People always ask me what it is like to live with Crohn's disease. I generally tell them it isn't easy, but it can be handled as long as you have understanding friends and family. Your friends have to put up with cancelled invitations and your family will have to accept that the old you, the one who was ready for anything, no longer exists.
Personality changes come with Crohn's disease. I had a horrible problem with admitting to having the disease. I would rather lie than admit I had a serious digestive disease. When things got really bad, lying was no longer an option. The disease had taken a turn for the worst growing from mild to severe in a matter of months. Since that time, I did have a one year period where I was relatively symptom free, with the exception of eating dairy and some meats. The past year my symptoms have grown worse. I am very tired most of the time and pain dogs my steps. Lots of pain. Which takes me back to medication which I have been avoiding because the last treatment left me with sores and boils all over my body. The heavy duty medications are very much, and in some cases are, chemotherapy. They stamp out your immune system so it will stop attacking the digestive system. I have spent hours researching new treatments, but they all come with the same warnings of cancer, deadly infections, tuberculosis etc. So now, I am giving some consideration to surgery. Maybe it's not a bad idea to have a resection done to remove the damage portions of my colon. In a way, I wish I'd had that done a few years ago instead of embarking on journey of toxic medications that did help Crohn's but destroyed my skin. And so I wait to make up my mind. In the meantime, here is some information for those just starting out with Crohn's or those who have loved ones who suffer from the disease. crohnsandcolitis.com Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) characterized by inflammation of the digestive, or gastrointestinal (GI) tract. In fact, Crohn’s can affect any part of the GI tract, from the mouth to the anus, but it is more commonly found at the end of the small intestine (the ileum) where it joins the beginning of the large intestine (or colon). It can also affect: Eyes Skin Joints Crohn’s disease vs. ulcerative colitis Both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC) are inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), but there are some key differences. Crohn’s disease
Ulcerative colitis
IBD is not IBS It’s important not to confuse an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS is a disorder that affects the muscle contractions of the bowel and is not characterized by intestinal inflammation, nor is it a chronic disease. Who gets Crohn’s disease? Men and women are equally affected by Crohn’s disease Can occur at any time, but most often starts between ages 15-35 Symptoms range from mild to severe For a one-page overview of Crohn’s disease for yourself or to share with others, download Crohn’s Disease 101, A Basic Guide. What is it like to live with Crohn’s disease? Discover which Crohn’s symptoms occur at early onset and at later stages of the disease. Watch the Video VIEW TRANSCRIPT Inflammation plays a role in your Crohn’s disease symptoms. The damaging inflammation of Crohn’s may cause abdominal pain, frequent diarrhea and other symptoms that vary from mild to severe. Learn about Crohn’s symptoms What are the causes of Crohn’s disease? Although the exact causes are unknown, researchers believe Crohn’s disease is caused by a combination of factors involving genetics, the environment, and an overactive immune system. It is not caused by something you ate. Read about Crohn’s causes How do you get diagnosed with Crohn’s disease? If you have symptoms that could indicate Crohn’s, you will likely undergo a few different tests and procedures to get a diagnosis, as there is no one test that can definitively diagnose Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s diagnosis and testing Crohn’s is a chronic, life-long disease that requires constant treatment. Even though there is no cure for Crohn’s, there are many different medications available to treat it. There are times when surgery may also be necessary for some patients. Crohn’s treatment options Get Your Restroom card here. Request Card*Discreetly ask for access to restricted restrooms when symptoms arise. Sign Up Now Understand Your Inflammation Learn how it can play a role in your symptoms. See Inside Inflammation To read more, click here. Comments are closed.
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