Crohn's Disease Info

Overview

Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis diseases which cause inflammation in the digestive tract. Generically, the two diseases can each be called I.B.D. (Intestinal Bowel Disease) Crohn’s disease often has inflammation throughout the digestive tract while ulcerative colitis is only in the large intestine. This inflammation can be in the form of lesions, scarring, blockage or manifest itself in other ways such as pain, diarrhea, needing to use the bathroom repeatedly, chronic fatigue, or weight loss.

Children with Crohn's disease or colitis may suffer delayed development and stunted growth. The range and severity of symptoms varies depending on the severity of the disease and the medications used to treat it. Crohn's disease or colitis can occur in people of all age groups, but it is more often diagnosed during an individual’s teenage years.

Causes

Several theories exist about what causes Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis but none have been proven.

The most popular theory is that the body's immune system reacts abnormally in people with Crohn's disease or colitis, mistaking bacteria, foods, and other substances for being foreign. The immune system's response is to attack these "invaders." During this process, white blood cells accumulate in the lining of the intestines, producing chronic inflammation, which leads to ulcerations and bowel injury.

Treatment

Treatment may include drugs, nutrition supplements, surgery, or a combination of these options. The goals of treatment are to control inflammation, correct nutritional deficiencies, and relieve symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. At this time, treatment can help control the disease by lowering the number of times a person experiences a recurrence, but there is no cure. Treatment for Crohn's disease or colitis depends on the location and severity of disease, complications, and the person's response to previous medical treatments when treated for reoccurring symptoms.

Some people have long periods of remission, sometimes years, when they are free of symptoms. However, the disease usually recurs at various times over a person's lifetime. This changing pattern of the disease means one cannot always tell when a treatment has helped. This makes Crohn’s and colitis not only difficult to diagnose but difficult to treat due to the extremely individual nature of the disease.

Surgery

Some patients with Crohn's disease or colitis choose surgery at some point in their lives. Surgery becomes a viable option when medications can no longer control symptoms. Surgery is used either to relieve symptoms that do not respond to medical therapy or to correct complications such as blockage, perforation, abscess, or bleeding in the intestine.

Coping techniques (courtesy of CCFA)

Coping techniques for dealing with Crohn's disease may take many forms. Attacks of diarrhea, pain, or gas may make people fearful of being in public places. In such a situation, some practical advance planning may help alleviate this fear. For instance, find out where the restrooms are in restaurants, shopping areas, theaters, and on public transportation ahead of time. Some people find it helps to carry along extra underclothing or toilet paper for particularly long trips. When venturing further afoot, always consult with your physician. Travel plans should include a large enough supply of your medication, its generic name in case you run out or lose it, and the name of physicians in the area you may be visiting.

People with Crohn's disease accept the diagnosis with a wide range of emotions. Some people are angry for a time. Others feel a sense of relief at finally knowing what it is that has made them ill. While it certainly may help to come to terms with Crohn's in a straightforward manner, since this approach may maximize your ability to be part of your health care team right from the start, everyone is different. Each person with the disease must adjust to living with Crohn's in their each person …in his or her own way. There should be no guilt, no self-reproaches, or blame placed on others as you come to grips with your illness.

There are resources and information available, such as local support groups and IBD education seminars. No one with Crohn's should ever feel alone. As you go about your daily life as normally as possible, try pursuing some of the same activities that you did before your diagnosis. Some days, you may not feel up to it. Other days, you will want to give it all you've got. Only you can decide what's right for you. It will help to follow your physician's instructions and maintain a positive outlook, and to take an active role in your care. That's the basic (and best) prescription.

While Crohn's Disease is a serious chronic disease with many complications, it is not considered a fatal illness. Most people with the illness may continue to lead useful and productive lives, even though they may be hospitalized from time to time, or need to take medications. In between flare-ups of the disease, many individuals feel well and may be relatively free of symptoms. But again, everyone is different, and it is up to you and your physician to find the treatment that works best for you.