IBD — Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Make An Appointment

Inflammatory bowel disease is a term used to refer to any condition that involves ongoing inflammation of the digestive tract. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are examples of inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease can interfere with daily functioning, and in some cases, it can cause life-threatening symptoms. It is considered a chronic condition.

What causes inflammatory bowel disease?

The exact cause of inflammatory bowel disease is uncertain. While stress and diet may make symptoms worse, they do not cause inflammatory bowel disease. Inflammatory bowel disease may be due to genetics. Another potential cause is an immune system response. When the body’s immune system attacks a virus, it may inadvertently attack cells in the digestive tract, causing inflammatory bowel symptoms.

What are the complications of inflammatory bowel disease?

Inflammatory bowel disease can increase the risk of colon cancer. People with inflammatory bowel disease are also more susceptible to arthritis as well as skin and eye inflammation. Other complications include blood clots, liver damage, and serious side effects from medications used to treat inflammatory bowel disease, such as high blood pressure and increased risk of cancer. Someone with inflammatory bowel disease may also be susceptible to issues like bowel obstruction, anal fissures, malnutrition, severe dehydration, and perforated colon.

How is inflammatory bowel disease usually treated?

Medications and surgery are the common treatments for inflammatory bowel disease, and the ultimate goal is to reduce the inflammation that triggers symptoms. With reduced inflammation, people with inflammatory bowel disease can experience relief, as well as remission and a reduction in the risk of complications. Specific anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as immune system suppressors, can be effective for treating inflammatory bowel disease. Doctors may also prescribe antibiotics or a class of drugs called biologics. Some people may also take pain relievers, anti-diarrheal medications, or vitamins and supplements to manage symptoms. Surgery may be necessary to remove the colon and rectum in the case of ulcerative colitis, or to remove damaged parts of the digestive tract in the case of Crohn’s disease.

Common Symptoms

“I have a limited appetite, and I have started to lose weight without trying.”
“I struggle with ongoing stomach pain and cramping, as well as diarrhea.”
“I have significant fatigue throughout the day, and when symptoms are flaring up, I have blood in my stool.”

Sources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/inflammatory-bowel-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353315

Find a Location in Your Area

Find a Location

Request an Appointment

What Our Patients Are Saying



I’ve been a patient of Dr. Weber for almost a decade. My husband for more than & it was he who recommended Dr. Weber. He’s knowledgeable & well experienced in his field. Plus he’s an all around kind & nice guy. And you’d like how the office & tech staff are trained to run the operation of this practice. Efficient, patient and helpful! I’d feel very comfortable recommending this practice.

Vicki M.

I had a great time. Everyone was very friendly and professional. One nurse said I had nice eyes, which really helped my self esteem. Dr. Willie was fantastic. His concern about having magenta ink for the printer really shows what a caring man he is. The pictures turned out great. I framed them and hung them up on my wall at home. But, seriously the experience was pleasant. Thank you to everyone involved.

Terry M.

Lord knows having a colonoscopy is zero fun. The prep nearly did me in. But after arriving at suite 270 every single person was pleasant and efficient. The attention to cleanliness in the office is very apparent and appreciated. Every employee introduced themselves by name, apologized for an IV that took two tries and made sure I was as comfortable as can be before I was ready to leave. However, I’m going to enjoy every minute of the five years before I need to return!

Marie C.

I have been here several times and have always been treated great. The receptionist are so kind and the nurses are wonderful so is the anesthesia person are so kind and answers any concerns you might have. My Dr Bologna is awesome. This is the place to go if you need endoscopy or colonoscopy. Thank all the staff for being so kind

Debbie A.

Our Doctors

We’re proud of our team here at Digestive Health Institute. Our health care providers include some of the very best colorectal surgeons, gastroenterologists and physician assistants. To learn more about our qualified team of specialists, please visit our providers page.

Amir Abadir MD, FRCPC

Anezi E. Bakken MD, MS

Sante D. Bologna MD, FACP

M. Emin Donat MD, FRCPC

Ronald Fogel MDCM, MHSA

Freeha Khan MD

Partha S. Nandi

Leonard G. Quallich III MD

Aditi Saxena MD

Jack Tocco DO

John R. Weber MD

Richard T. Wille MD

FAQs

What happens during my first visit?

If you are a new patient, you can expect to have a complete physical exam. You will also be asked detailed questions about your current problems and your past medical history, your current medications, allergies, your family history and other pertinent medical information. If you are taking medications, please bring a completed medical history form with you to your appointment. Once the physician has reviewed your medical information and completed the physical examination, a plan of care will be developed. You may need to be seen again in the office, be referred back to your family physician for follow-up care, or require additional testing. If additional tests are needed, we will assist you in scheduling these tests.

What if I need to schedule an endoscopic procedure?

An endoscopic procedure allows the physician to visualize a part of your gastrointestinal tract with a special instrument called an endoscope. If your family physician has ordered testing, you will be contacted by telephone by one of our staff members. If a physician orders testing and you are in the office, the procedure can generally be scheduled during the course of your visit. You will be given a date, time, and location for the test, as well as written instructions telling you how to prepare for the test. If you have any questions about the procedure, please feel free to ask one of our staff members or the physician.

How do I get test results?

We ask that you wait 10 to 14 days before contacting us for results. Often results come from several different sources. This information needs to be compiled and reviewed by your physician before you can be appropriately advised.

What insurances do you accept?

We accept payment from most insurance companies including Medicare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Blue Care Network, Physicians Health Plan, Cofinity, Sparrow Professional Health Network, Medicaid, McLaren, Health Plus, and several others. Accepted insurances are subject to change at any time without notice.

If your insurance requires an authorization from your primary care physician, you may be asked to assist us in obtaining this authorization.

All patients are responsible for all copays and deductibles at the time of service.

If you have any questions regarding your benefits or insurance coverage, please contact our Billing Department at 248-844-9710.

What if I need to contact the doctor?

To contact your doctor during business hours please call our main number 248-844-9710. If you have an urgent need to speak with the doctor after hours, you will be rerouted to our after hours answering service, and your doctor will be paged. In the case of a medical emergency please proceed directly to the nearest hospital emergency room.

How to tell if your stomach is not digesting food

Do you have a creeping suspicion that your stomach is not digesting your food normally? There could be several different reasons for this, including poor diet, lack of physical activity or an underlying medical condition affecting your digestive process. If you think...

Colon prep 101: Everything you need to know before your procedure

A colonoscopy is a procedure that is performed on a patient by a gastrointestinal specialist so that the specialist can examine the condition of the inside of the colon. Colonoscopies are necessary to catch cancerous and precancerous polyps and screen for colorectal...

Probiotics: What do they actually do for gut health?

Ever bought a pack of yogurts at the store that was marketed as being a great source of probiotics? Probiotics are live microorganisms that can be found in cultured foods like yogurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, sourdough bread and many others. You may have heard...