Crohns disease, what is it?

Imagine living your daily life having a stomach virus, cramping, vomiting diarrhea, body pain, fever. This is what those like me live almost daily.

I once believed that this chronic disease was not lethal until one of my close friends passed away after eight months in the ICU from complications.

There is no diet to follow because what may not bother you today or tomorrow could possibly land you in the local hospital’s ER next month. What bothers you today may not bother you next week.  A food journal is our bible as we write down everything that passes our lips.

 Crohns disease affects your entire digestive system, from your mouth to your anus. You can develop painful sores in your mouth that make it hard to eat. Strictures that narrow your small and large bowel, fissures that are tares in the lining of your anus, or fistulas which your bowel small or large tunnels out and attaches itself to other organs.

In many cases resection surgery, surgery to repair fistulas and fissures is needed, This may only be a temporary fix as sometimes with a resection the disease will reoccur where the or next to the resection.

Although onset of this disease occurs mostly from ages fifteen to twenty-five, there are cases of earlier onset from as young as a few months old. There are also cases of later onset from ages fifty-five to seventy.

Like many other chronic disease there are stages of severity from mild, moderate to severe. Some with crohns disease go into remission for years at a time while others have moderate flares a couple times a year. In the severe cases people are not able to work, or live a full life due to constant flares.

Since there is no diet to follow, is there foods that should be avoided? Yes

Popcorn, dairy products, fats, and spicy foods

For more information about this disease I have included links.

www.ccfa.org

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/crohns-disease-000043.htm

http://www.livingwithcrohnsdisease.com/