Condition: Living Well with Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Life is hectic. Sometimes we miss or ignore our body’s warnings about a health issue. For example, you might feel weak and exhausted, but chalk it up to burning the candle at both ends. Maybe you blame painful stomach cramps or a bad case of diarrhea on last night’s sushi. Or brush off blood in your stool as a bout with hemorrhoids.

“In reality, all of these symptoms can be signs of chronic inflammatory bowel disease,”

says Erin Duvall, RN, AOM Clinical Nursing Coordinator. For the nearly 2.5 million people in the United States who live with it, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can interfere with many aspects of daily life at home, work and school. Travel, dining out, spending time with family or friends, and other fun activities can be off the table during the throes of an IBD episode.

“At AOM Infusion, we do our best to reduce those episodes with specialized infusion therapy designed to help patients enjoy a full and happy life,” says Cheyenne Dennison, AOM Clinical Care Navigator. “For us, every patient’s treatment is personal. We believe individuals coping with IBD deserve attentive, personalized care by expert providers who are their advocates.”

In service to that mission, AOM Infusion has assembled an unrivaled team of specialized hi-tech infusion nurses and clinical pharmacists. They work closely with IBD patients and their health care teams to expertly deliver and monitor infusion treatments that effectively address  the causes and symptoms of IBD.

What exactly is chronic inflammatory bowel disease?

IBD is the long-term inflammation of tissues in the digestive tract. Unpleasant tell-tale signs of this inflammation often include:

• Abdominal pain and cramping
• Chronic diarrhea
• Change in bowel movements (chronic diarrhea, constipation)
• Bloody stools
• Rectal bleeding

In children with IBD, poor growth (weight, height) can also signal the onset of IBD.

For some, IBD is only a mild illness with occasional flare-ups. For others, it is debilitating — and can even be life-threatening.

Researchers now know IBD is related to an immune system malfunction. Instead of fighting off an invading virus or bacteria, it attacks cells in the digestive system. Today, studies are honing in on specific genes that normally protect the intestine and immune system, but mutate for some reason and cause inflammation.

The cell mutations can be caused by several heredity factors, including:

• Age
• Race and ethnicity
• Family history

They can also be triggered by:

• Smoking
• Frequent use of antibiotics

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the main types of IBD. While both are diagnosed with blood and stool tests, imaging and endoscopic procedures, the two forms of IBD are very different.

Understanding Crohn’s disease.

With Crohn’s disease, the lining of the digestive tract becomes inflamed. The inflammation most often affects the small intestine, but can occur anywhere from the mouth to the anus. It can also attack the deep layers of the GI wall.

Unfortunately, a long list of symptoms characterizes Crohn’s disease. Abdominal pain, weight loss, diarrhea, bloody stool, fever, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, joint pain, changes to the skin, and anemia can make life miserable for sufferers.

“Some of Crohn’s triggers are related to lifestyle… Uncontrolled stress, poor diet, and smoking can all contribute to the onset of Crohn’s. ”

says Duvall.  The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) for other health conditions can sometimes be a contributing factor, too.

How is ulcerative colitis different?

“In contrast to Crohn’s disease, inflammation associated with ulcerative colitis is concentrated in the lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum rather than the entire span of the digestive tract,” Duvall explains. “Painful sores also form in these areas.”

Many of its tell-tale symptoms mirror Crohn’s disease. Pain in the abdomen, weight loss, diarrhea, bloody stool, fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and anemia are common symptoms. Tenesmus (the persistent feeling you need to use the toilet, but can’t) also affects patients with ulcerative colitis.

“Children who suffer with ulcerative colitis can fail to grow at a normal developmental rate,” Duval adds.

As with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis can be the body’s response to uncontrolled stress, an unhealthy diet, and NSAIDS therapy for the treatment of another health issue.

How are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis treated?

A variety of treatments are used to relieve symptoms and control inflammation in patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Initial treatment may include changes to diet and bowel rest. Surgery may be recommended for others. Sometimes, patients need drugs that include antibiotics, anti-diarrhea medication, or immunosuppressants. Occasionally, injectable or intravenous (IV) medications are prescribed. Common injectable or IV medications for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis include:

• Remicade (infliximab)
• Remicade biosimilars (Inflectra, Avsola and Renflexis)
• Humira (adalimumab)
• Simponi (golimumab)
• Cimzia (certolizumab pegol)
• Entyvio
• Stelara
• Skyrizi

Treatment takes teamwork.  

Of course, treatment involves a team — and patients play an active role in the team effort.

“Patients know best how they are feeling during their treatment,” notes Jane Candia, RN, AOM Infusion Nurse.  “When they track their symptoms and share information about the level and frequency of any abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea or bloody stools they experience during treatment and between treatments, it helps care providers gauge how effective treatment is in addressing their Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis.”

Keeping a treatment diary can be a good way to capture information about symptoms, how long they last (hours, days or weeks), along with any information about what may have triggered them. Did a particular food, stressful situation or medication seem to coincide with the onset of symptoms? Your care providers will want to know.

“This is all helpful information that can help us better treat our patients,” Candia confirms. “More than anything, we want to ensure our treatment is comfortable and as effective as it can be.”

Patient-first care makes all the difference.

Coping with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis is stressful. It’s made easier when you feel comfortable with your care providers and trust they are committed to your best care. Along with being the leading expert in specialty therapies, AOM Infusion offers seamless care.

AOM’s highly trained clinical pharmacists and certified specialty nurses collaborate closely with each patient’s physician or health care provider to deliver seamless care.

“Doing so ensures the prescribed therapy is administered to optimal effect — which improves health and treatment outcomes so patients can enjoy a better quality of life,” says John Vlahopoulos, AOM Chief Clinical Officer.

AOM Infusion’s caring team administers infusion therapy to Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis patients at their state-of-the-art infusion centers or in the comfort of their own home.

“I enjoy providing care for clients in their homes where they feel more comfortable, have more privacy and feel more relaxed with an individualized personal experience,” reveals Mohamed Fouda, RN, AOM Regional Nurse Manager. “Every patient is different — and their needs are different. I think everyone deserves to feel they are important and have support while dealing with chronic IBD. I’m glad that level of patient care is a priority at AOM Infusion.”

It is a priority because AOM Infusion is a family of skilled clinicians, but we are also compassionate humans. Every time a patient extends their arm, offers a vein and accepts the prick of a needle, it requires tremendous trust. We don’t take that trust lightly. It is vital to helping our IBD patients enjoy a better quality of life.