What to expect if you are diagnosed with Chrones Disease

I feel that with anything in life and especially an illness like chrones disease, it is important to get all the facts, some of them may not be pretty, but for me at least if I have an idea of what to expect, I can then prepare myself for it. So here is what to expect if you are diagnosed with Chrones disease, warts and all!

When I was first told that I had Chrones disease the idea was very frightening, especially as there were so many unknowns. Even the doctors could not be totally sure of everything that was going to happen to me! So what can you expect? Well here are a few of the facts:

People with Chrones disease often go through periods of improvement which are then followed by deterioration and the experience increased symptoms again sometimes these periods of remission can go on for years. If you have chrones, you have an increased risk of small bowel or colorectal carcinoma.

Complications associated with Chrones Disease

You can get fistulas in the following areas:

• Bladder
• Vagina
• Skin

• Bowel obstructions
• Abscess
• Nutritional deficiencies (commonly vitamin B12 deficiency)
• Complications of corticosteroid therapy
• Erythema nodosum
• Pyoderma gangrenosum
• Inflammation of the joints
• Lesions in the eye
• Impaired growth and sexual development in children

Many of the words above are rather big and frightening, don't worry we will go through them over time in this blog. remember with chrones, knowledge is power!

Obviously if you have chrones, like me this list can be very frightening. Just remember: I don't think anyone has had ALL these complications with Chrones. This is almost the total worst case scenario. But as i said earlier I feel that it is important to know the facts about Chrones, but it is also important to know that there is also a whole life to live EVEN if you have Crohn's Disease. That is what this blog is all about, passing on the facts about chrones disease, the new treatments for chrones disease and as well showing you that there is also a whole life for you to live out there, so go and enjoy it.

I have had chrones for almost 6 years now and sure there have been pretty bad times, but I have also had many great times to that I wouldn't swap for anything.

Books on Chrones Disease
For more information why not try some books on chrones disease, there are people out there that are way better writers than I am!:

For people form the USA (Amazon.com)
Books on Chrones disease


For people form the UK (Amazon.co.uk)
Books on Chrones disease

About Chrones Disease - Some Facts

I have had a few queries from people asking what is Chrones Disease? (which is correctly spelt Crohn's disease)

Basically Chrones disease is a chronic and debilitating inflammatory disease of the
gastrointestinal tract that is incurable. Chrones disease usually occurs in people between the ages of 18-25, but can begin much later in life as well.

Because Chrones disease is chronic, patients often go through unpredictable periods in which the disease flares up and the symptoms of the disease re-appear. Then these periods are followed by periods of remission where the symptoms disappear or decrease and the person with chrones appears to be in good health.

Throughout the world, the west has the highest percentage of chrones disease sufferers, with Canada having one of the highest rates in the world.

The cause of Chrones disease is not really known but it is believed to be an autoimmune disease that has links to genetics. The condition occurs when the immune system contributes to damage of the gastrointestinal tract by causing inflammation.

As mentioned earlier, there is currently no known medical or surgical cure for Chrones disease, unlike the other major type of IBD called ulcerative colitis.

Many people live with Chrones disease for many years and dont know that they have it until the usual onset of chrones disease between the ages of 15 and 30. There are no difference in numbers or chances of getting the disease between men and women.

Chrones disease can cause a variety of symptoms that include Growth failure which is common in children who have Chrones disease. Infact many children are first diagnosed with Chrones disease based on inability to maintain normal growth.

Older people who have Chrones disease may show weight loss coupled with decreased food intake, since individuals with intestinal symptoms from Chrons disease often feel better when they do not eat and might lose their appetite. This is often one of the fist signs that a person has Chrones Disease.

Chrones Disease Symptoms

The diagnosis of Chrones Disease is often really difficult, the disease can occur at any age but it does seem as though that adolescence and early adulthood are the times of the highest risk.

Because current research says that the only way of getting Chrones disease is genetic, the only known risks seem to be through a family history of Chrones disease.

It also seems that people who have Jewish ancestry, and smoking also seems to increase the risk of Chrones.

Chrones disease is more common than most people thing as there are about 7 people in every 100,000 who have the disease.

Here are the main Symptoms of Chrones Disease:

* Unintentional weight loss
* Abdominal mass
* Abdominal sounds - gurgling or splashing sounds
* Fatigue and tiredness
* Tenesmus which means pain with passing stool
* Fever
* Diarrhea
* Loss of appetite
* Gastrointestinal bleeding
* Stools that are Foul-smelling
* Pain in your Abdomen

Here are also some less common Symptoms of Chrones disease:

* Anal Incontinence
* Swollen gums
* Blood in your stools
* Pain in your joints
* Constipation
* Abdominal fullness and gas

For more information on chrones disease here is a link to chrones disease books:

Chrones Disease Books