Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
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Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) includes the conditions ulcerative colitis and Crohn's Disease - both are chronic conditions with no cure at present.
Both conditions alternate between remission (where there are no symptoms) and relapses (when symptoms return). There can be months or years between them but it is important that you report symptoms as soon as possible, so they don’t get out of control.
Important: Contacts
IBD advice line
For existing patients. If you require advice from an IBD Nurse Specialist about your condition or treatment, there is an advice line service available to you on:
Tuesday and Thursday mornings between 9.00am and 11.40am
You can book a slot for the advice line phone clinic by contacting our secretarial staff on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday morning:
phone 01463 705 167
They will provide you with a phone appointment to speak to the nurse specialists. Please note that the secretarial staff will not be able to forward clinical queries.
For urgent enquiries, contact your GP in the first instance - Know Who To Turn To.
Ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is a condition that causes inflammation and ulceration of the inner lining of the rectum and colon (the large bowel). In UC, ulcers develop on the surface of the lining and these may bleed and produce mucus. The inflammation usually begins in the rectum and lower colon, but it may affect the entire colon. If UC only affects the rectum, it is called proctitis, while if it affects the whole colon it may be called pancolitis.
Crohn's Disease
Crohn's Disease is a condition that causes inflammation of the digestive system or gut. Crohn’s can affect any part of the gut, though the most commmon area affected is the end of the ileum (the last part of the small intestine) or the colon. The areas of inflammation are often patchy with sections of normal gut in between. A patch of inflammation may be small, only a few centimeters, or extend quite a distance along part of the gut. As well as affecting the lining of the bowel, Crohn’s may also go deeper into the bowel wall.
Managing a flare
A relapse of IBD is often called a flare. If a bowel habit has been settled but begins to change, it might be that IBD is becoming active.
- Have you been going to the toilet more than 5 times in 24 hours?
- Are your stools loose, or have you had diarrhoea with blood or mucus for more than 3 days?
- Have you had abdominal pain?
If you have had any of these symptoms you should be assessed as soon as possible.
Support from Crohn's and Colitis UK
Read about the Crohn's and Colitis UK helpline.
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Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) includes the conditions ulcerative colitis and Crohn's Disease - both are chronic co...
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Self-management for ulcerative colitis relapse
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IBD medicines
Check the drug listings here to see whether you can increase IBD therapies safely.