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I'm not writing this article to complain. but I hope to raise some awareness and maybe share some knowledge. I know there are way more worse things out there and I guess I can even consider myself lucky in a way. I was diagnosed with Morbus Crohn, Crohn's Disease in 1992. Two weeks before I got married and I left the hospital one day before I got married. It took me about five years to accept the fact I was diagnosed with it and now, eighteen years later I don't know any better. It just comes with me and I found ways to deal with it but it's an " annoying" disease where the toilet at times becomes your best friend. Sounds odd but it is true.
For those who are not familiar with Crohn's disease, here some information :
Crohn's disease is a chronic (ongoing) disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive or gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Although it can involve any area of the GI tract from the mouth to the anus, it most commonly affects the small intestine and/or colon.
The disease is named after Dr. Burrill B. Crohn. In 1932, Dr. Crohn and two colleagues, Dr. Leon Ginzburg and Dr. Gordon D. Oppenheimer, published a landmark paper describing the features of what is known today as Crohn's disease. Crohn's and a related disease, ulcerative colitis, are the two main disease categories that belong to a larger group of illnesses called inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Because the symptoms of these two illnesses are so similar, it is sometimes difficult to establish the diagnosis definitively. In fact, approximately 10 percent of colitis cases are unable to be pinpointed as either ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease and are called indeterminate colitis.
Both illnesses do have one strong feature in common. They are marked by an abnormal response by the body's immune system. The immune system is composed of various cells and proteins. Normally, these protect the body from infection. In people with Crohn's disease, however, the immune system reacts inappropriately. Researchers believe that the immune system mistakes microbes, such as bacteria that is normally found in the intestines, for foreign or invading substances, and launches an attack. In the process, the body sends white blood cells into the lining of the intestines, where they produce chronic inflammation. These cells then generate harmful products that ultimately lead to ulcerations and bowel injury. When this happens, the patient experiences the symptoms of IBD.
Although Crohn's disease most commonly affects the end of the small intestine (the ileum) and the beginning of the large intestine (the colon), it may involve any part of the GI tract. In ulcerative colitis, on the other hand, the GI involvement is limited to the colon. In Crohn's disease, all layers of the intestine may be involved, and there can be normal healthy bowel in between patches of diseased bowel. In contrast, ulcerative colitis affects only the superficial layers (the mucosa) of the colon in a more even and continuous distribution, which starts at the level of the anus.
When you have Crohn's disease words like blood, toilet, cramps, weight-loss, colonoscopy, diarrhea, steroids and other very tasteful words will sound very familiar. I have the classic form which means that the part where the large intestine goes into the small intestine is mainly chronic sick. And therefore I said that I consider myself lucky. I've been hospitalized three times and I've seen people who had it really bad. From mouth till rectum and the worst thing was that I saw a 21 year old boy die from it. He had the worst form you can imagine and it still haunts me some days how brave but also how sick that boy was. He died while I was hospitalized. And he always kept smiling, what an amazing example that young man was.
It's an very individual disease because it can affect you in so many places. Finding a good an experienced gastroenterologist is very important when you or one of your loved ones is diagnoses with Crohn's.
Except for the twelve colonoscopies I had which come with preparation to empty your bowels I never missed a day at work due to my disease. It affected me more in the the area's of the sports I was participating in and my physical condition. If you have to visit the toilet more than twenty times a day you will be exhausted. That takes a lot out of you, at least in my case. Everywhere I go I always make sure there's a restroom near me otherwise I don't feel really comfortable. The cramping can be so bad at times that I almost think to know what women go through when they give labor.
There are many contradictions when it comes to what causes Crohn's and how to control it. Some say a diet will work, others claim that it's nonsense. As for me, I knew that any spicy food will give me way too much trouble so I don't even touch it. Coffee, stress and having Crohn's in the family are other subjects that are still being discussed. I drink coffee and I'm paying for it at times. But I can only blame myself when I drink it and I just need my coffee in the morning. It wakes me up so to speak.
I think I handled my Crohn's by just kept on doing what I also have been doing. It took me awhile to accept it but the quality of living with Crohn's ( in my case at least) is still very high. I don't consider it as a handicap. It's awkward at times and on bad days I can be very exhausted. And nobody can tell if from the outside. The funny things is that the people who are aware of the fact I have Crohn's tend to ask me how my stomach is doing. Somehow stomach comes more to mind than bowels I guess. I always smile and tell them my stomach is doing just fine.
Maybe there are some other people on the Vine with Crohn's disease or have family members or relatives who suffer from it. Maybe we can share some information. It can never hurt I would assume.
For now I'm going to drink a cup of coffee and I am looking forward to a cramp-free day. I always try to see the cup half full instead of empty also. Positive attitude can help with a lot of things in life is my motto.
