I have Crohn's Disease! What is happening to my body?

What on earth is going on? What is Crohn's disease and just what do you do now that you have been diagnosed with this often challenging disease? Seeking the appropriate treatment for your disease is most important so that you can achieve a more balanced sense of wellness.

In the case of Crohn's disease, the gastrointestinal or GI tract becomes horribly inflamed resulting in the symptoms of Crohn's disease. For this reason, Crohn's is known as an inflammatory bowel condition. It may also be referred to as ileitis or enteritis. Most commonly Crohn's disease attacks the lower section of the small intestine known as the Ilium. However, it is important to remember that Crohn's disease can attack any section of the GI tract from the mouth to the anus.

Extending deep into the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, the edema and inflammation of Crohn's disease is what causes the agonal pain of this bowel disease. Because of the swelling in the intestinal tract, the body begins to forcefully and frequently empty the contents of the G.I. tract which results in the massive diarrhea commonly associated with Crohn's disease. This pain and diarrhea are the hallmarks of Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease can be a difficult diagnosis for your health care provider to make. Because it mimics other bowel conditions such as IBS or ulcerative colitis, it can be difficult to initially differentiate between them. Many other inflammatory bowel conditions attack only the uppermost layer of intestinal lining, but Crohn's disease has the ability to attack all layers of the intestinal tract. Another difference between Crohn's disease and other bowel conditions is that with Crohn's disease there may actually be areas normal healthy tissue found in between areas of diseased tissue.

Currently it seems that Crohn's disease is not partial to the sexes, it interrupts the lives of both men and women equally. However, research does seem to indicate that Crohn's disease does seem to run in families. Many patients who suffer with Crohn's disease also have a blood relative who is fighting the same. If not with Crohn's disease itself, with another inflammatory bowel condition.

Crohn's disease is most often diagnosed in patients between the ages of 20 and 30. African-Americans appear currently to be at decreased risk for the development of Crohn's disease while those of Jewish descent seem to have an increased risk of developing Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease must be aggressively managed in an effort to regain control of your life. It is not something you can choose to manage one day and then ignore it the next day. Working closely with your gastroenterologist is of vital importance for you to regain some semblance of control in your health life.

While Crohn's disease can certainly heavily impact your life, with an aggressive management plan designed to fit your lifestyle, you have a great shot at learning to manage your symptoms. Just because you have received a diagnosis of Crohn's disease that does not mean that you simply accept it for what it is and give up. You may have some trial and error with the management of your Crohn's disease symptoms, but simply learn to deal with it and fight to regain control of your health.

Crohn's disease is certainly a challenging condition for many people to manage. While symptoms can range from mild to severe, the ongoing battle to control the abdominal pain and diarrhea associated with this inflammatory bowel disease can put a crimp in anybody's style. You simply must work with your gastroenterologist or primary care physician in order to design it best and most livable treatment plan for you.

What is Crohn's disease? It is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that deserves your full attention as well as the aggressive treatment and management by your health care team.

By: Tammy Foster

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