Hello, woodprint, Two main types of Inflammatory bowel diseases include Ulcerative colitis and Crohn s Diasease. Ulcerative colitis only affects the large bowel or the colon , either the lower part or all of the colon. Symtoms are bloody diarrhea , abdominal pain, weight loss, fatigue etc. depending upon the extent and severity. Crohn s disease most commonly affects the lower part of the small intestine called the ileum and the beginning of the colon called the cecum (Ileo-cecal). But Crohn s can affect any portion of the digestive tract from the mouth down to the anal canal. The only cure for ulcerative colitis is removal of the colon , but there are very effective drugs that can keep the disease under remission. Crohn s disease cannot be cured by surgery because it has a tendency to show up in other parts of the intestine.There are also lot of complications such as abscess, abnormal tracts called fistulae , obstruction, bleeding etc. Both of these are chronic conditions and requires life time treatment except in the case of ulcerative colitis , total removal of colon can cure the disease. Both qualify as medical disabilities. Crohn s can be diagnosed with a combination of endoscopy, biopsy, and certain special blood markers such as pANCA & pASCA etc. You can discuss these with your doctors. I wish you well.