If you feel ill with fever, flu-like symptoms or respiratory illness, please call us to reschedule your appointment. Please Do Not Bring Children Under age 16 to Appointments.

Adjust Expectations During Shelter in Place

Granite Peaks GI Staff

4/09/2020

Part of the frustration that can come with this sort of change to our normal daily life is sustaining our normal expectations while living and working in an abnormal way. This goes for how we work, how we eat, how we exercise, how we create, sleep and plan. The secret to avoiding some of the frustration is to adjust our expectations – for now.

If you’re working reduced hours whether at home or at your place of work, you are likely able to adjust your schedule and some expectations. This is a great opportunity to build some new, positive habits by planning ahead to use your time wisely and productively.

  • Awaken at the same time. Try to keep it around your usual time so there won’t be a big adjustment when you go back to work full-time.
  • Use your commute time. If you aren’t commuting, use the extra time to ease into your morning with 10-30 minutes of exercise, meditation, reading, and a healthy breakfast. No, you can’t go to the gym right now, but you can figure out some ways to keep up some of your routine from home. Meditation (look online for free options for guided meditation) can help create mindfulness and ease anxiety during this unusual time.
  • Take a break from at-home work. If you’re used to grinding through the workday without breaks, rethink that. A break gives your mind and body the reprieve it needs. Those with children or family at home can use the time to reconnect with them and enjoy each other’s company. Have lunch outdoors on good-weather days to recharge and ready yourself for the afternoon’s work. That’s better than the work lunchroom any day!
  • Adjust expectations of your kids. If you have kids, you know this time has been tough on them and on you. They’re not in their normal routine, they can’t see their friends, they can’t even go to the playground at the park. That’s a recipe for tension and mayhem. So, you’re it! You’re in charge of their schooling, daycare, mind-filling and energy-burning activities – while you’re trying to work from home. Create a schedule of activities including learning, chores, creative play, outdoor and nap/quiet times. If you need to discuss adjusted work hours/expectations with your supervisor to accommodate this unusual situation, do it. Check the Workforce Services website if you have questions about your rights or eligibility for benefits surrounding daycare and your work hours.
  • If your work hours are over earlier than usual, plan to get outdoors for some exercise and fresh air, start a project you’ve been waiting to do, catch up on correspondence and reading, and remember to play. Make a list and schedule certain days or times for certain activities. Planning is key to making the most of your time at home the same way it is at work.
  • Eat healthy. Now is the time to learn how to properly meal-plan and shop for only those things you need to make your week’s meals. It’s not the time to indulge (too much) with unnecessary, unhealthy items. There are online planning tools to help you build a healthy, delicious week of meals. Remember to wear your facemask at the store and wash your hands thoroughly before and after you shop.
  • Adjust your TV consumption. Don’t overdose on news about the pandemic. Get one daily news report and move on to entertaining or educational programming. Choose the time you will stop watching television and begin winding down for a reasonable bedtime to allow for 8 hours of rest. Rest is an important part of staying healthy. This is an easy one – you can do it.
  • Shut off the TV. Even better! Now is a great to play games, work puzzles or work on projects alone or with your family. This is an adjustment that you can enjoy living with.

For those with digestive health issues, be sure to stock up on the items that keep you feeling healthy and keep your digestive system running smoothly. Whether you have celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or other digestive health issues, be sure you are taking the precautions necessary to stay well. If you are immunocompromised, do what you can to minimize your risk of contracting the virus. Plan daily exercise and dietary goals for staying well.

Know that your providers at Granite Peaks Gastroenterology are available to you, even during the COVID-19 situation. We have telehealth appointments available that let you connect with your GI provider from the safety and privacy of your home. It’s easy to set up, convenient and safe!

For those who have symptoms that may necessitate an in-person appointment, our clinic is making it safe for you to come in to see us. We are scheduling patients to allow for social distancing, pre-screening patients, performing extra cleaning steps between patients and wearing personal protective equipment.

For now, we are all adjusting expectations and actions to stay well and avoid either contracting COVID-19 or spreading it to others, and it’s working. Keep up the good work, Utah! We wish everyone safe and healthy days ahead.

The Future of IBD Treatment

Over a million Americans suffer from Inflammatory Bowel Disease every day. Now, a new drug may be available soon to change the entire face of the disease for those who suffer.

Second Genome, Inc. is a leader in the development of medicines using the bacteria that already exists in the human body. Each human body has a microbiome, comprised of an estimated 100 trillion bacteria. Second Genome is using innovative scientific methods to use these bacteria for IBD treatment and other diseases that are currently under treated in the medical field.

The two most common forms of IBD are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, both cause the GI tract to swell, making it difficult to digest food, absorb nutrition, and eliminate waste. The new drug, called SGM-1019, was announced in January 2015 as a molecule inhibitor, meaning it identifies and prevents the original driver of IBD through the body’s own microbiome system. If effective, it may have the ability to completely treat IBD safely and effectively with little or no side effects. The drug is delivered orally, and contains a small molecule that may be able to prevent IBD symptoms completely.

“Our scientists have identified a novel and important relationship between microbiome modulation of the target of SGM-1019 and inflammatory bowel disease. SGM-1019 has the potential to address a critical unmet need in inflammatory bowel disease treatment as a safe and well-tolerated oral therapy with an important disease modifying effect,” says Peter DiLaura, President, and CEO of Second Genome.

As of now, the drug is called SGM-1019 and is entering Phase I of a clinical trial. It has already completed a double blind, placebo controlled test, which went well and was successful with no significant adverse events. The next step in the Phase I trial is to explore multiple ascending doses to identify an optimal dose for future studies. Ideally, the Phase I trial should be completed later this year, although it may take much longer for the drug to make it to pharmacy shelves.

The goal of IBD treatment is to improve the quality of life for millions of Americans. Currently, there is no single ideal therapy for the treatment of the disease. However, there are several treatment options, including prescription antibiotics, corticosteroids, Aminosalicylates, and immunomodulators. Still, not every medication works for every patient, and there is no absolute cure. Second Genome’s platform is based in microbiome science, aiming to transform lives with medicines developed through this innovative science to treat multiple diseases where needs are currently not being met.

The genius of Second Genome’s proprietary Microbiome Discovery Platform is the ability to explain the complex relationship between the microbiome and the human body. Once this relationship is explored, Second Genome can isolate and identify more microbiome modulated drug targets. Second Genome obtained exclusive rights to SGM-1019 from an undisclosed biopharmaceutical partner.

At Granite Peaks we can treat your IBD conditions.

March 8th: National Colon Cancer Screening Day

March 8th is National Colon Cancer Screening Day!

Colorectal cancer is most common in people 50 and older and those with a family history of the disease or a personal history of colorectal cancer, polyps or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Unfortunately, by the time symptoms are present, colorectal cancer can be in an advanced sage. The good news, however, is that colorectal cancer is highly survivable… if it is diagnosed and treated early.

Protect your health with regular screenings…
It can save your life!

Colorectal cancer generally begins as small noncancerous growths called polyps. But with regular screenings, our board-certified gastroenterologists can find and remove these polyps before they become cancerous.

The best defense against colorectal cancer is regular screenings. The American Cancer Society recommends routine colorectal screenings beginning at age 50, earlier for people with higher risks (such as family history). Because it allows direct visual examination of the inside of the entire colon, colonoscopy is considered the “gold standard” screening method.  Also, any precancerous polyps found during the screening can be removed during the procedure, preventing their progression to colorectal cancer.

Granite Peaks Gastroenterology accepts all insurance plans and can see patients in about one week for a colonoscopy screening.

Call (801) 619-9000 or schedule an appointment today!

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