9. Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Group of Inflammatory Conditions of the Digestive Tract
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is an umbrella term for two conditions, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, characterized by chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. The symptoms vary, reflecting the areas of the digestive tract involved.
IBD usually starts with diarrhea, often bloody in the case of Ulcerative Colitis. It’s like having a water faucet turned on, unpredictable and uncontrollable.
Abdominal pain and cramping are common complaints in IBD. It’s an unrelenting pain, twisting and turning, casting a gloomy shadow over daily life.
Appetite loss and unintended weight loss often accompany the other symptoms. The pleasure of enjoying a meal is replaced with apprehension, as the body braces itself for the pain that follows.
Individuals with IBD often feel tired or fatigued. It’s like walking around with a heavy backpack all day, with the exhaustion seeping into every cell of the body.
Lastly, IBD can cause symptoms outside the digestive tract, such as joint pain, eye irritation, and skin disorders. The impact of IBD stretches far beyond the gut, highlighting the intertwined nature of our bodies. (9)
