When you have Crohn’s disease, dealing with a flare-up becomes your number one priority — no matter what you’re doing.
Flare-ups can mean diarrhea, rectal bleeding, cramps, nausea, pain in your belly and more. The symptoms can come on suddenly and have you racing to find the nearest bathroom. And that can make being at work, going out with friends or even shopping a little unnerving. You just never know.
Crohn’s disease, like any lifelong inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), can get in the way of living a full and active life. But it doesn’t have to. We have gastroenterologists and colorectal surgeons who specialize in IBD. They can help you manage the symptoms, avoid complications and stop living in fear of the next flare-up.
Our gastroenterologists, colorectal surgeons, pathologists and radiologists have special training in diagnosing and treating Crohn’s disease. They work closely together and with dietitians who create personalized eating plans to help relieve your symptoms.
If you have Crohn’s disease, chances are you’re seeing several different specialists. Our providers work as a team to provide comprehensive, efficient care for your Crohn’s. Meet our team.
Our surgeons are world-renowned for doing highly complex surgeries for Crohn’s and related conditions. We can also do revision surgery if you have problems after a previous IBD surgery.
Our nurse care coordinators help you understand all your treatment plan’s details. They make sure you get everything you need at each appointment.
We know you’re busy, so we work hard to make sure you get as much done in one visit as possible. Often you can see your provider, get imaging tests, lab work, behavioral health care, medication counseling and nutrition guidance on the same day.
Crohn’s affects everyone differently. Our team tailors your care to your specific needs, based on your exam, symptoms, lab work and test results. We work closely with you to choose the latest treatments and surgery techniques based on our research. You may also be able to join a clinical trial to get new medications before they’re widely available.
Not all appointments have to be in person. If you’re not feeling great, sometimes it’s easier to stay home. And that works for us. Virtual visits let you meet with your provider via your smartphone, computer or tablet.
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Talking about bowel problems with your healthcare provider might seem embarrassing, but it’s important. The first step toward making life more manageable? It’s getting diagnosed early and starting treatment. And it can reduce your risk of complications, like blockages, ulcers or even cancer.
So, giving your provider a heads up on what’s going on is the No. 1 thing you’ll do at your appointment. Chances are you’ve had ongoing diarrhea and cramps in your belly. And maybe you’ve been losing weight. After your provider listens to your symptoms, they’ll ask about your medical history and do a physical exam. They may also order one or more of these tests:
After these tests are complete, your provider will schedule a colonoscopy to look inside your colon (large intestine). They may also do an upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy to look at other parts of your digestive system. These tests can show inflammation, tissue damage or other IBD complications, such as strictures (narrowing in the intestines) and fistulas.
Our healthcare providers see patients at convenient locations throughout Northeast Ohio, Florida and London.
Crohn’s disease affects everyone differently, so there’s no standard treatment that will work for everyone. At Cleveland Clinic, we develop your personalized treatment plan based on your test results and conversations with your provider. We work closely with you to decide on treatment options to control inflammation so you don’t have symptoms.
Treatments for Crohn’s disease vary depending on your symptoms and how severe your Crohn’s is. For mild inflammation, our registered dietitians help create an eating plan that avoids foods that can irritate your digestive system. They might also suggest not eating or drinking for a few days to give your intestines a rest and settle down the inflammation. During this time, you may get the nutrition you need through an IV, drink only a certain liquid or have a feeding tube.
There are also several medications that can control inflammation, manage symptoms and prevent further damage to your digestive tract. They include:
Your care team may recommend surgery if other treatments don’t relieve your symptoms or if you have a more severe form of Crohn’s. Surgery may also be needed to repair blockages or bleeding. If you need surgery, we’ll try to save as much of your intestines as possible. We use minimally invasive techniques (performing through small incisions) when possible. This reduces scarring and helps you recover faster.
Surgeries for Crohn’s disease include:
Even after surgery, symptoms of Crohn’s disease can return. After surgery, our gastroenterologists often follow up with medications to reduce inflammation and minimize your risk of additional flare-ups.
If you have Crohn’s disease, or think you might, don’t delay. Reach out to your healthcare provider and get the help you need. Cleveland Clinic IBD specialists are ready to help empower you to take back control of your life. Give us a call today.
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