Timaru Gastroenterology Ltd - Dr Caspritz

12/09/2025

Even if you mean well, these phrases usually hurt more than they help. Here’s what to say instead to show a loved one with Crohn’s disease you’re there for them.

06/09/2025

Global Consensus Statement on the Management of Pregnancy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

03/09/2025

I am thrilled to share an important update regarding the next chapter of my Christchurch practice!

19/05/2025

Today is World IBD Day and we join IBD warriors, health care providers, researchers, and caretakers around the world to make !

There are two main types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) – Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC). Both are chronic conditions that impact men and women and occur when there is inflammation or swelling in the GI tract.

But there are key differences between Crohn’s and UC, such as the part of the body that’s affected.

For ulcerative colitis – which is more common worldwide than Crohn’s – the colon and re**um are most affected. In Crohn’s disease, the small intestine (ileum) is the most common part of the body affected.

Symptoms vary depending on the type of IBD, where the disease is located in the body, and how bad the inflammation is. For ulcerative colitis specifically, most symptoms are related to bowel movements.

The good news is there are many different strategies for treatment and managing the emotional and social aspects of living with IBD that can help people diagnosed with the condition have a normal life span and good quality of life!

If you or someone you know has ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, life doesn’t have to be unpredictable – visit myibdlife.gastro.org for tips and ideas to manage your condition and live on your terms.

Share to help raise awareness on World IBD Day!

13/11/2022

Chronic abdominal pain — defined as pain that lasts for three months or longer — is common in both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, even when there is no visible evidence of intestinal inflammation. That's why we launched the Chronic Pain in IBD Initiative. Learn more in our latest Impact Report: https://bit.ly/3UxxTYY

19/05/2022

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) — including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis — affects both women and men. It is often found in people in their late teens and 20s, though it can be found at any age. IBD is found in people of all races and ethnicities across the globe. It is increasing in minorities and immigrants to industrialized countries, as well as in countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa.

Though IBD is a long-term health issue that has times of remission and relapse, most people have a normal life span and a good quality of life.

During flares or active disease, IBD symptoms may consist of many and/or urgent trips to the bathroom, loose stool, pain, cramps, gas, mucus and/or blood in stool, and poor appetite. Following these tips may help to reduce symptoms and ease some of your discomfort.

🧐 Know your body and how IBD affects you.
📘 Learn to care for yourself — have control over those things you can control.
🛠️ Build a support system that works for you: family, friends and support groups.
🥗 Be sure to follow instructions from your medical team, including diet tips, which may help to reduce symptoms and ease some of your discomfort.

https://patient.gastro.org/inflammatory-bowel-disease-ibd/

09/05/2022

05/03/2021

Pharmac is a remarkable and unique New Zealand government agency that is being attacked and demonized frequently...

OPINION: Latest review comes as agency faces becoming so demonised that it will lose its social licence.

27/11/2020

Having Barrett’s esophagus means the cells lining the esophagus (the tube that links the mouth and the stomach) have changed into types of intestinal cells that are not normal and increase the risk of long-term problems.

Barrett’s esophagus does not cause symptoms that you can feel.

Here are some risk factors:

• Men get Barrett’s esophagus twice as often as women.
• Caucasian men get it more often than men of other races.
• The average age at diagnosis is 55 years old.
• Out of 100 people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (or reflux), between 5 and 10 people will get Barrett’s esophagus.
• Obesity — chiefly, high levels of belly fat.
• Smoking.
• Some studies suggest that your genes may play a role.

There are some things that may lower your chance of getting Barrett’s esophagus, like a diet high in fruits and veggies, and working with your health care provider to lessen acid reflux.

The only way to find out if you have Barrett’s esophagus is with an endoscopy and a biopsy to look at the tissue of your esophagus under a microscope.

Finding out you have Barrett’s esophagus can seem like a lot, since the chance of future health concerns is higher. Your health care provider can help you decide on the best course of care for you and your condition, including lifestyle, medication, surveillance, eradication therapy and surgery. Working with your health care team can make sure that you know how to keep up with your care.

Learn more about Barrett’s esophagus in the link in our bio.

26/11/2020

“Holiday heartburn” is common. You eat unusual foods and larger amounts. Heartburn is when contents in your stomach back up into your throat.

What commonly causes the burn?
• Eating certain foods.
• Eating too quickly.
• Eating too much in one sitting.

AGA Patient Education Advisor Dr. Rajeev Jain offers alterations you can make this holiday season to make reflux less problematic. http://ow.ly/xZ6a50CsCKy

10/07/2020

About 35-50% of adults with Crohn’s disease will develop a fistula at some point in their disease journey. Fistulas are abnormal connections that form between the intestines and another organ or the skin. This image shows only one type that occurs. They are difficult to treat, and usually done so with a combination of medications and surgery. But despite using these medical interventions, fistula relapse does still occur in 20-30% of patients within the first year after treatment.

In this new blog post, we highlight new research that looked at identifying predictors of fistula relapse in Crohn’s patients and discuss some novel approaches to treating fistulas that are being explored: https://bit.ly/3gI80Bp