Skip to content

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Treatment in Atlanta, GA

At Colorectal Wellness Center, our highly knowledgeable experts have years of experiencing in diagnosing and treating IBD for patients in Fayetteville, GA. Our physician will perform the necessary diagnostic testing to better understand which treatment is best for you.

If you have been experiencing symptoms of IBD or have been diagnosed and are seeking the best treatment, call our office at (770) 325-2275 to schedule an appointment with a professional.

What is Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (or IBD) is a common, long-term condition that affects the digestive system. 

It is slightly more common in women than men. Inflammatory Bowel Disease usually starts in early adulthood but can occur at any age. Up to three million Americans have some form of IBD, and the exact cause of it is not known.

Types of IBD

IBD includes Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Both types affect the digestive system. In both cases, there is chronic inflammation of the intestines.

Some symptoms may overlap between both types of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, but there are a few key differences.

Crohn’s disease 

  • Location – In Crohn’s disease, the inflammation can appear anywhere in the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus. Crohn’s disease usually affects more of the GI tract and symptoms can appear throughout the body.
  • Inflamed Spots – People with Crohn’s disease often have healthy areas in between inflamed spots.

Ulcerative colitis

  • Location – In Ulcerative colitis, the inflammation affects only the large intestine.
  • Continuous Inflammation – With ulcerative colitis, there are no healthy areas in between inflamed spots.

What are the Symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

With both types of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, you may have periods of normalcy and other times when symptoms disrupt your daily life, also known as flares.

IWhen you eat food and it passes through your intestines, the bowel helps to break down the food then absorbs the nutrients.

The gut wall is sensitive. If you have IBD, your immune system mistakes your digestive system as foreign. This means it activates your immune system to release antibodies to fight off this threat and it causes IBD symptoms such as:

  • Cramping
  • Bloating
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Gas
  • Loss of appetite
  • Upset stomach
  • Gastrointestinal bleeding

We do not know what causes IBD, but some triggers may include:

  • Infections
  • Environmental stress
  • Medications
  • Family history or genetics

How Will I Know If I Have Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

If you are worried you may have IBD, talk to our expert doctors about your symptoms. It can be frustrating to live with these complications, and your professional at Colorectal Wellness Center get you the answers you need.

Seek medical attention if you have:

  • Blood in your stool
  • Extreme weight loss
  • Fever

These may be symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, but Colorectal Wellness Center can also screen for cancer or evaluate for Celiac Disease.

You may also have symptoms similar to IBD,  but no inflammation. In this case, you may have Irritable Bowel Syndrome. With IBS, there is no sign of disease or abnormality during an exam of the colon.

Ruling out other conditions can get you on the road to recovery. Based on your symptoms, stool tests, or blood tests you can find the cause for your discomfort.

Colorectal Wellness Center may also examine the lower part of your large intestines or your entire large intestine with a sigmoidoscopy or a colonoscpoy. A  sigmoidoscopy may be used to examine or diagnose certain conditions or structures in your lower colon.

How Can I Treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

Treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Disease can help you achieve quality ofl life. Although this is a chronic condition, there are many who live in remission a majority of the time.

Remission is considered as a period of time when you do not have any IBD flares. Medications or surgery can help you on your road to recovery.

Other daily treatment options for IBD include:

  • Finding ways to relax and manage stress
  • Getting regular exercise
  • Meeting with a nutritionist for recommendations
  • Keep a diary of foods you eat to avoid common triggers
  • Take over-the-counter medications to relieve constipation or diarrhea

Often there is no one single fix for IBD. Your team of providers can work with you to see what works best for you.

Medications and Surgical Treatments for IBD

If diagnosed with IBD Colorectal Wellness Center will work with you to find a gastroenterologist to manage it. Often, medications can help control the inflammation so you can live a normal life.

Some medications to treat IBD include: antibiotics to treat infections, anti-inflammatory medicine, biologics, corticosteroids to manage flares, immunomodulators to calm an overactive immune system, antidiarrheal medication, or probiotics including vitamins and supplements.

If medication is not working for you, you may need to seek surgical care, which Colorectal Wellness Center can provide.

With Crohn’s disease, as many as seventy percent eventually need surgery. Surgery may include a bowel resection to remove the part of the bowel that is diseased and connect two healthy ends of the bowel together.

With Ulcerative colitis, about 1 in 3 people need surgery after living more than 30 years with the disease. Surgery may include removing the colon and/or rectum and connecting your small intestine and the anus. You then have a pouch that collects stool and exits through the anus. This procedure usually cures you of the disease.

In both Crohn’s and Ulcerative colitis, sometimes the inflammation is so severe one needs an ileostomy or colostomy to temporarily pass stool into a bag that rests on the abdomen.

How Can I Find an IBD Provider?

If you have IBD you can still enjoy an active, normal life. With the right medical care, you can manage symptoms and no longer have digestive issues getting in the way.

It is important to find a provider you trust to join you on your journey with IBD.

Give us a call. We want to set you up for success with first, the proper diagnosis then, a treatment plan that works for you. If you need potential surgery we will talk you through your options, and we will be there each step of the way.

IBD is a lifelong condition, and we are here to help you with lifelong treatment and follow-up care