Learn the Signs and Symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
4/7/2023
Many individuals today encounter the unpleasant symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, and presume it's a reality they'll have to endure for life. Our board-certified gastroenterologists in New Orleans, LA want you to know that you don’t have to suffer this discomfort. Help is available — and it’s just around the corner. At Metropolitan Gastroenterology Associates, we strive to educate you on IBD symptoms and offer treatment methods to help get you back to living your best life.
What is inflammatory bowel disease?
Inflammatory bowel disease is chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Two conditions you’ve most likely heard of make up this disease — Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. While its effects can be uncomfortable, intestinal inflammation can permanently damage the GI system over time.
Though the precise cause of inflammatory bowel disease is unknown, it’s thought to be associated with a malfunctioning immune system. It is thought that a patient with this disease has an immune system that may not be responding properly to environmental triggers (like viruses and bacteria) and has a close family member with inflammatory bowel disease.
The most common signs of inflammatory bowel disease include:
- Bloody stool
- Fatigue
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation
- Unexpected weight loss
- Loose stool
How is inflammatory bowel disease alleviated?
After confirming the presence of inflammatory bowel disease, our main objective is to minimize inflammation of your intestines, easing as many symptoms as possible. There are several treatment options we can try, and our goal is that you will experience long-lasting remission in time. Common treatment strategies include:
- Changes to your diet
- Anti-diarrheal medications
- Anti-inflammatory medicine
- Supplements such as Vitamin D, iron, calcium, and more
The GI specialists at Metropolitan Gastroenterology Associates can help you to find a treatment to meet your needs. It may take some experimentation to determine the ideal way to reduce your symptoms and inflammation, but our specialists will work closely with you to identify the best treatment approach.
Help for IBD in New Orleans, LA
Should you suffer from stomach pain, difficulty passing stool, diarrhea, or other unpleasant GI symptoms daily or weekly, IBD may be to blame. At Metropolitan Gastroenterology Associates in New Orleans, LA, our board-certified physicians diagnose, treat, and help control IBD and its uncomfortable effects. If you think you may have inflammatory bowel disease and want to start living in greater comfort, please contact your nearest Metropolitan Gastroenterology location Associates to request an appointment.