Treating IBD, Crohn's & Ulcerative Colitis

Treating inflammatory bowel disease

Currently, there is no cure for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), however, there are various medications available today which can help you manage the condition.¹

The goal of medical treatment is to stop the inflammation that triggers signs and symptoms, and to avoid complications, to improve long-term prognosis. In the best cases, this may lead not only to short-term symptom relief but also to long-term remission.¹

The journey to achieving remission will be different for everyone. By staying on treatment and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, many people with IBD will see their symptoms improve, or perhaps even disappear completely.¹²

Sometimes, however, surgical intervention is necessary.³ Psychological care and nutritional therapies can also help, along with smoking cessation in some cases of Crohn’s disease (CD).⁴⁵

IBD Treatments

The type of medication you are prescribed will depend on the severity of your disease, the type of IBD you have, and how affected your colon is (in ulcerative colitis (UC)) or GI tract (in CD). You may need to stay on top of medication long term, and that is ok. With the right treatment plan and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, many people with IBD will experience significant improvement in their symptoms or perhaps enjoy long periods without symptoms.

IBD is usually managed through a range of treatments that aim to reduce inflammation of the gut.¹

Aminosalicylates and corticosteroids may be used to reduce inflammation in the gut in both CD and UC.⁶

Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatories, meaning they decrease levels of inflammation in the body. They support with moderate to severe flare-ups of IBD.⁶

Are a group of medicines that weaken or suppress the immune system activity which in turn decreases the inflammatory response in the body.⁶

Targets specific parts of the immune system and may be recommended in certain cases of moderate to severe IBD.⁶

Work inside immune cells to help manage inflammation.⁶

Tips to help you prepare speaking with your healthcare provider

Before your appointments

Write down any questions you have as you think of them and take them with you to your appointment.
You could ask a family member or friend to come with you to your next appointment. Perhaps they can take notes while you talk to the healthcare professional.
You may find it useful to write down your symptoms on a daily basis – below is a diary that can help you track these and if you feel comfortable to, this could be taken to your appointments.

During your appointments

Be sure you share your questions with your healthcare professional and / or team at the start of your appointment. Don’t wait until the end, when the healthcare professional has run out of time.
Ask the questions or bring up the topics that are worrying you the most at the beginning of the appointment to ensure they are covered; and if you didn’t have time during the appointment to talk about everything, don’t be afraid to ask if you can email them afterwards.
It can often be difficult to remember everything that is said during an appointment. You might want to write down what your healthcare professional says so you can refer to your notes afterwards or even record the appointment (with your healthcare professional’s permission).
You might not know or understand all of the medical terms mentioned during your consultation or treatment. If there’s a word you have not heard of before, ask your healthcare team to explain it.
Don’t be afraid to ask for further referrals to other healthcare professionals or specialists (e.g. dietitian, counsellor) or when your next scheduled appointment is if you feel you aren’t seeing your healthcare professional regularly enough.

Conversation starters

The list below includes example questions to help start a conversation with your healthcare professional. There may be other relevant questions based on your symptoms, stage, and medical history that are not listed here.

Could any condition other than my IBD be causing my symptoms?
How will I know if my medication needs to be adjusted?
Approximately how long should it take to see some results, or to find out that this may not be the right medication for me?
If my medication doesn’t work, what are the other treatments available to me?
What are the potential side effects of the medication?
What symptoms are considered an emergency?
Should I change my diet or take nutritional supplements? If so, can you recommend a dietitian or any specific nutritional supplements?
Will I eventually need to get surgery?
Are there lifestyle changes I can make to help with my treatment?
What about my future? What will my condition be like when I’m older?
Does IBD affect pregnancy and my ability to have children?
I’m feeling anxious and overwhelmed about my life – can you recommend ways to address this or any specialists/support groups I can speak to?
I’m having trouble with some of the symptoms, particularly fatigue, as this is preventing me from working/looking after my family – can you recommend ways to tackle this or any further specialists/support groups I can speak to?

Getting familiar with your healthcare team

After being diagnosed with IBD, it’s important to remember you are not alone. Apart from family and friends, your healthcare team and patient advocacy groups are available to help with all aspects of the condition.

Your IBD healthcare team is a multidisciplinary team designed to work together for your wellbeing. Understanding your disorder and their role can help you prepare specific questions you might want to ask during your treatment visits.

Below is a list of healthcare professionals you’re likely to speak with at some stage in your treatment journey:

Consultant Gastroenterologists: Diagnose the signs and symptoms of digestive diseases.
Surgeons: Perform a variety of procedures used to repair damage caused by disease.
IBD Nurse Specialists: Provide specialist care, procedures, education and support to patients.
Psychologists: Support in the management of mental wellbeing and the emotional side of IBD.
Dietitians: Devise diets to compensate for nutrient deficiencies and help manage the symptoms of IBD.

When you are prescribed a treatment, you may receive additional information from your healthcare professional. You should also read any patient information leaflets that accompany your medicine.

If medical treatment is not effectively controlling your disorder or your disorder is unresponsive to it, you may eventually need surgery to remove part of your bowel (in CD) or colon (in UC). However, even in the case of a severe episode, it is now often possible to control the disorder satisfactorily by medication.

Don’t be afraid to ask your healthcare team any questions about your treatment options.

Research into IBD treatment options is still ongoing, and so it’s worth noting that there may be additional kinds of treatment under development to those detailed below.

Visit the IFCCA website to explore resources and connect with others: Go to IFCCA Website

IFCCA

The International Federation of Crohn's & Ulcerative Colitis Associations (IFCCA) represents 46 national Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis (IBD) patient associations. IFCCA are an organization of people united in our commitment to improve the life of over 10 million people living with IBD worldwide (3.4 million in Europe alone) and to give them a louder voice and more visibility. Want to find out more about how to manage your IBD?

Living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Daily Life, Diet and Support

Treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Understanding Your Options for Relief and Long-Term Management

What Is Endoscopic Healing?

Procedure, Purpose and What to Expect

Get In Touch