Your symptoms have improved, but are you still at risk for a flare? Go…beyond a gut feeling

SYMPTOM RELIEF

Symptom relief is important, but it's not the whole story in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

Learn about endoscopic improvement and work with your gastroenterologist to address underlying inflammation.

Transcript

00:00:00:01 - 00:00:00:04 (On-screen super)

Going Beyond a Gut Feeling

FEATURING TYLER JAMES WILLIAMS

Actor, Musician, Crohn’s Disease Patient

00:00:09:13 - 00:00:13:06

Hey, I'm Tyler James Williams. I'm here to talk to you about something very important.

00:00:13:06 - 00:00:31:22

Hey, man can we boom up? Thank you. We lost the light. Yo, tilt down, I'm here. You wouldn't put up with an out-of-control video like this. So why put up with uncontrolled IBD? Hold on. Let me fix this.

00:00:36:22 - 00:00:37:22

Better.

00:00:41:21 - 00:00:43:05

Okay.

00:00:43:05 - 00:00:45:17

Let's talk.

00:00:46:05 - 00:00:51:19

I'm Tyler James Williams, an actor, musician and a person living with Crohn's disease.

00:00:52:22 - 00:01:00:17

In 2012, I had my first major flare-up without knowing that's what it was.

00:01:00:17 - 00:01:12:11

And I just kind of chalked it up to, like, maybe it was a bad soup. Maybe somebody left something out for too long. Ummmm and I just didn't… I don't know… I just didn't take it seriously.

00:01:12:11 - 00:01:24:22

Over the course of the next five years, I spent a lot of time in and out of hospitals managing symptoms.

00:01:25:09 - 00:01:31:07

I think it was something like 12 to 15 trips to the E.R. over the course of three months.

00:01:31:07 - 00:01:45:20

At one point, I have a conversation with my gastroenterologist, and they tell me that I had a particularly difficult case because I ignored my symptoms for five years.

00:01:45:22 - 00:02:00:02

I kind of remember projects by the flare-ups I had during them. I don't always remember a scene like, people come up to me a lot and be like, you remember the scene like, no, I don't.

00:02:00:02 - 00:02:12:13

I had this understanding of it as something that was inconvenient but not something that needed to be taken seriously from a health point of view.

00:02:12:13 - 00:02:25:15

There are times where even I forget, like my days will be so I guess what other people would refer to as normal? That even I forget the journey that it took to get here.

00:02:25:15 - 00:02:31:02

Your life can be so wrapped up in symptom management.

00:02:31:03 - 00:02:38:16

Like that was the first thing on my brain when I woke up in the morning, was what do I have to do today? And how am I going to get through it?

00:02:38:22 - 00:02:56:18

It was a year of non-movement of being forced to sit down and I think that's when I understood what this was. It's something that if you don't choose to take care of it and do something beyond symptom relief, it will sit you down and force you to take a look at it.

00:02:56:18 - 00:03:11:04

I am currently in remission. Finally listened. Yeah. I've been in remission now for the last two years at least.

00:03:11:04 - 00:03:22:06

To now be in a place where I'm not just trying to get through days…I can actually have some fun, and I can enjoy it and have a good time is huge.

00:03:22:06 - 00:03:50:21

What I've learned is that a symptom is just flagging a bigger problem. I looked at it a lot as well my stomach abdomen hurts right now. I need that to stop hurting so I can do my job. Where the actual answer is, something's wrong here. I need to figure out what that is. I need to seek medical attention. I need to talk to somebody who specializes in this.

00:03:50:21 - 00:03:56:00

And then from there, we decide a course of action, not just removing the symptom.

00:03:56:04 - 00:04:04:02

IBD is a lifelong journey. Symptom management is important for feeling better, but it does not change the course of the disease.

00:04:04:02 - 00:04:10:02

That's why I'm focusing on long-term goals like the visible improvement of the lining of the intestinal tract.

00:04:10:02 - 00:04:12:42

I'm partnering with AbbVie to share my story.

00:04:13:02 - 00:04:19:12

Visit BeyondAGutFeeling.com to learn more and speak to your gastroenterologist about your IBD goals.

00:04:21:02 - 00:04:19:12 (On-screen super)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT

BeyondAGutFeeling.com

ELEVATE YOUR IBD GOALS

Understanding IBD beyond the symptoms

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is more than just symptoms—it’s a group of diseases associated with ongoing inflammation in the digestive tract.¹

SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT

Symptom management is important—but it does not change the course of IBD.^2-4

UNDERLYING INFLAMMATION

Some disease management options can help relieve IBD symptoms but may not address the underlying inflammation associated with IBD, which can lead to increased risk of flares.

INTESTINAL DAMAGE

Even in clinical remission, when IBD symptoms are under control, inflammation can continue due to persistent inflammation from prior intestinal damage.^4-6

ENDOSCOPIC IMPROVEMENT

Patients should speak with their gastroenterologist about long-term goals—such as the visible improvement of the intestinal lining.

IBD GOALS

It’s time to elevate your IBD goals, building from symptom management to
long-term endoscopic improvement.

Prioritize goals like:

Reducing Inflammation

Reducing Damage to the Intestinal Lining

Improving Overall Health

Patients and providers can work
together to achieve better outcomes.

UNDERSTANDING IBD

An overview of IBD and its impact

An inappropriate inflammatory response in the immune system causes damage to the mucosa of the gut. This inflammation of the mucosa is associated with IBD symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding.^7-9

CD is a chronic inflammation of the digestive tract that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus, but most often involves the small intestine and colon.^7,10

UC is a type of IBD characterized by chronic inflammation and ulcerations in the lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum.^11-13

ENDOSCOPIC IMPROVEMENT

is the visible improvement of the lining of the intestinal tract from the damage caused by IBD.

It may be an indicator for meeting your long-term treatment goals.¹⁴

Long-Term Goals, Not Just Short-Term Relief

Focusing on long-term improvements can help with overall IBD management.

REDUCING DISEASE PROGRESSION

Delayed diagnosis, untreated or inadequately managed IBD, and complications of CD and UC can result in persistent inflammation and more severe disease that may cause further bowel damage, leading to potential need for surgery or a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer.^1,13,14

SETTING TREATMENT  GOALS

The visible improvement of the intestinal lining from the damage caused by IBD may lead to better health outcomes, including fewer hospitalizations, reduced need for steroids, better IBD symptom control, fewer surgeries, and lower risk of colon cancer.^15,16

IMPACT ON
 DAILY LIFE

The uncertainty of when the next flare will arise or how severe it could be can potentially impact work, social activities, intimate relationships, and other aspects of daily life. Achieving symptom relief, coupled with addressing underlying inflammation to achieve clinical remission and endoscopic improvement, are key steps toward long-term management in IBD.^15,17

You're Not Alone: Inspiration From the IBD Community.

Ambassador Spotlight

Actor Tyler James Williams is living with IBD and, as the ambassador for Beyond a Gut Feeling, is partnering with AbbVie to share his story to inspire others to advocate for themselves, ask questions, and partner with their gastroenterologist to help achieve their long-term goals.

Transcript

00:00:00:01 - 00:00:00:04 (On-screen super)

Going Beyond a Gut Feeling

FEATURING TYLER JAMES WILLIAMS

Actor, Musician, Crohn’s Disease Patient

00:00:09:13 - 00:00:13:06

Hey, I'm Tyler James Williams. I'm here to talk to you about something very important.

00:00:13:06 - 00:00:31:22

00:00:36:22 - 00:00:37:22

Better.

00:00:41:21 - 00:00:43:05

Okay.

00:00:43:05 - 00:00:45:17

Let's talk.

00:00:46:05 - 00:00:51:19

I'm Tyler James Williams, an actor, musician and a person living with Crohn's disease.

00:00:52:22 - 00:01:00:17

In 2012, I had my first major flare-up without knowing that's what it was.

00:01:00:17 - 00:01:12:11

And I just kind of chalked it up to, like, maybe it was a bad soup. Maybe somebody left something out for too long. Ummmm and I just didn't… I don't know… I just didn't take it seriously.

00:01:12:11 - 00:01:24:22

Over the course of the next five years, I spent a lot of time in and out of hospitals managing symptoms.

00:01:25:09 - 00:01:31:07

I think it was something like 12 to 15 trips to the E.R. over the course of three months.

00:01:31:07 - 00:01:45:20

At one point, I have a conversation with my gastroenterologist, and they tell me that I had a particularly difficult case because I ignored my symptoms for five years.

00:01:45:22 - 00:02:00:02

I kind of remember projects by the flare-ups I had during them. I don't always remember a scene like, people come up to me a lot and be like, you remember the scene like, no, I don't.

00:02:00:02 - 00:02:12:13

I had this understanding of it as something that was inconvenient but not something that needed to be taken seriously from a health point of view.

00:02:12:13 - 00:02:25:15

There are times where even I forget, like my days will be so I guess what other people would refer to as normal? That even I forget the journey that it took to get here.

00:02:25:15 - 00:02:31:02

Your life can be so wrapped up in symptom management.

00:02:31:03 - 00:02:38:16

Like that was the first thing on my brain when I woke up in the morning, was what do I have to do today? And how am I going to get through it?

00:02:38:22 - 00:02:56:18

00:02:56:18 - 00:03:11:04

I am currently in remission. Finally listened. Yeah. I've been in remission now for the last two years at least.

00:03:11:04 - 00:03:22:06

To now be in a place where I'm not just trying to get through days…I can actually have some fun, and I can enjoy it and have a good time is huge.

00:03:22:06 - 00:03:50:21

00:03:50:21 - 00:03:56:00

And then from there, we decide a course of action, not just removing the symptom.

00:03:56:04 - 00:04:04:02

IBD is a lifelong journey. Symptom management is important for feeling better, but it does not change the course of the disease.

00:04:04:02 - 00:04:10:02

That's why I'm focusing on long-term goals like the visible improvement of the lining of the intestinal tract.

00:04:10:02 - 00:04:12:42

I'm partnering with AbbVie to share my story.

00:04:13:02 - 00:04:19:12

Visit BeyondAGutFeeling.com to learn more and speak to your gastroenterologist about your IBD goals.

00:04:21:02 - 00:04:19:12 (On-screen super)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT

BeyondAGutFeeling.com

Your Voice, Your Health

Partnering With Your Doctor to Achieve Your IBD Goals

Work closely with your doctor to set goals and create a plan that works for you to go beyond a gut feeling, focusing on IBD symptom management as well as endoscopic improvement.

Management options for IBD have recently evolved from symptom relief to also include endoscopic improvement. Talk to your gastroenterologist about an IBD management plan and follow up regularly.^1,7,18

Your gastroenterologist can assess your current status through procedures like a colonoscopy or endoscopy, which allow them to visually examine your intestinal lining. Regular monitoring helps track your progress toward this important goal.

Ask your doctor if your IBD management plan takes into consideration the latest evidence- and consensus-based recommendations from expert medical organizations. In 2021, the International Organization for the Study of IBD STRIDE-II (Selecting Therapeutic Targets in IBD) Initiative published an update on selecting therapeutic targets in IBD.¹⁵

Elevate Your IBD Goals: Take the Next Step

It's time to elevate your IBD goals, building from symptom management to include long-term endoscopic improvement.
Talk to your doctor about how to create an IBD management plan to help strive for endoscopic improvement.

References

1. CDC. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). https://www.cdc.gov/inflammatory-bowel-disease/living-with/index.html

2. Colombel JF, Narula N, Peyrin-Biroulet L. Management strategies to improve outcomes of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. Gastroenterology. 2017;152(2):351-361.e5. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2016.09.046

3. Shah SC, Colombel JF, Sands BE, Narula N. Systematic review with meta-analysis: mucosal healing is associated with improved long-term outcomes in Crohn’s disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2016;43(3):317-333. doi:10.1111/apt.13475

4. Baars JE, Nuij VJAA, Oldenburg B, Kuipers EJ, van der Woude CJ. Majority of patients with inflammatory bowel disease in clinical remission have mucosal inflammation. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2012;18(9):1634-1640. doi:10.1002/ibd.21925

5. Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. Partnering with your doctor. https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/patientsandcaregivers/effective-partnering

6. Otte ML, Tamang RL, Papapanagiotou J, Ahmad R, Dhawan P, Singh AB. Mucosal healing and inflammatory bowel disease: therapeutic implications and new targets. World J Gastroenterol. 2023;29(7):1157-1172. doi:10.3748/wjg.v29.i7.1157

7. Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. The facts about inflammatory bowel diseases. Published November 2014. https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2019-02/Updated IBD Factbook.pdf

8. Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. Overview of Crohn’s disease. https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/what-is-crohns-disease/overview

9. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Ulcerative colitis. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/ulcerative-colitis

10. Mayo Clinic. Crohn’s disease - symptoms and causes. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/crohns-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353304

11. Gajendran M, Loganathan P, Jimenez G, et al. A comprehensive review and update on ulcerative colitis. Dis Mon. 2019;65(12):100851. doi:10.1016/j.disamonth.2019.02.004

12. Monstad I, Hovde O, Solberg IC, Moum BA. Clinical course and prognosis in ulcerative colitis: results from population-based and observational studies. Ann Gastroenterol. 2014;27(2):95-104.

13. Mehta F. Report: Economic Implications of inflammatory bowel disease and its management. Am J Manag Care. 2016;22(3 suppl):s51-60.

14. Neurath MF. New targets for mucosal healing and therapy in inflammatory bowel diseases. Mucosal Immunol. 2014 Jan;7(1):6-19. doi: 10.1038/mi.2013.73

15. Turner D, Ricciuto A, Lewis A, et al. STRIDE-II: an update on the Selecting Therapeutic Targets in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (STRIDE) initiative of the International Organization for the Study of IBD (IOIBD): determining therapeutic goals for treat-to-target strategies in IBD. Gastroenterology. 2021;160(5):1570-1583. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2020.12.03

16. Shah SC, Itzkowitz SH. Colorectal cancer in inflammatory bowel disease: mechanisms and management. Gastroenterology. 2022;162(3):715-730.e3. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2021.10.035

17. Lönnfors S, Vermeire S, Greco M, Hommes D, Bell C, Avedano L. IBD and health-related quality of life — discovering the true impact. J Crohns Colitis. 2014;8(10):1281-1286. doi:10.1016/j.crohns.2014.03.005

18. Dave M, Loftus EV. Mucosal healing in inflammatory bowel disease—a true paradigm of success? Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2012;8(1):29-38.

SYMPTOM RELIEF

ELEVATE YOUR IBD GOALS

Understanding IBD beyond the symptoms

SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT

UNDERLYING INFLAMMATION

INTESTINAL DAMAGE

ENDOSCOPIC IMPROVEMENT

IBD GOALS

It’s time to elevate your IBD goals, building from symptom management to long-term endoscopic improvement.

Reducing Inflammation

Reducing Damage to the Intestinal Lining

Improving Overall Health

UNDERSTANDING IBD

An overview of IBD and its impact

ENDOSCOPIC IMPROVEMENT

Long-Term Goals, Not Just Short-Term Relief

Focusing on long-term improvements can help with overall IBD management.

REDUCING DISEASE PROGRESSION

SETTING TREATMENT GOALS

IMPACT ON DAILY LIFE

You're Not Alone: Inspiration From the IBD Community.

Ambassador Spotlight

Your Voice, Your Health

Partnering With Your Doctor to Achieve Your IBD Goals

Elevate Your IBD Goals: Take the Next Step

References

It’s time to elevate your IBD goals, building from symptom management to
long-term endoscopic improvement.

Improving Overall Health

SETTING TREATMENT  GOALS

IMPACT ON
 DAILY LIFE