly used for mild IBD are not going to work. The earlier and the better the treatment strategies for your degree of disease activity are optimized, the higher the likelihood you are going to respond. Medications don't work if you don't take them, so it's very important to continue taking your medications. If you have problems or side effects with the medications or difficulty taking them as prescribed, you should talk to your gastroenterologist about how to improve the situation.
• QCan inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) be cured?

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  A UCLA Health answered

  Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic condition. Unfortunately, there's currently no cure, so medications and monitoring are needed in the long term. Healthcare maintenance to make sure the rest of your body is in good health is very important as part of the management of inflammatory bowel disease.

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• QWhat triggers inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) flares?

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  A UCLA Health answered

  Some of the triggers for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) flares may be infection, such as viral gastroenteritis or food poisoning. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen, Aleve and naproxen, can cause ulcers anywhere throughout the gastrointestinal tract, so they may also increase IBD flares. Stress may also be associated with the flaring of your disease. Some people think that changes in seasonality may increase your risk, but most importantly, your risk of flaring is greatest if you don't adhere to your medication regimen. Medications don't work if you don't take them, so if medications got you better, you need to continue taking them, or else there's a higher likelihood that your symptoms will flare.
• QDoes gut bacteria influence my chances of getting IBD?

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  A UCLA Health answered

  There's a lot of interest in gut bacteria and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It has been established that people with IBD, whether it's Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, have a different bacterial composition within their small bowel and colon than people who don't. Therefore, it may be that these differences in gut bacteria, in combination with a genetic predisposition or immune system abnormalities, will lead to the diagnosis of IBD.

• QCan inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affect other parts of my body?

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  A NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital answered

  Both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease can cause bleeding in the GI tract, which may lead to anemia (a loss of red blood cells resulting in extreme tiredness or fatigue). Both conditions can also cause nausea, vomiting, fever, weight loss (because the intestines may not be able to absorb enough nutrients from food), joint pain, and skin problems.

  Sexual and relationship health of people living with IBD may be influenced by the disease itself and/or by the medical and surgical interventions used in treatment. People with IBD may lose control over their bowel movements, which may cause embarrassment and low self-esteem. In addition, an ileostomy bag may interfere with sexual positions or cause embarrassment. People with IBD and their partners may benefit from sexual counseling.

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