One realisation I\u2019ve noticed during my time struggling with Crohn\u2019s disease is everyone seems to experience the illness in their own way. Today, I\u2019ll be giving you an insider\u2019s look at what my life is like with Crohn\u2019s disease, and how this disease can impact your life.<\/p>\n
What is Crohn\u2019s Disease?<\/h2>\n
Starting with the basics, Crohn\u2019s is a form of inflammatory bowel disease. The condition occurs when your immune system causes chronic inflammation throughout the digestive tract<\/a>. Some studies say that Crohn\u2019s is most likely to occur between the ages of 20 and 30. Others say your likelihood of developing Chron\u2019s increases between the age range of 15 to 35 years of age.<\/p>\n In the US, interestingly, Crohn\u2019s disease is more common in women<\/a>, while ulcerative colitis is more common in males. However, anyone can get Crohn\u2019s disease at any time. Additionally, children are twice as likely to be diagnosed with Crohn\u2019s as ulcerative colitis.<\/p>\n Scientists aren\u2019t completely sure what causes Crohn\u2019s disease yet. Some say cigarette smoking is a cause (which wasn\u2019t an issue for me, as I did not smoke). Active smokers are apparently twice as likely<\/a> to develop this disease. Family history and genetic factors can also be a common risk factor, as immune issues are often passed down through genetics.<\/p>\n Around 20% of people with IBD<\/a> (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) have another family member with an IBD condition as well (such as Crohn\u2019s). If I had known this information 15 years ago, I might have invested in a DNA test<\/strong><\/a> just to save me some of the time doctors spent trying to figure out what was wrong. My DNA test would have flagged me for Crohn\u2019s disease risk, and that information would have saved me some time figuring out what was wrong with me.<\/p>\n A malfunctioning immune system could cause Crohn\u2019s disease. It\u2019s possible that a virus or bacterium could trigger Crohn\u2019s disease. Abnormal immune responses could cause one\u2019s immune system to attack cells in their digestive system.<\/p>\n Stress and diet can worsen your condition, but doctors don\u2019t think these issues cause the disease. Rather, it seems likely that Crohn\u2019s is caused by a variety of factors, including genetics.<\/p>\n The kind of symptoms you have is usually influenced by the type of Crohn\u2019s you have. The most common form of Crohn\u2019s (my diagnosis) is ileocolitis, affecting the small intestine (ileum). This version of Crohn\u2019s disease usually causes pain in the lower part of the abdomen. It can also cause diarrhoea and weight loss<\/a>, though personally, those issues aren\u2019t common for me.<\/p>\n Other more common symptoms of Chron\u2019s that I\u2019ve experienced include:<\/p>\n Many women will also experience interruptions in their menstrual cycle as another symptom of Crohn\u2019s. If your disease manifests in the small intestine (duodenum), you might encounter symptoms such as vomiting and nausea. Another type of Crohn\u2019s called Jejunoiletis (affecting the jejunum which is the middle part of the small intestine) may cause severe cramping after eating. Other symptoms that are not an issue for me but significant for some people depending on their Crohn\u2019s disease include:<\/p>\n Interestingly, you don\u2019t necessarily have these pains or severe problems all the time. It\u2019s common to have remissions with Crohn\u2019s, to the point where you almost forget you have a diagnosed illness. However, something simple like an anxiety attack, a stressful experience, or just a bad experience with food can bring the symptoms of Crohn\u2019s rushing back.<\/p>\n There are five different types of Crohn\u2019s disease, so I wouldn\u2019t consider myself an expert on all aspects of this disease. It\u2019s also worth noting that my condition (so far) has been very mild. I\u2019ve never had to have any surgery due to my Crohn\u2019s disease. However, I\u2019ve had friends with the same condition who have been much worse off than myself.<\/p>\n Most of the time, I try to forget the disease is even an issue in my life. I think of it as an inconvenience rather than something that defines my identity. However, It does make life a little more complicated and unpredictable at times.<\/p>\n It\u2019s difficult to book vacations and enjoy travel because you never know when you\u2019re going to be struck with pains so bad you can barely move. You never know when symptoms of Crohn\u2019s disease will reappear.<\/p>\n Sometimes, however, dealing with the disease feels simple. You just follow a specific diet and avoid anything that might trigger symptoms<\/a>. Other times, the experience of having Crohn\u2019s disease is overwhelming, defined by heavy pain medication and feelings of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion.<\/p>\n Luckily, I have a couple of people in my life who understand what I am going through. I have a few friends with long-term ailments and conditions that influence their lives as well, and we support each other. However, I also know people who don\u2019t always understand what it\u2019s like to be fine one day, then in too much pain to cope the next day.<\/p>\n When Crohn\u2019s symptoms hit, it\u2019s not the same mild discomfort as having irritable bowel syndrome or a touch of constipation.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve had days where because of Crohn\u2019s, I\u2019ve lost all the feelings in my arms and legs and had to lay down on the floor of the bathroom to avoid passing out.<\/p>\n Plus, I\u2019m constantly aware that stress and difficult life experiences can make the condition even worse and stress can manifest some of the worst symptoms. This makes me more nervous about even just the concept of getting stressed.<\/p>\n Any kind of chronic illness, mild or severe, is going to change your life<\/a>. My condition makes me more nervous, cautious, and aware of my own boundaries. Friends I\u2019ve known with the disease have experienced more significant life changes, because they\u2019ve dealt with Crohn\u2019s that was less mild than mine.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no single answer to how significantly Crohn\u2019s will affect your life if you end up with a diagnosis. Some people, with medication and guidance, can have very mild, infrequent symptoms. Others need to take significant periods away from work when they\u2019re experiencing a flare-up or choose different careers in order to accommodate their illness.<\/p>\n I know someone who had to transition from a fast-paced, active lifestyle in a security job to a far more sedentary desk job after his symptoms made it impossible for him to continue performing his job. This individual eventually ended up having a colectomy \u2013 a surgery that many people with Crohn\u2019s may need at some point.<\/p>\n A colectomy involves having the colon removed and an opening made in the front of the abdominal wall through a stoma. You end up wearing a small bag where waste is collected throughout the day. (Yes, you often walk around with a noticeable odour.) Though this might sound horrifying, and this definitely negatively impacts many people\u2019s lives, some people get through it better than others. I know for a fact my friend got used to it pretty quickly, and he now lives an active life as a father with minimal symptoms.<\/p>\n Sometimes, if a surgeon can remove the diseased part of the intestine and connect everything again, you may not need a stoma. Surgery in some form is common for most people with Crohn\u2019s. Even if you don\u2019t need a colectomy, there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ll end up using surgery to address perforation, abscesses, bleeding, and blockages.<\/p>\n The most important thing you can do if you think you have a bowel illness is to see a doctor. Any blood in your stool, pain going to the bathroom or constipation can be a sign of something greater. I know how embarrassing it is to talk about but trust me when I say the quicker you catch the problem, the better off you\u2019ll be.<\/p>\n It\u2019s definitely worth speaking to a doctor if a DNA test<\/a> and some digging reveals you have a family history of the disease. Crohn\u2019s can also be more common if you\u2019re of Eastern European descent, taking anti-inflammatory medications (like ibuprofen) regularly, or smoking cigarettes.<\/p>\n Speaking to a doctor should give you some insights into the kind of treatment options you can consider, including medications, surgeries, and natural treatment options. Because my symptoms are mild, I use a lot of natural remedies to manage my symptoms<\/strong>, such as:<\/p>\n For most people, the key to success is finding your own way to cope based on your symptoms and personal experiences. Follow your doctor\u2019s recommendations but keep track of your experiences to guide your lifestyle changes. If you\u2019re concerned you have an IBD issue but don\u2019t know what it might be, a DNA test from CircleDNA<\/a> could help you figure it out. CircleDNA tells you if you have a genetically higher risk of developing certain diseases, and this information helps people figure out what condition they might be suffering from.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Crohn\u2019s disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease, and most people don\u2019t know much about it. Before I was diagnosed with Crohn\u2019s disease about 10 years… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3498,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[1081,1168,1170,5361,788,1165,8578,5357,786,4441,4973,4339,49,5359],"class_list":["post-848","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-preventive-health","tag-anti-inflammatory-foods","tag-cbd-oil","tag-chrohns-disease","tag-crohns","tag-disease","tag-full-spectrum-cbd","tag-health","tag-like","tag-meals","tag-preventive","tag-preventive-health","tag-really","tag-teeth-grinding-en","tag-whats"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.circledna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/848","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.circledna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.circledna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.circledna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.circledna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=848"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.circledna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/848\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5994,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.circledna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/848\/revisions\/5994"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.circledna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3498"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/magazine.circledna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=848"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.circledna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=848"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magazine.circledna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=848"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}What Causes Crohn\u2019s Disease and is it Hereditary?<\/h2>\n
![\"circlemagazine-circledna-chrons-disease\"](\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1557148353-009729a39979?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxzZWFyY2h8MXx8dGlyZWR8ZW58MHx8MHx8&ixlib=rb-1.2.1&w=1000&q=80\")
Crohn\u2019s Disease Symptoms: What Does it Feel Like?<\/h2>\n
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How I\u2019d Describe Life with Crohn\u2019s<\/h2>\n
![\"circlemagazine-circledna-chrons-disease\"](\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1501772418-b33899635bca?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxzZWFyY2h8NHx8dGlyZWR8ZW58MHx8MHx8&ixlib=rb-1.2.1&w=1000&q=80\")
Does Crohn\u2019s Disease Change Your Life?<\/h2>\n
Dealing with Crohn\u2019s: Finding Your Own Path<\/h2>\n
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