What can you tell me about Crohn's?

My sister-in-law has chron's disease. she struggled when she was first diagnosed, trying to find out which foods set her chron's off, and which don't. It took some time for her to adjust, finding the right medications, and dosages that worked best. She has what she calls "FLAIR-UPS" now and then, and yes sometimes, she has to be admitted to the hospital. After her last episode, she had a portion of her colon removed, that was damaged, for lack of a better word, and has been doing quite well for the past year. It can be managed, just takes some time, and Iam sure she has had her ups and downs. I hope your DH is feeling better, and his Chron's is manageable. the severity of the disease can vary from person to person, so hopefully he will adjust and his life won't be altered. It can be so stressful when someone is newly diagnosed with disease, please take care of yourself too.

I am so sorry for both of you, tough disease to deal with. You have to give yourself some time to get used to the idea you have something incurable, then educate yourself as much as possible. This disease is so individual in how it effects a person -- you need to be willing to try different things (diet, activity,meds). I was diagnosed at 38 (I am now 54) but realized I suffered from it since a teen. The issues health problems I had were always attributed to something else and crohns was never considered even though my sister had it. Getting diagnosed is one of the tough parts. Now that he knows he can deal with it accordingly.
One of the best pieces of advice I read in the beginning was have a plan for when you are not well - have back up people to help if you have commitments, have some food you tolerate on hand, a heating pad, a book or movie you have wanted to watch, etc.
It seems like everyone knows someone that has crohns. I also find it interesting every person I have ever met that suffers from it is not what you would call sickly or defeated (although you may feel that way a lot). All have been tough as nails and outgoing -their disease does not define them. I am in most awe of the ones who travel especially internationally. Knowing where the bathrooms are all times in unfamiliar places creates much anxiety!
Check into the site Specific Carbohydrate Diet, Crohnsdiseaseforum.com, also an older book called "Kitchen Table Wisdom" that is an inspirational read-not specifically about crohns but a collection of stories written by a doctor who has it.
I had a resection a month after being diagnosed and have had cycles of remission and disease since. I have tried most meds but did not feel comfortable with side effects so choose (much to my doctors frustration) to go without so don't have the expense of those. I am lucky to get away with it.
I hope this helps - Keesha

I agree with most of what Keesha has said. I've had Crohn's for over 35 years and even though it's been very aggressive I have lived a full, rich life.
Years ago my doctor told me there was a Crohn's personality and that most of the time we are very strong and determined

I wish your DH strength to deal with this diagnosis and to educate himself. The more he knows, the better he'll be able to work with his doctors to advocate for himself and find his new normal. Hugs!

I know two people with Crohn's.

The first was diagnosed when she was 15, she is now 41. At 15 her condition was so severe (her parents never took her to the doctor until it was an emergency situation) that the doctors removed her intestines and gave her an ileostomy. It wasn't intended to be permanent but after several years of fighting the doctors told her the best thing they could do was just to leave it alone and she has lived the rest of her life with an ostomy bag. She has led a wonderful life and has a husband and two teenage daughters. She has difficulties from time to time, for example she is now becoming allergic to the adhesives used to hold the bag on her skin, but no one would ever know about her disease or ostomy bag unless she told them. Her diet is limited but she gets to eat all the stuff the rest of us are told not to and she is never, ever to eat any vegetables.

The second person is now 16. She was diagnosed at 10. She's had a very rough road with the disease and is in and out of the hospital all the time. She goes through periods of being just fine and then before you know it she is back in the hospital. She was being given infusions of Remicade to treat the Crohn's on a regular schedule at the hospital for a while and that helped a lot. Until it didn't. That girl is a fighter though and I have no doubt at all that she will eventually be ok.