IBD: your diagnosis and follow-up
Short patient information to print or keep.
Understand the name
IBD mainly includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. These cause bowel inflammation. They are different from IBS. Symptoms can overlap, and IBS-type symptoms can coexist with controlled IBD.
Know where it is
Crohn's can affect mouth to anus, often the terminal ileum or colon, with patchy inflammation that can involve the whole wall. Ulcerative colitis affects the colon and rectum, mainly the lining.
What the tests show
I combine your symptoms, blood and stool tests, endoscopy, biopsies and appropriate imaging. Infection and other conditions can resemble IBD. Calprotectin measures inflammation; FIT measures blood. Neither alone establishes the diagnosis.
Keep taking treatment when you feel well
Treatment aims to control inflammation and improve daily life. Steroids are usually short-term flare treatment. Maintenance medicines help prevent recurrence. Do not stop or change medicines yourself, even when you feel well. Feeling better does not always confirm healing.
Appointments, blood tests and flares
Know which team handles results, medicine monitoring and flares. Review nutrition, vaccinations and pregnancy plans. Colon surveillance depends on your individual risk. Recommended follow-up is documented in the endoscopy and/or histology report after tissue results. Review continues during remission, with tests chosen for your disease pattern.
Recognise worsening symptoms
Contact your GP or IBD team early about a possible flare. Severe pain, repeated vomiting, swelling, heavy bleeding, dehydration or fever with marked illness needs urgent assessment. A painful red eye or changed vision also needs urgent assessment.
When to get help
Seek urgent assessment for severe or worsening abdominal pain, a swollen abdomen with repeated vomiting, heavy bleeding, fever with marked illness, dehydration or inability to keep fluids down. A painful swelling around the anus also needs prompt assessment. A painful red eye, light sensitivity or a change in vision needs urgent eye assessment.
Call 111 if you collapse, have heavy bleeding with faintness or are too unwell to travel safely. Do not wait for a routine appointment or an email reply.
General information. Follow your own care instructions.