What is Crohn's Disease ?

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines. It primarily causes ulcerations in the small and large intestines, but can affect the digestive system anywhere between the mouth and the anus. It is named after the physician who described the disease in a landmark paper written in 1932. It is also called Morbus Crohn's, Granulomatous enteritis, Regional enteritis, or Terminal ileitis. The disease is found in equal frequency in men and women, and usually affects young patients in their teens or early twenties. Once the disease begins, it tends to be a chronic, recurrent condition with periods of remission and disease exacerbation. The disease tends to be more common in relatives of patients with Crohn's disease.

http://www.angelfire.com/ga/crohns/faq.html
http://www.ccfa.org/



OK…Now that we’ve dispensed with the gory tech stuff, let me tell you a little bit about me…

I was diagnosed with Crohn’s in 1983; well no…first they thought it was Colitis. This only after emergency surgery with having been sick with a daily fever of 101 and low RBC count for weeks. They took out a perfectly healthy appendix, nope that wasn’t it! Went on to find my Colon had burst. Removed 6-9 inches then reattached it.

It didn’t end there, I went on to develop a fistula, which is an opening to the surface of the skin. Gross I know, but that took three surgeries to close. Because of coarse it couldn’t be simple; this is me we’re talking about. It was a complicated one. It branched out in two different directions, one to the surface and one in a less obvious direction.

Crohn’s wasn’t a diagnosis for me till a few years later. Doctors don’t even know the difference sometimes. Anyway, after a Vascular Surgeon did the initial surgery, then a Proctologist who did the surgeries on the fistula, and shall remain nameless, never put me on any type of meds at all. I almost considered a colonectomy with him. That would have meant a bag for the rest of my life (cringe). Then on referral by my OB/GYN, I now have a great group of gastroenterologists. A good doctor or doctors makes a world of difference.

Its been 15 years, and with the medications and care I am getting now, I am living a rather normal lifestyle.

So if there is anyone out there suffering in silence, there isn’t any reason for it. Ask your GP or another Dr you may have for a referral you could get lucky like me. And I do consider myself lucky.

In the meantime I will be participating in my local chapter of the CCFA and doing my part to raise money for a cure. Thanks!

~Ainglean~

www.ccfa.org

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