Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel condition leading to uncomfortable symptoms. The result is inflamed and swollen tissues in the gastrointestinal tract that may cause complications without treatment.
Although there’s no cure for Crohn’s disease, the team at Gateway Gastroenterology successfully diagnoses and treats the condition. Our team comprises six gastroenterologists who offer colonoscopies and infusion services for patients with Crohn’s disease.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as many as 3 million people in the US are living with some inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Crohn’s disease is a type of IBD that leads to chronic diarrhea, mouth ulcers, and abdominal pain.
There's no cure for Crohn’s disease, and it's often a lifelong condition. However, that doesn't mean you must be uncomfortable for the rest of your life.
Although no cure exists, the medical world constantly evolves, and new treatments for diseases like Crohn’s are developing. Most people can find a treatment that works for their symptoms.
A combination of professional medical treatments and lifestyle changes best controls Crohn’s symptoms. These also prevent dangerous complications, like bowel obstructions, fistulas, and anal fissures.
The great news is that we can successfully manage Crohn’s disease with various treatments. Our team evaluates your lifestyle and symptoms and performs diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis.
We discuss your goals and health, including available treatment options. We typically manage Crohn’s with the following therapies:
Medications successfully treat the symptoms and inflammation related to Crohn’s disease. Although medications don't cure the condition, they offer long-term remission and relief from uncomfortable GI issues.
We use various medications for Crohn's disease, including corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, biologics, and infusion therapy.
After a severe flare-up, it’s crucial to let your bowels rest, which includes avoiding irritating foods and beverages. You may need to avoid eating and drinking for a few weeks, during which time we give you nutrients through a feeding tube or IV.
Surgery may be necessary for people who continue to have symptoms despite good nutrition, medications, and lifestyle changes. If you get a fistula or develop a bowel obstruction, surgery relieves the symptoms with a bowel resection.
Although surgery may relieve your symptoms for years, Crohn’s disease can relapse later in life.
Lifestyle changes, along with medications, are beneficial in treating the symptoms of Crohn's disease. The most significant aspect of dealing with Crohn's is through a healthy and balanced diet.
Certain foods trigger a GI response, resulting in pain and inflammation. Learning what foods trigger your symptoms is crucial in disease management. Cutting back on known inflammatory foods like insoluble fiber, gluten, and lactose is ideal.
Keep a diary of the foods you eat and your body's response to know what foods to avoid. Other nutritional changes that help with Crohn's management include:
To manage your symptoms, it's also essential to stay healthy in other aspects of life. For instance, regular physical activity and sleeping eight hours per night may help.
Stress management is another crucial aspect of managing Crohn's disease. Relaxation techniques like deep breathing and yoga promote a healthy mind and body.
To diagnose or treat Crohn’s disease, contact Gateway Gastroenterology today to schedule an appointment. Call or message us; we have offices in St. Louis, Chesterfield, and Ballwin, Missouri.