Dr. Don Schiller - The Ileostomy Specialist
  • Email

Dr. Don Schiller has retired from his practice
involving BCIR and Kock Pouch surgery.

  • Home
  • About Dr. Schiller
  • Ileostomy Treatment
    • BCIR (Barnett Continent Intestinal Reservoir)
    • Conventional Ostomy (The Brooke ileostomy)
    • The ileoanal J-pouch
    • Risks & Complications
  • Your Hospital Stay
  • Testimonials
  • Media
    • Videos
    • Photo Gallery
  • Blog

Text Size:  

  • Aa
  • Aa
  • Aa

Is Surgery the Only Answer for Colitis?

November 7, 2014  ·  By: Dr. Don Schiller

Surgery is one possible colitis treatment, but is it the only thing available? The surgical options for ulcerative colitis have come a long way over the last few years. Today, colitis sufferers are no longer dependent on a bag system to manage waste elimination. Ileostomy, the surgical treatment for colitis, can be a life changing, but what are the other options for people with this form of inflammatory bowel disease?

What is Colitis?

Colitis simply means inflammation of the bowel. People with chronic colitis tend to develop sores, called ulcers, along their digestive tract. Ulcerative colitis is a debilitating condition that can become life-threatening if the intestines rupture and leak.

Risk factors for colitis include:

  • Age – It usually develops in people under the age of 30
  • Race – More common in the white population
  • Genetics – Colitis tends to run in families

Ulcerative colitis is also associated with the use of isotretinoin, a medication used to treat acne. It is not clear how this disease is related to the drug, however.

What are the Available Colitis Treatments?

Surgical intervention involves resecting the bowel to attach the small intestine to the abdominal wall. This allows waste to evacuate via a stoma, or hole, in the wall. In the past, patients would attach a bag to the stoma to collect the waste. Newer surgical treatments allow waste to collect in an internal pouch, so waste can be eliminated into a toilet instead.

Surgery offers a final solution for those with ulcerative colitis, but there are less invasive treatments to try first. Surgery becomes necessary for those who fail to respond to other options.

  • Anti-inflammatory drugs – The right drug, or drug combination, can relieve the inflammation in the lining of the digestive tract.
  • Immune system suppressors – The exact cause of colitis is unclear, but researchers suspect may be the result of an immune system malfunction similar to asthma or eczema. An immune system suppressor stops the immune system response that leads to inflammation.

The doctor may suggest drug therapies to manage the systems, as well. For example, anti-diarrheal medications can ease the discomfort.

Lifestyle changes can help manage the disease, too. Individuals with ulcerative colitis follow a strict diet that includes low-fat and limited dairy. Eating small meals reduces the episodes and improves the quality of life. The doctor may suggest you take a vitamin supplement, as well. This helps make up for the nutrients that the body cannot absorb because of the disease.

Is surgery the answer for your ulcerative colitis? Surgery is one possible treatment option. While the concept is scary, know that the surgical techniques have improved and patients no longer have to schedule their lives around a bag.

Retirement Announcement

Dr. Don Schiller has retired from his practice involving BCIR and Kock Pouch surgery. To find a surgeon who can help you, go to www.qla-ostomy.org and click on the tab Medical Info and you will see a Directory of all the surgeons in the country who perform Continent Ileostomy surgery.

Insurance Accepted

Contact our office for details

Where to Find Us

Dr. Don Schiller- The Ileostomy Specialist

Get Directions

  • Home
  • Copyright 2016 The Center for Ileostomy Surgery
  • Legal Notices
  • Privacy Policy

Site design by MD Connect, Inc.

[show_theme_switch_link]