The symptoms of Crohn’s disease can be subtle, so diagnosing it without extensive testing can be difficult. Many patients shrug off the abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, aches and other symptoms, attributing them to some other cause rather than chronic disease. The symptoms in the early stages come and go, so it’s easy to dismiss it as a consequence of eating too much or some other manifestation.
But ignoring it for too long has consequences. As Crohn’s progresses, it can lead to severe health consequences and require surgery, removal of sections of the bowel, and even liver disease. In some cases, the eyes or joints can be affected.
The constant inflammation of the intestinal walls caused by untreated Crohn’s can cause them to wear away, thicken or create ulcers that can turn into abscesses. Some Crohn’s patients develop fistulas, which are abnormal connections between organs.
There is no surefire reason why Crohn’s disease occurs. It is an autoimmune disease, and some speculate that a virus is what triggers the process by activating the immune system. Unfortunately, an immune system that never shuts off is like a car left running. Eventually, there are consequences of the wear and tear.
Some Crohn’s patients have very mild attacks, with only diarrhea or the occasional cramp. That’s not enough to send most busy people to the doctor, allowing the disease to progress. The best advice: Listen to your body. If you have pain, it’s an indication that something, somewhere has an issue. Yes, the occasional cramp may be nothing. But if they come in smaller and smaller gaps, it’s time to seek medical attention.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
While only testing can confirm that you have something as serious as Crohn’s, there are tell-tale signs that you might have the disease. Again, they’re subtle, so talking to a medical professional and running down the list of problems may be your ticket to a diagnosis.
Here are the signs to watch for:
1) Abdominal pain. Crohn’s usually occurs in the lower right bowel area and may start as a dull ache that eventually grows. Because it usually happens after eating, most people attribute the problem to their eating habits. Particularly if the pain doesn’t subside after a few hours, it may be time to have the symptom checked. You won’t be viewed as a chronic complainer if you visit and there’s no issue. Doctors deal with possibilities, and they’ll be glad you trusted them enough to seek their opinion.
2) Excessive fatigue – We live in a world where work, school, activities, social life and a hundred other day-to-day chores eat up enormous amounts of time. We’re all tired, but because Crohn’s disease blocks vital nutrients, it can leave you severely tired. If you haven’t increased your activity to a great degree and find yourself lagging, you may have something else going on.
3) Fever – Most fevers are a reaction to something going on in your body. If you have a persistent temperature, it’s a sign that the immune system is trying to fight something. Your doctor can go through the checklist and eliminate likely causes.
4) Bleeding – It’s never a good sign when there’s blood in the stool. Not only does it drain your energy, but it also may indicate that there are abscesses developing in the body. This is a serious stage, and timely doctor advice is essential.
5) Weight loss – Everyone loves it when the number on the scale goes down. But if you haven’t significantly modified your diet and exercise program, something is going on beyond being blessed by the diet gods. Make an appointment to find out.
MANAGING CROHN’S DISEASE
If your doctor tells you that you might have Crohn’s disease, you can help manage flare-ups with lifestyle changes. They shouldn’t substantially alter your enjoyment or ability to enjoy regular living, but they are necessary to help reduce inflammation and disease triggers.
Your bowels are sensitive to stimulation. Thus, it’s wise to cut back on the alcohol and caffeine, both of which can affect the inner walls of your intestines. This doesn’t mean you have to eliminate alcohol or caffeine from your life completely. But keep in mind that both can dehydrate you, which can contribute to compromises in your immune system.
Perhaps you can halve your normal consumption as one way to slow down your body’s responses. Have one cup of coffee instead of two in the morning. Enjoy one glass of wine with your meal instead of drinking without food. And have plenty of water on hand while you drink to balance your consumption.
Raw vegetables are healthy, but they also can stimulate bowels. Instead of broccoli or cauliflower three times a week, perhaps a single serving will do. And milk, dairy and butter can increase some problems for those who are lactose-intolerant and can’t properly digest milk sugar.
Many Crohn’s sufferers blame spicy foods for their affliction. While the amounts of fats and grease in the foods is surely a contributor, the spice in most foods can stimulate reactions from your bowels and put the immune system in fight-back mode. You don’t have to eliminate beloved foods from your diet, but certainly cutting back a bit can help.
As with any chronic disease, the help and support of family and friends are crucial to helping you battle this lifelong affliction. Many people live healthy and happy lives with only the occasional Crohn’s disease flare-up. Certainly a combination of common sense, careful analysis of your diet and some additional relaxation when you can grab it will go a long way toward helping moderate your condition.