| What is Chrons Disease? |
| Written by Aidan Gillen | |
IBSDoctors have discovered that more and more patients are being diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. In most cases, the bowel simply gets irritated, causing diarrhea. With over-the-counter medication, it can usually be controlled. Oftentimes, relieving stress and a change in diet will also get the digestive system back on track. However, it can be miserable during an episode. The pain and gas are very uncomfortable, and you can end up suffering from malnutrition. It is not anything to ignore; but, having IBS does not mean you have chrons disease.Big BrotherThe kindest way to describe chrons disease is the older sibling to IBS . The symptoms are stronger, the complications more intense, and the treatment can be much more aggressive, depending on whether you have a mild, moderate, or severe case of the disease.If you have chrons disease, you will suffer from bowel inflammation. In fact, you can develop inflammation or sores anywhere along the digestive tract. From your mouth to your anus, you body can be under assault. Doctors do not know what causes it, and there is no known cure. But, there are medications and medical procedures that can help control the symptoms and hopefully enable you to lead a relatively normal life.Mild, Moderate, SevereIf you have been diagnosed with chrons , you may have mild to severe symptoms to contend with on a daily basis. However, if you have a mild case, do not pat yourself on the back and assume you can do whatever you want, and not follow the doctor’s advice. You may find yourself in more pain and misery than is necessary.By the same token, if you are experiencing severe symptoms, even to the point of being in the hospital, try to stay positive. Today, it might seem hopeless; in time, the symptoms may be mild, and you will tend to forget you even have a chronic illness. So, hang in there. If your symptoms are mild, you may only experience occasional pain and diarrhea. Even people without chrons have that complaint once in a while. Should you case progress to moderate, you may have ulcers in your colon and not even know it. But, you may become anemic or have an unexplained fever. Maybe you have more frequent bouts of loose stools, or you have increased fatigue. You may have a lot of the symptoms of chrons, but medication, a diet adjustment, and adequate rest can often reduce the problems, so you can get about the business of living. However, if you are suffering severe symptoms, you will need medical supervision and tests to see what is going on inside your body. The doctor will want to make sure you do not have an excess buildup of scar tissue in your digestive tract that can cause a blockage called a stricture. In addition, the sores in your colon will need to be observed, because they can literally eat through the intestinal wall and create a fistula, which is a bleeding sore that can attach to other organs or surface on your skin. Surgery may even be necessary to keep your body functioning properly and reduce the symptoms. In some cases, it is a life or death situation. So, make sure your doctor knows if the chrons problems are not under control. The SymptomsHaving the symptoms of chrons does not necessarily mean that you suffer from the disease. In fact, the only way to know for certain is to do a biopsy of the sores in the colon. But, if you are a frequent sufferer of more than one of these health issues, you definitely need to see a doctor and get your problem diagnosed. You may have chrons if you have:
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