Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Care in Grand Rapids, MI

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are lifelong gastrointestinal disorders, collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). These conditions are increasingly diagnosed in children, teens, and adults in West Michigan, including the Grand Rapids area.

While the exact cause and a complete cure are still unknown, modern treatments available through major Grand Rapids health systems—such as Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health), Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health–University of Michigan Health, and Mercy Health—can help many people live active, fulfilling lives.

What Is Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)?

IBD is a group of chronic conditions that cause inflammation in the digestive tract. The two main types are:

  • Crohn’s disease
  • Ulcerative colitis

Both conditions can flare up (active inflammation and symptoms) and then go into remission (few or no symptoms). Because Grand Rapids experiences long, cold winters and seasonal changes, some people with IBD notice their symptoms or energy levels fluctuate with the weather, vitamin D levels, and activity patterns.

If you live in Grand Rapids or the surrounding Kent County area and have ongoing digestive symptoms, it’s important to see a local primary care provider or gastroenterologist for proper testing.

Crohn’s Disease

What Is Crohn’s Disease?

Crohn’s disease is a type of IBD that can cause inflammation anywhere along the digestive tract—from the mouth to the anus. Inflammation is the body’s response to injury or irritation and can cause:

  • Redness
  • Swelling
  • Pain

The disease tends to come and go in flares and remission. Over time, Crohn’s disease can change in how and where it affects the bowel, so ongoing monitoring at a Grand Rapids IBD clinic or GI practice is important.

Common Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease

Symptoms vary from person to person and depend on which part of the gut is inflamed. During a flare, common symptoms include:

  • Abdominal pain or cramping
  • Frequent diarrhea (sometimes with mucus or blood)
  • Urgent need to use the bathroom
  • Tiredness and fatigue
  • Fever or feeling generally unwell
  • Loss of appetite and weight loss
  • Anemia (low red blood cell count), which can cause weakness, shortness of breath, and pale skin

Because Crohn’s disease can interfere with nutrient absorption, people in Grand Rapids with long winters and less sun exposure may be at higher risk for vitamin D deficiency, iron deficiency, and other nutritional problems.

Diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease in Grand Rapids

Crohn’s symptoms can look like other conditions, such as infections, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or celiac disease. To confirm a diagnosis, your Grand Rapids doctor or gastroenterologist may recommend:

  • Blood tests – to check for anemia, inflammation, infection, and nutritional deficiencies
  • Stool tests – to rule out infections and check for markers of inflammation
  • Endoscopy/colonoscopy – a camera test to look directly at the digestive tract and take biopsies
  • Imaging tests – such as CT scans, MRI, or specialized bowel imaging available at local hospitals like Corewell Health or Trinity Health Grand Rapids

These tests help determine which parts of the bowel are affected and guide your treatment plan. Because Crohn’s disease can change over time, some tests may be repeated to monitor disease activity and treatment response.

Treatment of Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease cannot currently be cured, but in most cases it can be well managed with:

  • Medications
  • Nutrition and diet strategies
  • Lifestyle changes
  • Sometimes surgery

Your treatment plan may be adjusted over time if medications become less effective or your disease pattern changes.

Medications for Crohn’s Disease

Most medications are aimed at reducing inflammation and controlling the immune response. Common drug classes include:

  • Aminosalicylates (5-ASA)
  • Corticosteroids – for short-term control of flares
  • Immunosuppressants – to calm the immune system
  • Biologic therapies – targeted medications given by injection or infusion (often available through infusion centers at major Grand Rapids hospitals)
  • Antibiotics – in specific situations, such as abscesses or infections

Your gastroenterologist in Grand Rapids will choose medications based on disease severity, location of inflammation, your age, other health conditions, and your preferences.

Diet and Nutrition for Crohn’s Disease

Diet plays a key role in managing Crohn’s disease, especially in a region like West Michigan where seasonal produce and activity levels change throughout the year.

How Diet Helps

  • Manage symptoms during flares
  • Support remission
  • Prevent or treat malnutrition
  • Support growth in children and teens
  • Help manage complications (such as strictures or fistulas)

Common nutrition strategies include:

  • Exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) – special liquid formulas used as the main source of nutrition (often in children)
  • Crohn’s disease exclusion diets – structured plans that remove certain trigger foods
  • Low or moderate FODMAP diets – to help reduce gas, bloating, and pain (used under dietitian guidance)
  • Low-fiber or low-residue diets – during strictures or severe flares
  • High-energy, high-protein diets – to prevent weight loss and support healing
  • Oral vitamin and mineral supplementation – such as iron, vitamin D, B12, calcium, and others

Working with a registered dietitian in Grand Rapids—often available through Spectrum Health, Metro Health, or community clinics—can help tailor a safe, effective eating plan.

Surgery for Crohn’s Disease

Not everyone with Crohn’s disease needs surgery. However, when parts of the bowel are too damaged to heal with medication, surgery may be the best way to restore health and quality of life.

Common Types of Surgery

  • Resection – removing a damaged segment of bowel and reconnecting the healthy ends
  • Stricturoplasty – widening narrowed (strictured) sections without removing bowel
  • Creating a stoma (ileostomy or colostomy) – bringing part of the intestine to the skin surface to allow stool to pass into a bag

Surgery is usually performed by colorectal surgeons at major Grand Rapids hospitals. The goal is to preserve as much bowel as possible while relieving symptoms and preventing complications.

Complementary and alternative therapies (such as acupuncture, some supplements, or mind–body therapies) may be used alongside conventional treatment, but should always be discussed with your healthcare team to avoid interactions with medications.

Ulcerative Colitis

What Is Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative colitis is another form of IBD that causes inflammation and ulcers in the large intestine (colon and rectum). The inflammation:

  • Almost always involves the rectum
  • May extend upward through part or all of the colon
  • Can worsen or spread over time if not treated

Ulcers (sores) on the inner lining of the colon can bleed and produce mucus, leading to blood and mucus in the stool.

Common Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis

Symptoms depend on how much of the colon is inflamed and how severe the inflammation is. During a flare, common symptoms include:

  • Abdominal pain or cramping
  • Frequent diarrhea, often with blood and/or mucus
  • Urgent need to use the toilet (sometimes with difficulty holding stool)
  • Tiredness and fatigue
  • Fever or feeling unwell
  • Loss of appetite and weight loss
  • Anemia due to blood loss

If you live in Grand Rapids and notice persistent blood in your stool or ongoing diarrhea, it’s important to contact a local doctor or urgent care rather than waiting for symptoms to resolve on their own.

Diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis in Grand Rapids

Because ulcerative colitis can resemble infections, IBS, or other conditions, your Grand Rapids healthcare provider may recommend:

  • Blood tests – to check for anemia, inflammation, and nutritional status
  • Stool tests – to rule out infections and check for inflammation markers
  • Endoscopy/colonoscopy – to view the colon and rectum, and take tissue samples (biopsies)

People who have had ulcerative colitis for 8 years or longer are usually advised to have regular colonoscopies (often every 1–3 years) to monitor for precancerous changes. These services are widely available through GI practices and hospital systems in the Grand Rapids metro area.

Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis

Like Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis cannot be completely cured with medication, but it can often be well controlled with:

  • Medications
  • Diet and nutrition support
  • Lifestyle changes
  • Sometimes surgery

Even during remission, some mild symptoms may persist, and treatment may need adjustment over time.

Medications for Ulcerative Colitis

The main goal of medication is to reduce inflammation and maintain remission. Common medications include:

  • Aminosalicylates (5-ASA) – often first-line treatment
  • Corticosteroids – for short-term control of flares
  • Immunosuppressants – to control the immune system
  • Biologics – targeted therapies available through local infusion centers
  • Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors – newer oral medications for moderate to severe disease

Thalidomide is rarely used and typically reserved for very specific cases under close specialist supervision.

Diet and Nutrition for Ulcerative Colitis

Diet plays an important role in:

  • Managing symptoms
  • Maintaining good nutrition
  • Supporting remission
  • Managing complications

Common dietary strategies include:

  • High-energy, high-protein diet – to prevent weight loss and support healing
  • Oral vitamin and mineral supplementation – especially iron, vitamin D, calcium, and B12
  • Low or moderate FODMAP diet – to help with gas, bloating, and pain (under dietitian guidance)

Most people with IBD are encouraged to follow a balanced eating pattern similar to the American dietary guidelines, adjusted for their individual triggers and tolerances. In Michigan, this might include local lean meats, dairy, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and whole grains when tolerated.

Working with a Grand Rapids dietitian experienced in IBD can help you navigate food choices while eating out, attending local events, or managing symptoms during winter months when fresh produce and outdoor activity may be more limited.

Surgery for Ulcerative Colitis

Surgery is not necessary for everyone, but it may be recommended when:

  • Medications are no longer effective
  • Complications develop (such as severe bleeding or precancerous changes)

Common Surgeries for Ulcerative Colitis

  • Ileostomy – removing the colon and bringing the small intestine to the skin surface
  • Pouch surgery (J-pouch) – creating an internal pouch from the small intestine to store stool, allowing many people to avoid a permanent ostomy

These surgeries are typically performed by colorectal surgeons at Grand Rapids hospitals, with support from stoma nurses, dietitians, and other specialists.

Complementary and alternative therapies may help reduce symptoms and improve wellbeing when used alongside standard treatment, but always discuss these options with your healthcare team.

Living with Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis in Grand Rapids

Diet and Weight Management

People with IBD can experience both undernutrition and overweight/obesity:

  • Undernutrition can lead to fatigue, poor healing, higher risk of infection, and more complications after surgery.
  • Overweight or obesity can increase inflammation and may affect how well some medications work.

Diet may be used to:

  • Treat flares
  • Support remission
  • Manage complications (such as strictures or short bowel)

Because Michigan winters can limit outdoor activity and sunlight exposure, it’s especially important for Grand Rapids residents with IBD to:

  • Monitor vitamin D levels
  • Stay physically active indoors when outdoor exercise is difficult
  • Work with a local dietitian to ensure adequate calories, protein, and nutrients year-round

Fertility, Pregnancy, and IBD

Most women with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis can have healthy pregnancies and raise a family. However, certain situations require special care:

  • Active flares
  • Specific medications
  • Prior surgeries involving the bowel or pelvis

If you or your partner has IBD and are considering pregnancy:

  • Talk with a gastroenterologist and OB/GYN familiar with IBD—many are available through Grand Rapids health systems.
  • Plan pregnancy during a time when your disease is as well controlled as possible.
  • Review your medications to ensure they are safe before and during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Preconception counseling at local clinics can help you understand how to keep both you and your baby healthy before, during, and after pregnancy.

Mental Health and IBD

People with IBD are more likely to experience:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Stress related to unpredictable symptoms, flares, or surgery

This is a normal response to living with a chronic, sometimes disruptive condition. Psychological support can make a significant difference.

Types of Psychological Support

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
  • Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
  • Gut-directed hypnotherapy
  • Counseling or psychotherapy with a psychologist or licensed therapist

Grand Rapids offers a range of mental health resources through hospital systems, private practices, and community organizations. The Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health can also help direct you to local mental health services.

Exercise and Bone Health

Staying physically active is very important for people with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, especially because:

  • IBD and some medications (like steroids) can weaken bones.
  • Michigan’s long winters and less sun exposure can lower vitamin D, increasing osteoporosis risk.

Beneficial Types of Exercise

  • Weight-bearing exercise – brisk walking, jogging, dancing, aerobics
  • Strength training – light weights or resistance bands
  • Gentle activities – yoga, tai chi, stretching

Benefits include:

  • Stronger bones
  • Better energy levels
  • Reduced stress and anxiety (through endorphin release)
  • Improved sleep and mood

Outdoor activity in sunnier months can also help boost vitamin D levels. During winter, indoor exercise classes or at-home routines can help you stay active.

Local Resources for IBD in Grand Rapids, MI

If you think you may have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis—or you’ve already been diagnosed—consider connecting with:

  • Your primary care provider (GP/family doctor)
  • Gastroenterologists at:
    • Corewell Health (Spectrum Health)
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health–University of Michigan Health
    • Mercy Health and affiliated clinics
  • Registered dietitians with experience in IBD
  • Psychologists or licensed therapists familiar with chronic illness
  • Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health for community resources and support

National organizations such as the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation also offer education, support groups, and online tools. Many Grand Rapids providers partner with these groups for patient education and local events.

Key Points for Grand Rapids Residents

  • The cause and cure of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are currently unknown, but effective treatments are available locally.
  • Inflammation in IBD causes redness, swelling, and pain in the digestive tract.
  • Symptoms vary by person and by disease location, but common signs include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and anemia.
  • Diagnosis usually involves blood tests, stool tests, endoscopy, and imaging, all available at major Grand Rapids hospitals and clinics.
  • Treatment often includes medications, diet changes, lifestyle adjustments, and sometimes surgery.
  • Nutrition, mental health, exercise, and bone health are all important parts of long-term IBD care, especially in a four-season climate like West Michigan.

If you live in the Grand Rapids area and are experiencing ongoing digestive symptoms, talk with a local healthcare provider. Early diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan can help you manage Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis and maintain a good quality of life.