Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treatment Process
Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or IBD for short, refers to two forms of inflammatory conditions involving the gastrointestinal tract. Ulcerative Colitis is a chronic disease that affects the colon and rectum, together known as the large intestine. The inner lining of the large intestine becomes inflamed and ulcers could form on the surface. Crohn’s Disease is also a chronic disease that causes inflammation in several parts of the digestive tract (Sklar X10). It can affect anywhere in the GI tract. However, inflammation is commonly found in the end of the small bowel and the beginning of the large intestine (Sklar). It is estimated that twenty percent of people worldwide suffer from IBD (Wangen 27). Patients with IBD are offered no cure because there is no identifiable cause for Inflammatory Bowel Disease. However, treatment is offered to IBD patients to suppress or alleviate these symptoms. The treatment process of Inflammatory Bowel Disease consists of the testing phase, dietary changes, medication, and surgeries.
TESTING PHASE
Physicians see about three and half million patients a year; almost thirty percent of people who have an appointment with a gastroenterologist, a doctor who specializes in digestive diseases, unfortunately are diagnosed with IBD (Wangen 27). Warning signs for Inflammatory Bowel Disease consists of: extreme abdominal pain, blood in the stool, constant diarrhea, loss of appetite, fever, chronic fatigue, diarrhea at night, rapid weight loss, nausea and vomiting (Pimentel 71). The testing phase for Inflammatory Bowel Disease patients will tell the gastroenterologist if the patient has Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s Disease. If the patient is diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, the testing phase will tell the medical professional how severe the inflammation is and where it is located in the gastrointestinal tract (Pimentel 135). A person with Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s Disease goes through a series of tests each year (Sklar 23). The gastroenterologist performs several tests in the testing phase to eliminate any other possible diseases that has the same symptoms as Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease. The first part of the testing phase for IBD is for the patient to get blood work done and get a sample of their stool. The blood tests are preformed to screen for anemia, a red blood cell deficiency, and inflammation in the patient’s body (Pimentel 70). Elevated inflammation levels are indicated by an inflammation marker in the blood called Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate. Blood tests are also used to measure the patients overall body chemistry, such as, kidney function and other health imbalances (Pimentel 70). Also, a stool test is done to see if there is blood, bacteria, or parasites in the patients stool because it is common in IBD patients (Pimentel 71). Next phase of IBD testing is the celiac test and thyroid test. The celiac testing is a screening for Celiac Disease which is performed by using blood tests, or biopsy of the lining of the small intestine. Celiac Disease is a gastrointestinal disorder that is cause by sensitivity to gluten and can mimic IBD symptoms (Pimentel 70). In addition, Inflammatory Bowel Disease patients have their thyroid levels tested to ensure that their thyroid function is normal. All of these tests are insisted by IBD doctors for patients to undergo because gastroenterologists want to make sure that the patient’s health maintenance is properly addressed. Unfortunately, one single blood test or stool test will not tells the gastroenterologist with 100 percent certainty that a person has IBD; there are serological markers but other tests have to be done for confirmation.
The following step of the testing phase for Inflammatory Bowel Disease patients is an Endoscopic examination (Sklar 23). A person with Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis will have an Endoscopy, Colonoscopy, and Sigmoidoscopy performed. An Endoscopy is a direct visualization of the intestines or other internal body structure with cameras (Pimentel 135). Colonoscopy is a procedure in which a colonoscope is placed inside the colon for diagnostic purposes (Pimentel 134). A colonoscopy is standard check for possible colon cancer and to screen for polyps in an effort to prevent colon cancer (Pimentel 70). The sigmoidoscopy is another procedure that a sigmoid scope is placed inside the sigmoid colon, which is the lower part of the colon that connects to the rectum (Wangen 49). These tests can rule out diseases such as: Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative colitis or tell the gastroenterologist where the inflammation is exactly located in the digestive tract (Pimentel 71). Another test for Inflammatory Bowe Disease patients is the Barium Enema test and Barium X-rays. The Barium Enema test is a diagnostic test that uses barium as a contrast in the colon and it checks for colon cancers when a scope cannot get through a stricture (Sklar 207). Barium X-rays are performed to examine the esophagus, stomach, and upper part of small intestines. The patient drinks barium, which shows up on x-rays and the x-ray will record the barium passing through the digestive tract. People who are allergic to gluten and lactose intolerant mimic the IBD symptoms; therefore, gastroenterologists will perform a breath test. There are three breath tests performed, xylose breath test, glucose breath test, and a lactulose breath test (Pimentel 60). After the tests are determined conclusive, doctors then begin the next part of treatment process.