Posts In: Teens & Young Adults

IBD and Marijuana Some IBD patients, particularly those with severe disease, use cannabis to relieve symptoms of pain, nausea, and appetite and to improve their overall mood. However, cannabis use in human trials has failed to provide objective evidence of therapeutic efficacy on endoscopy, biopsy, and…

Choosing whether to tell colleagues If you do decide to tell an employer or prospective employer about your IBD, you may not wish it to become public knowledge. You also need to decide if and what you are going to tell your co-workers. Again, there can be advantages in letting others…

Returning to work after a long absence If you have been off work for several weeks or longer because of your IBD, you may feel anxious about returning to work. It is common for people to lose confidence about being able to return to work even after a relatively short…

What are reasonable adjustments? You can ask your employer for reasonable adjustments when any aspect of your working arrangements, including the building or place of work or your working hours, puts you at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person doing your job. However, there is no exact definition about…

Lactose intolerance Some people can develop an intolerance to lactose. Lactose is a sugar found in dairy products such as milk, cream and cheese. People who are lactose intolerant lack an enzyme called lactase which breaks down the lactose into a form which their body can absorb.

Nutritional treatment Nutritional treatment, such as exclusive enteral nutrition, is the only form of dietary treatment scientifically proven to help people with IBD, in particular, those with CD. Your healthcare team will tell you if they think this will help you. ENTERAL NUTRITION Some people with IBD…

Blood tests There are several blood tests which are used to help support a diagnosis of IBD or to monitor the effects of IBD or its treatment. Blood samples are usually taken from a vein in the arm, using a needle attached to a syringe or to a collecting container.

Colonoscopy WHAT IS COLONOSCOPY? A colonoscopy procedure enables your physician to examine the lining of the colon (large bowel) and the last part of the small intestine (terminal ileum) for abnormalities and inflammation. Colonoscopies are often used to diagnose and to assess the extent and severity of CD and UC.