If you have recently been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, you are probably overwhelmed with the information you’ve been given, and the lack thereof. While there are many treatments for Crohn’s, and other IBD related illnesses, there is currently no known cure.
For a lesser clinical description, the Mayo Clinic’s definition of Crohn’s reads something like this: a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in which the lining of your digestive tract becomes inflamed, causing severe diarrhea and abdominal pain. The inflammation often spreads deep into the layers of affected tissue. Like ulcerative colitis, another common IBD, Crohn’s disease can be both painful and debilitating and sometimes may lead to life-threatening complications.
If you have not been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, and are curious as how the above description actually affects you, please read on.
Crohn’s has the innate ability to generate bowel movements instantaneously, leaving its victim helpless and with no control over their bowels. In addition to loose and frequent bowel movements, Crohn’s patients may suffer abdominal pain, back pain, joint pain, cramping, fever, rectal bleeding, appetite loss, vitamin deficiencies, weight loss, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and inflammation of the eyes, nose or mouth. This is only a partial list of symptoms and it’s noteworthy to mention the mental stress experienced as related to the physical symptoms.
The key word often omitted is “chronic”. Crohn’s is a chronic disease and somewhat like cancer in the fact that it cannot be cured, although you may experience periods of remission. There are many people with Crohn’s that are perfectly content in taking medications to control this inflammatory beast; yet there are others that take their meds and not only do they have to contend with continuous flares, but the side effects of the meds as well.
Physicians offer medications and therapies that can reduce the signs and symptoms, and with continuous use may result in remission. However, not every individual’s system responds according to treatment. Some people require several different medications just to keep their digestive system in check. Others try different meds to no avail. It’s a very complicated disorder. What seems to work for one patient may exacerbate symptoms for others.
Many doctors dispel any connection with Crohn’s disease and diet. But there’s more incidence of allergies, sickness and chronic disorders today than ever before. Studies indicate this could be largely due to the excessive processing, additives, and genetically modified food sources abundantly being marketed today.
My personal experience with a loved one suffering from acute Crohn’s prompted my involvement in an alternative approach to Crohn’s remission. A simple diet of food in its healthiest and most natural state, accompanied by probiotics and supplements, proved successful. Successful to the point of being able to wean off of all prescription medications! Which drives me to the conclusion that many medical doctors don’t want to acknowledge a relation between Crohn’s and diet because the food industry doesn’t fund their livelihoods as prescription drugs do.
