How Do You Know if You Have IBD?

Inflammatory Bowel Disease, or IBD, refers to a group of chronic intestinal disorders, specifically, two major ones, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s Disease. Ulcerative colitis, or UC, occurs in the colon, while Crohn’s disease is known to take place either in the small intestine, colon, or both. IBD occurs when some or various factors in the body contribute to an inflammation in the intestinal tract. After this, the intestinal wall can be damaged by the uncontrollable swelling, leading to various symptoms.

Accutane, also known as Isotretinoin, is a medication that is used to treat acne.  Accutane has many reported side effects.   It has been linked to bowel problems, including IBD, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis.  In June 2009, the manufacturer of Accutane announced that it notified the FDA of its intent to discontinue the manufacture and distribution of Accutane.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease can experience mild to severe symptoms including: a large urge to have a bowel movement, loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal cramps and pain, fever, or anemia. Although the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease aren’t necessarily unique to this disease, medical experts can perform tests to confirm the diagnosis.

Once diagnosed with this disease, there are various treatment methods. If the disease is at an early stage, the inflammation can be suppressed by weaker drugs, usually antibiotics. However, if the problem persists, treatment is intensified progressively until the inflammation is minimized. If stronger treatment options are fruitless in treating ulcerative colitis, surgery may still be an option. For this surgery, the colon and rectum are removed to cure ulcerative colitis. The probability of the success of the surgery depends on a few factors, such as the stage of the disease and the overall health of the patient. Unfortunately, there is no surgery that can cure Crohn’s disease, however, more than half of those diagnosed with it will require surgery at one point.

While there aren’t any known prevention methods for IBD,  a healthy diet is always recommended. For Crohn’s disease, one  factor that has been linked to intestinal flare ups is smoking. Avoiding smoking can potentially help IBD, though it is also a good idea for other health reasons.

Do you believe you or a loved one has been injured by Accutane®? Goldberg & Osborne can help.

The law firm of Goldberg & Osborne is dedicated to helping injured people nationwide and is currently accepting cases for Accutane® victims. For a FREE case evaluation, please call us toll-free at (800) 935-2770 or submit a short and simple online case form here.