Newly Diagnosed Patient Resources - New England Chapter
The New England Chapter of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation is here to support you or a family member who has recently been diagnosed with a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We understand that you may have questions, thoughts, and concerns. Don't worry! We are committed to assisting you every step of the way as you begin this journey.
About IBD
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two primary forms of IBD are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Crohn's disease can affect any part of the GI tract from the mouth to the anus, but most commonly affects the ileum and the beginning of the colon. It can affect the entire thickness of the bowel wall. Ulcerative colitis, on the other hand, affects only the innermost lining of the colon. Nearly 3.1 million Americans, including 130,000 New England residents, currently live with IBD. You are not alone!
For the Newly Diagnosed
Helpful Resources
Living with IBD can be scary and unpredictable. To support you through this journey, the Foundation offers a wide range of resources designed to provide comfort and assistance.
- For information and guidance on how to manage your disease, visit the IBD Help Center. Get personal answers from our knowledgeable Information Specialists in real time. We can help you find specific resources, refer you to other organizations, and help you understand your health insurance coverage. Help is available in 170 different languages.
- The Foundation also invites you to join a support group for a community-based opportunity to connect with other patients and talk about living with IBD. Our support groups are positive places where patients and their loved ones can share their stories, seek emotional support, find answers to their questions, and connect with a community that shares their challenges. Many of our support groups are available virtually.
- For an innovative peer-to-peer mentoring program connecting patients and caregivers, check out Power of Two. Our mentors are Foundation-trained volunteers who will meet you exactly where you are in your IBD journey, whether you are newly diagnosed, considering surgery, or facing challenges in general.
- For expert Q&A, an online community forum, and patient stories, visit the Crohn's and Colitis Community.
- Download We Can't Wait, the Foundation's free bathroom finder app that always know where the nearest public restroom is.
- Check out more resources for recently diagnosed patients on the Foundation's official Newly Diagnosed page.
Treatment
Living with a chronic illness like IBD often means your body goes through periods of flares and remission. While there is no cure for IBD, long-term remission is possible with the right treatment and care. Your treatment will depend on a variety of factors and could include medication, therapy, diet, and/or surgery.
| Treatment can differ depending on the type of IBD you are diagnosed with. Check out the Foundation's resources specific to Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients. |
| Crohn's Disease Treatment Options |
| Ulcerative Colitis Treatment Options |
For more resources, refer to the links below:
- IBD Medication Guide: a comprehensive catalog of all FDA-approved IBD medications for your reference
- Clinical Trials Community: a hub of information and videos to help you explore research studies
- Gut-Friendly Recipes: an online cookbook with hundreds of recipes custom-made for IBD patients
- Medical Expert Search: an accessible online database to help you find a medical expert
Free Resources
If you're interested in learning more about all aspects of IBD, we invite you to look into our free educational resources available online. You can find a variety of brochures and one-pagers tailored specifically for children, teens, adults, and parents. To reference hard copies, you can fill out this order form.
For Kids, Teens, Parents, and Teachers
Do you have questions about IBD? Are you wondering how you can best manage your disease on a daily basis? IBD & Me, our activity center, can help you learn about Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in a fun and engaging way. You can play games, read comics, and watch short videos while learning about your health and how to take care of yourself.
Curious about what resources the Foundation has available for teens? Visit Just Like Me! Teens with IBD. This comprehensive web page can give you tips on how to manage your IBD as it relates to school, relationships, family, and more. Be sure to check out the blog posts with advice, questions, and stories from other teens in the IBD community!
If you are a parent of a recently diagnosed child with IBD and don't know where to turn, look no further than the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation's Youth and Parent Resources. We understand that this time may be a frightening one for you. With our education resources, you and your child can learn to manage all aspects of their illness, and you can help them live a healthy and fulfilling life.
As a teacher of a child with inflammatory bowel disease, it can be difficult to know what your student is going through and how best to help them throughout the school day. We invite you to consult the Foundation's Guide for Teachers and Other School Personnel, where you can learn about accommodations for your student, how to deal with absences, taking medication during school hours, and a child's perspective on living with IBD.
Get Involved
Want to learn more about the how you can engage with the New England Chapter of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation and how you can join the IBD community? Visit our get involved page to meet our team and explore our programs, committees, and fundraisers where you can make a difference and help our chapter fulfill its mission.