Complications of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease, also known as IBD, consists of chronic inflammation in all or a part of your digestive tract. Inflammatory bowel disease generally includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. IBD may be very deliberating and painful, and may lead to life-threatening complications. If you are experiencing bowel troubles or discomfort, it is important to familiarize yourself with the symptoms of IBD and talk with a doctor about what you’re feeling.

Obstructions

Bowel obstructions may happen to anyone; they are the most common type of complication associated with Crohn’s disease. If you have never had an obstruction, most doctors will tell you that if you have one, you will know it for sure. The abdominal pain is not something that can be easily mistaken since it is very acute. There may also be effects of diarrhea, bloody stool, and weight loss. However, if you feel that you might have a bowel obstruction, it is very important that you have it checked out immediately since some cases quickly can become very serious. It is quite helpful to educate yourself about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

Abscess or Fistula

A patient that feels very sick or is complaining of chills, pain in the anus or rectum, or a fever may be suffering from an anal fistula or abscess. These terms describe very common conditions that many people don’t know about. An anal abscess is an infected cavity that is full of pus that can be found near the rectum or anus. On the other hand, an anal fistula is the result of having a previous abscess, which is a small tunnel that connects the anal gland, in which the abscess arose from, to the skin of the buttocks found around the anus. The symptoms of both conditions usually include constant pain that might be accompanied by swelling and is usually related to bowel movements or bowel disorders.

Other Complications outside the Digestive Tract

Besides ulcers and inflammation that may be found inside of the digestive tract, inflammatory bowel disease might cause complications in other areas of the body. Conditions may include arthritis, clubbing of the fingernails, inflammation of the skin, eye problems, kidney stones, gallstones, inflammation of the bile ducts, and in some cases, mouth and skin problems. People that have had long-lasting inflammatory bowel disease have also been known to develop osteoporosis, which is a bone condition that causes brittle bones.

A Doctor is the Best Person to Help Patients with IBD

Since it is easy for the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease to hide or appear to mimic another condition, it is imperative that you keep your Los Angeles physician updated and informed as much as you can about your condition. Make sure that you keep track of all your symptoms and what you are eating, as well as if you are taking any medications. The more information you are able to provide your doctor, the better they will be able to help you and suggest treatments or exercises that might bring you relief. Being proactive will also help them identify or rule-out other ailments such as diverticulitis or celiac disease. Generally your doctor will also ask that you keep them informed if any of your symptoms change or become worse, as this may mean that the medication they are prescribing you isn’t working like it should. They will be able to prescribe another medication that will be more effective; not all medications will work for each person since everyone is different and their body reacts to different types of medicine.