This information is intended for U.S. Residents only.
Posted: July, 2010
by David T. Rubin, MD
When inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is active, it can be accompanied by an urgent need to use the bathroom.
This is due to a combination of diarrhea or bleeding, as well as the inability of the rectum to stretch or store waste as effectively as it should.
When this occurs, there is cramping and pain with the urgency to evacuate. It is a terrible feeling and the loss of control is one of the hardest things about IBD.
Although the goal for all our patients is stable remission, it is important to have strategies to cope with your condition when it is active, so you are not socially isolated.
When the disease is active or when you feel that your control is unpredictable, the thought of leaving your home becomes a daunting prospect,
in part because it may be a challenge to find a restroom quickly when you are out and about.
In addition, although there are bathrooms in almost every place of business, they are often for employee use only and not available to the public.
The good news is that a number of states now have passed Restroom Access Acts -- legislation that helps make venturing out from home a little easier.
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Posted: April, 2010
by Gina Storrs, RN, CNP
Good nutrition is always important, but it is especially important when you have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Maintaining adequate nutrition is one of the ways that your body can restore itself to health.
This can be a challenge when your IBD symptoms affect both your appetite and your ability to absorb nutrients from the food you eat.
This newsletter will focus on iron, which is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies seen in people with IBD.
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Posted: March, 2010
by Lawrence B. Cohen, MD and Laura Strohmeyer, RN, CGRN
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and the best way to celebrate is to have a screening examination in order to reduce your risk of developing
colon cancer.
Here are the stats:
- Roughly one in 18 Americans will develop colorectal cancer during their lifetime.
- There are about 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer and almost 50,000 deaths from colorectal cancer in the U.S. each year.
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) increases your colorectal cancer risk by about two to five times the average risk.
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Posted: January, 2010
by Alan V. Safdi, MD
Do you make New Year’s resolutions to control your inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but find them difficult to keep?
If so, you’re not alone. Many people who make resolutions each year find it hard to keep their resolutions over the long haul.
However, the fact that you make New Year’s resolutions gives you an advantage over people who don’t.
People who resolve to change are much more likely to make lasting positive changes, compared to people who don’t resolve to change.
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Posted: December, 2009
by Brooks D. Cash, MD
You have probably found that your circle of healthcare providers has expanded since you were first diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This
newsletter will help you understand the role of each member of your healthcare team, find good healthcare providers and build good relationships with them,
coordinate your care, and get a second opinion if you need one. By following just a few simple steps, you will become the captain of your healthcare
team and ensure that you get the care you need and deserve.
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Posted: October, 2009
by Nisa Kubiliun, MD and Jamie S. Barkin, MD
Medication for ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) can help control your symptoms. The goals of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) therapy are to reduce inflammation,
relieve symptoms, maintain remission, and prevent flare–ups. It's important to remember that, for your medication to do its job, you must take it as prescribed. IBD is a chronic
disease, therefore long–term treatment will likely be necessary, and you need to take your medication even if you are feeling well. This newsletter will describe the many
effective drugs available and provide tips for taking your medicine.
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Posted: August, 2009
by Randall Brinson, RN
Your medical records are the paper (or electronic) trail you leave behind as you make your way through the medical system. They can give you insight into
your condition, your progress, and the care you are receiving. When you have a chronic illness, like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), these records
take on added importance, since an accurate medical history can be vital to your treatment. Understanding your medical records and your rights
regarding their accessibility is a critical part of being an active participant in your healthcare.
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Posted: May, 2009
by Laura Strohmeyer, RN, CGRN
People with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis are continuously seeking education and support to help them manage their disease. They often find that
dealing with the psychological impact of living with a chronic disease proves to be the greatest challenge. It is not surprising that chronic disease
and its consequences can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression, or can worsen pre–existing emotional problems. Although we know that emotional
distress does not, by itself, cause inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), it is often a reaction to chronic diseases and can lower your tolerance
to pain. This newsletter will address several support strategies that may help you cope with IBD: attending support groups, seeking individual psychotherapy,
or accessing online support alternatives. Whether you are a new patient or have had IBD for years, these options can help you develop
strategies to cope with embarrassing or painful symptoms and manage fears about possible surgeries and unexpected complications that may accompany your illness.
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Posted: January, 2009
by Jennifer C. Jaff, Esq.
If you are one of the approximately 1.4 million Americans with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), your rights have begun to receive notice and protection,
but there is much more to be done. Federal laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) have, until now, focused primarily on people in wheelchairs,
the blind, the deaf, and not those of us with largely invisible chronic illnesses like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. And, until
recently, the law did not incorporate the notion of "chronicity" – the one–word label I use to distinguish chronic illness from either
illness from which you recover or terminal illness – which left those of us with chronic illnesses trying to fit our disease into a model that
was not designed with us in mind, like trying to put a round peg into a square hole. This newsletter will focus on some of the employment–related
questions that you may have as you try to navigate life with IBD. It will also explain how disability–related legislation can work in
your favor.
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Posted: October, 2008
by Steven Wexner, MD and Yair Edden, MD
Although surgery is not always the initial treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), approximately 70%–80% of patients with Crohn's disease
(CD) and 30%–40% of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) will need surgery at some point. While there have been significant advances in the medicine available to treat IBD, surgery continues to be an important part of treatment for many patients. There are many reasons that you might need
surgery; we will address a few of the more common ones in this newsletter. We will also provide information about the types of surgery that are usually
performed and suggest steps for you to take both before and after surgery to make sure you have the best possible outcome.
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Posted: July, 2008
by Douglas K. Rex, MD
In the United States, colorectal cancer (which is sometimes simply called "colon cancer") is the second leading cause of death from cancer and third most
common cancer diagnosed in men and women. The good news is that, if diagnosed while still confined to the colon, the five–year survival rate
for patients with colon cancer is 90%. Early detection is critical, since the survival rate drops to 68% if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes
and to 10% if the cancer has metastasized to other parts of the body. Although there is no question that early detection is critical, less than
half of Americans aged 50 or older undergo routine screening.
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Posted: February, 2008
by Marla C. Dubinsky, MD
If you have recently learned that your child has inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), you are probably feeling concerned and perhaps overwhelmed. But keep
in mind that your child is not alone – about 1.4 million people in the U.S. have IBD, and about 140,000 of them are under age 18. Although IBD is a chronic disease, that doesn't mean that your child has to feel sick every day. There are many things you can do to help your child keep symptoms
under control. In fact, most people with IBD are healthy more often than they are sick. This newsletter will help you understand your child's
diagnosis and treatment, as well as the steps you can take to help your child manage the disease.
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Posted: October, 2007
by David T. Rubin, MD
There are two submissions in this newsletter "One Patient's Story." One is from the fiancé of a
patient with ulcerative colitis and one is from the mother of a patient with Crohn's disease. These articles
very effectively share the emotions, fear and uncertainty that family and friends face when someone they love is affected by a chronic disease, and both echo a similar sentiment that not knowing what was
ailing their loved one was much more stressful than (finally) finding out the diagnosis and moving forward with successful therapies. So often we don't acknowledge that the other people sitting next to our
patients in the waiting room or in the exam room are profoundly affected by all that is happening. These articles provide an opportunity to reflect on this and to thank them for all that they do.
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Posted: July, 2007
by David T. Rubin, MD
It's likely that you know someone who has been affected by cancer. The most common risk factors include family history, smoking, and exposure to toxins. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can also
increase cancer risk. But despite the increased risk, it is important to remember that most people with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD) never develop cancer. This newsletter will
focus on IBD and colorectal cancer. It will also address lymphoma and small bowel adenocarcinoma, two other types of cancer that are sometimes associated with IBD.
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Posted: January, 2007
by Ellen J. Scherl, MD
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is an umbrella term for two chronic gastrointestinal diseases: ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Because IBD affects the digestive tract it is very
easy to associate food with the diseases and be concerned that your eating habits caused your IBD. Your disease was not caused by your diet, nor can your diet cure your disease. However, what you
eat can affect your symptoms.
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Posted: October, 2006
by Ellen J. Scherl, MD
In addition to taking your medication and watching your diet, there are many other ways to manage your wellness that can influence your inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
This newsletter will focus on lifestyle choices you can make to help you control IBD symptoms, limit its impact on your activities, and lengthen the time
between flare-ups. Specific sections include exercise, stress, smoking, travel, and sexuality and reproductive issues.
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Posted: April, 2006
by Gary R. Lichtenstein, MD
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is an umbrella term for two gastrointestinal diseases: ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). These are chronic conditions that require life-long treatment for
most patients. As has been highlighted in Dr. Kornbluth's newsletter, Treatment of IBD, many treatment options are available and treatment is tailored to the needs of the individual patient. Medications
are available as oral tablets or capsules, liquid or foam enemas, suppositories, and injections. Like any medication that is taken long-term, some patients experience side effects when taking IBD medications.
This newsletter will review the classes of medication used in the treatment of IBD and discuss the more common side effects patients encounter. As we discuss the side effects of these medications, it is
important to keep in mind that these are life saving drugs and that while some people have significant problems with side effects, many more have few problems.
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Posted: November, 2005
by A. Asher Kornbluth, MD
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) consists mainly of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Although no cure for IBD (other than surgery for advanced UC) exists at present, effective treatments
are available. Active participation of patients in the treatment of their IBD and open communication with their physician is critical for a successful outcome. This newsletter will review the treatment
options available and some steps you as the patient can take to help maintain a healthy lifestyle.
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Posted: December, 2004
by Maria T. Abreu, MD
For many patients receiving a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be quite a shock. Often there is an initial feeling of relief that the blood in their stool is not a sign of cancer; but
this feeling can be fleeting when patients realize they have a disease that will require life-long management. Patients want to know what is going to happen to them and what they can expect in the future
if their disease progresses. The development of a disease over a period of time is called the clinical course. This newsletter will focus on the clinical course of IBD to help patients and their families
understand how their disease may affect them over time.
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Posted: June, 2004
by Daniel H. Present, MD
Etiology is the term used in medicine to describe the cause or reason for the development of a disease or condition. My patients who are newly diagnosed with either ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohns
disease (CD) are often concerned about how they developed these diseases and what it means to their future and their families. They want to know what causes it, and if there is anything they did to provoke
the illness. They would like to know if there is anything they can do to prevent anyone else in the family from developing the same problems.
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Posted: February, 2004
by Stephen B. Hanauer, MD
People being treated long-term with medications for chronic diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), often don't like taking their medicine. You may feel like it's a constant reminder that you
have a disease. It can be hard to remember to take medicine, especially when it is inconvenient. You may feel like there are too many pills and worry about side effects or the long-term consequences of taking
medicine all of the time. You may not understand why you have to take medicine when you feel just fine, and you may want to take medicine only when you have symptoms. Other people share these same concerns.
You're not alone. Approximately one million people in America have IBD. Many take daily medication to control symptoms. Millions of people need to take medicine everyday for other conditions too, sometimes
several times a day. You probably have family members taking daily medication for high blood pressure, arthritis, or other conditions.
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