Being given a diagnosis of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis can be overwhelming. In 2012 Crohn's and Colitis New Zealand Charitable Trust published its first edition of the Living with IBD handbook. The purpose of the handbook was to answer many of the questions people have upon being first diagnosed, but also to serve as a reference in the future.

This updated version is a result of a collaborative effort between New Zealand doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, and, most-importantly, people with IBD. Having an understanding of these diseases is important as management is best when there is a partnership between the patient and the medical team.

We hope this handbook will be useful. All of us at Crohn's and Colitis New Zealand Charitable Trust are committed to making the lives of people with IBD more liveable. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need more information or would like to learn more about what we do.

- Richard Stein, MD, FRACP, FACG, Chair of CCNZ

Handbooks are available through your local support group, your gastro clinic and through CCNZ.  It is also available online on our website.

A huge thank you to all those who contributed to the updated edition as well as those responsible for the original version (listed in alphabetical order):

• Hollie Asprey, Registered Psychologist, Wellington
• Dr Rachael Bergman, Gastroenterologist, Auckland City Hospital
• Belinda Brown, CEO, Crohn’s and Colitis New Zealand Charitable Trust
• Dr Charlotte Daker, Gastroenterologist, North Shore Hospital
• Professor Andrew Day, Paediatric Gastroenterologist, University of Otago, Christchurch
• Professor Richard Gearry, Gastroenterologist, University of Otago, Christchurch
• Dr Dagmar Hendel, Gastroenterologist, Auckland City Hospital
• A/Professor Mark Lane, Gastroenterologist, University of Auckland
• Kerry McIlroy, Dietitian, Auckland City Hospital
• Mr Arend Merrie, Colorectal Surgeon, Auckland City Hospital
• Karen Murdoch, R/N, IBD Nurse Specialist, Hawkes Bay Hospital
• Charmaine Rees, CCNZ Trustee
• Dr David Rowbotham, Gastroenterologist, Auckland City Hospital
• Dr Sophia Savva, Gastroenterologist, Wellington Hospital
• Dr Richard Stein, Chairman, Crohn’s and Colitis New Zealand Charitable Trust and Gastroenterologist, Lower Hutt
• Dr Catherine Wall, Dietitian, Christchurch Hospital
• Dr Philip Wong, Gastroenterologist, Auckland City Hospital
• Dr Sylvia Wu, Gastroenterologist, Hutt Hospital 

Thank you to Pharmaco (NZ) Ltd for proudly sponsoring the printing and distribution of this handbook.