Can anyone tell me more about Crohn's Disease ?

[McCrones]

I am researching Crohn's Disease what it is about so can anyone tell me about the disease ?
like stmptons, cure if any, treatments,  how you can get the disease, and e.t.c.

[CertaFide]

You refer to your condition as intractable Crohn's, is this a version of Crohn's, a level of severity or other?  I have been dignosed some years ago with suspicion of Crohn's and am still trying to find out if I have it or not.  Everyone say's 'Sounds like it' but no one can say for sure.  Thanks

[leon7777]

Month ago i have just been told iv got crones disease,and im finding it hard to find out what i can eat..as food im eating  sets me off,i have bought some  food for people with crones can eat..but i find it hard to find out  what i can eat.

[lizziecee]

Hi - bit difficult to know where to start with your questions - I could write a book about Crohn's Disease! Is your interest academic for a thesis, as a patient or care-giver?

Basically, it is an auto-immune disease, where one makes too many white cells which attack the intestines. It is not infectious nor contagious. Current medical scientists do not know why one gets it, there are probably genetic considerations, and its' incidence is elevated in the Jewish Ashkenazi population from Eastern Europe.  It can manifest in children as young as 6 yrs old, but the prevalence is in young people from 18-30 yrs old.  It is currently not considered curable, but eminently treatable, either by surgical intervention or medication. It is not life threatening, except in rare circumstances, such as strictures.   Treatments vary with the diagnosis, as it can appear from mouth to anus, and rarely, in the eyes. There are many different medications like steroids, immuno-suppressants etc. and sometimes surgery is called for is there are strictures in the intestines. As far as I am aware, the only conclusive diagnosis is from colonoscopy of the large intestine, or endoscopy of the small intestine, with biopsies of tissue taken from abnormal looking areas, which are looked at by a pathologist.

Symptoms also vary, from severe diarrhea, weight loss and pain in the lower abdomen and rarely, constipation.   It should not be confused with ulcerative colitis, as this only affects the outer mucosa of the large intestine, whereas Crohn's affects the whole of the intestinal lining of the small intestine and sometimes the large colon.

For a lengthier overview, google "Crohns Disease" where there is a lot of good peer reviewed information on current treatments. I would emphasise that no doctor or scientist I have come across knows why it occurs.  Bit like diabetes or asthma I guess.

I have had intractable Crohn's for 38 yrs, had many different medications, many hospital in-patient treatments, but still alive and smelling the roses.

Let me know if I can help further.

Take care,
Liz.