Crohn’s Disease

Gastroenterology located in St. Clair Shores and Macomb, MI

Crohns Disease services offered in St. Clair Shores and Macomb, MI

More than a half-million Americans struggle with Crohn’s disease, spending their time worrying about unpredictable flare-ups that disrupt daily life. The experienced team at G.I. Medicine Associates, P.C. has helped many people get back to an active life with treatments that ease symptoms and keep their Crohn’s disease in remission. Don’t wait to seek help for your Crohn’s disease. Call the office in St. Clair Shores or Macomb, Michigan.

Crohn’s Disease Q&A

What is Crohn’s disease?

Crohn’s disease, also called inflammatory bowel disease, is a chronic condition that causes patches of inflammation in the tissues lining your gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

The areas of inflammation are surrounded by healthy tissue. However, the inflammation can pervade deep into the intestinal wall, causing problems such as:

Ulcers
Abscesses
Malnutrition
Fistulas (abnormal passages through tissues)
Intestinal narrowing (causing an obstruction)

Though you can have Crohn’s in any part of your GI tract, from your mouth all the way through to the anus, the inflammation most often appears in the last part of your small intestine or the first part of your large intestine.

What symptoms develop due to Crohn’s disease?

If you have Crohn’s disease, you have one or more of the following symptoms:

Diarrhea
Abdominal pain
Sudden, urgent need for a bowel movement
Unintentional weight loss
Blood in your stool
Fever
Fatigue

In addition to the typical symptoms listed above, 20-40% of people with inflammatory bowel disease develop other problems. As a result, you may experience:

Joint pain
Skin rashes
Mouth sores
Jaundice (yellow skin or eyes)
Eye pain and inflammation

Crohn’s disease usually cycles through periods of active disease, alternating with periods of remission and few symptoms. When a flare-up begins, patients usually have sudden diarrhea and lower abdominal cramps.

How is Crohn’s disease treated?

The team at G.I. Medicine Associates, P.C. creates customized care plans based on the extent of the inflammatory patches and the severity of your symptoms. Your treatment may include any of the following:

Medications

Several types of medications can improve your symptoms and help keep the disease in remission, including:

Steroids
Antibiotic
Anti-inflammatory drugs
Anti-diarrheal drugs
Immune system suppressants
Advanced biologic therapies

Biologic medications reduce inflammation and neutralize the immune system by targeting specific proteins. The team at G.I. Medicine Associates, P.C. administers biologics intravenously at their infusion services clinic.

Dietary changes

While foods don’t cause Crohn’s, resting your bowels and changing your diet can reduce symptoms during a flare-up.

Surgery

If your symptoms persist despite medications, your provider may recommend surgery to remove the patches of inflamed tissues. You can develop new patches of Crohn’s in the future. However, surgery eliminates your symptoms until new patches appear. You may also need surgery to repair complications like fistulas.

When you need help with Crohn’s disease, call G.I. Medicine Associates, P.C.