So, you or someone you love has been diagnosed with Crohn's or colitis. Now there's all this lingo being thrown at you: IBD, proctitis, flexible sig... It took me a while to get the hang of it after I was diagnosed. Doctors (like any other professionals) have their own vocabulary when talking amongst themselves. Unfortunately, this professional jargon often works itself into conversations with patients.
Knowing "IBD lingo" will make treatment less stressful for you and your loved ones. Here's a list of IBD terms written in plan English. Please contact me if you feel like I've left out a term or if you feel I've posted an incorrect definition.
***Warning: if you are sensitive to bathroom jokes, please read with caution. Start getting used to it because colitis affects a not-so-sexy and not-so-proper part of the body. Heck, laugh about it a little!
Anti-inflammatory drug: any prescribed medication that acts to reduce inflammation (in this case, in your digestive tract). 5-ASA (also known as salofalk and pentasa) are "low-grade anti-inflammatory" drugs.
Anus: your bumhole, where stools come out
Autoimmune: an adjective used to describe when your body's immune system (natural disease fighting system) attacks the body itself
Biopsy (pl. biopsies): where a small piece of tissue is removed from the body for examination under the microscope. This is important in screening for cancerous cells. Biopsies during sigmoidoscipies feel like a small pinch, not uncomfortable at all.
Bowel movement: when you go poop
Crohn's (or Crohn's disease): a chronic autoimmune disease that affects any part of the digestive tract from mouth to anus. Affected areas are not always continuous.
Colitis (also known as UC or Ulcerative Colitis): a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by open sores and inflammation in the colon. Affected areas are continuous.
Colon (also known as large bowel or large intestine): the part of your digestive system that is affected by colitis. It mainly functions to extract water and salt from your stool before it is eliminated.
Colonoscopy: a procedure where a gasteroenterologist examines your entire colon with a small camera attached to flexible tube. This camera is inserted in your anus. You must prepare for the procedure in advance and you are under anesthesia for the procedure. Biopsies are sometimes taken.
Corticosteroid (or steriod): a drug used to treat inflammation. Not recommended for long term use.
Enema: a slightly uncomfortable procedure where liquids are introduced to the rectum and colon via the anus. This allows for more "direct" treatment of inflamed areas.
Family Doctor (also known as GP or General Practitioner): this is the doctor you see initially for your medical concerns. He or she prescribes antibiotics for bronchitis that won't go away and gives out flu shots etc. He or she is generally the person who has referred you to specialists such as the gastroenterologist.
Flare: when your disease is active/ not responding to routine medication/ making you miserable
Flexible sig: see sigmoidoscopy
Gastroenterologist (also known as GI or Gastro): your gut doctor. He or she treats your colitis. He or she also studies the digestive system/ treats other digestive disorders.
Ileostomy: opening in the abdomen from a surgical procedure that brings wastes directly from the small intestine to an external pouch that needs to be emptied. Essentially, since waste no longer enters the colon (which is removed in surgery), colitis is no longer a "problem".
Ileo-anal pouch (also known as j-pouch): an alternative to ileostomy. An internal waste reservoir is created using the small intestine and no external pouch is required. Essentially, since waste no longer enters the colon (which is removed in surgery), colitis is no longer a "problem".
Immunosuppressive drugs (also known as immunosuppressants): Since Crohn's and colitis are autoimmune diseases, using immunosuppressants to slightly suppress the immune system makes your immune system less likely to attack your gut. In Canada, Immuran (Azathiaprine) and Remicaide (Infliximab) are commonly prescribed for IBD.
Irritable Bowel Disease (also known as IBD): can refer to Crohn's or colitis.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (also known as IBS): a disorder where symptoms similar to those in IBD are experienced (bloating, cramping, diarrhea etc.) but there is no permanent damage to the digestive tract. As many as 20% of the population has IBS.
Proctitis (also known as Ulcerative Proctitis): inflammation of the anus and rectum; when inflammation is limited to last 6 inches of rectum
Rectum: The lowermost part of your bowel, just before your anus.
Sigmoidoscopy (also known as flexible sig): a procedure where a gasteroenterologist examines your sigmoid colon (generally the last 40cm of your colon) with a small camera attached to a flexible tube. This camera is inserted in your anus. This is a simple procedure, generally done without anesthesia but I have requested it before because I get really nervous. Biopsies are sometimes taken.
Stool (also known by many other names such as poop and sh**): We all do it but when you have colitis the state of your stool will be a topic of discussion at the doctor's office.
Suppository: a small, soft drug dispensary system that is inserted into your rectum through your anus. Although slightly uncomfortable, the effect is more "direct" that taking pills orally.
UC: see colitis
Ulcerative Proctitis: see proctitis
