Chrons Disease

Complications of Chrons Disease

Written by Aidan Gillen

If you have recently been diagnosed with chrons disease , you are probably pretty scared and confused at this point.  Chances are that you have never heard of the illness, before the doctor basically gave you a life sentence.  You have probably been put on a medication you know nothing about; to serve a purpose you do not understand.  Your symptoms are probably raging, and you are wondering how you are going to live the rest of your life with this mystery disease.   Speaking from personal experience, it is essential to become well-informed about chrons.  However, you will find many worst case scenarios online that will make you tremble in fear. You should know that these stories do not have to be you.  You need to try and stay positive, follow the doctor’s advice, take your meds, and do what you can to control the symptoms. But, you also need to be aware of the potential complications of chrons, so you can monitor your body and catch a problem before it gets out of control. Ulcers Everyone has heard about stomach ulcers attributed to stress and overwork.  But, ulcers caused by chrons are not the same type of illness. Unfortunately, the ulcers are not limited to the stomach.  You can develop these sores anywhere alone your digestive tract-from your mouth to your anus and anywhere in between.  Some ulcers are extremely painful.  However, you can have ulcers and not even know it.  Your intestines do not have those nerves that register pain.  However, you body will let you know when it is in trouble.  You will likely be running a temperature for no apparent reason.  You will probably have very loose or watery stools that are impossible to control.  You might even start throwing up, or having unexplained pain in the lower right quadrant of your abdomen. Naturally, if you have chrons, you will have good and bad days.  It is simply part of the disease. But, if you start losing weight and you cannot get the symptoms under control, do not delay.  Check with your gastroenterologist.  You need to get checked and probably have your medication changed, at the very least. Fistulas Fistulas are very painful sore that can get out of control and be difficult to heal.  Basically, they are ulcers or sores in your digestive tract that get totally out of control.  They actually eat through you intestines and attach to internal organs or present themselves on the outside of your body.  A common place to suffer one is the anus.  Suffering from fistulas is very serious business. You need to see a doctor right away, if you have any bleeding, painful sores, or excessive symptoms of chrons.  Heavy duty antibiotics will be needed.  But, it may also require hospitalization to get the disease under control.  You can suffer infections.  The contents of your bowel can leak out and contaminate your body.  It can become a life or death issue.  So, just be aware of your body.  Even if you do not see the sores, but your symptoms are worse, see your doctor. Strictures Strictures are basically scar tissue that has developed anywhere along your digestive tract.  The most common place is where your small intestine connects to your large colon.  Because of the frequent sores in your tract, scar tissue begins to build up, in the effort to continually heal the sores. If you have a stricture, you may not even realize it.  So, it is important to monitor your chrons, and have those dreaded colonoscopies to make sure you are not developing a stricture that will prevent proper digestion of nutrients or create a blockage against elimination.  Left untreated, a stricture can totally block you system.  If this happens, the doctor has approximately 24 hours to remove the problem, before you have a rupture and the contents of your bowel infect the rest of your body and mortality becomes an issue. To prevent this danger, your doctor will require periodic tests like a colonoscopy or endoscopy to check for trouble.  Sometimes, if you have a stricture, the doctor will probably try dilation, if it is not too bad yet. Some medications might also help slow down the scarring process.  But, if a blockage is possible, the doctor will likely recommend removal of the affected area. The surgery is anything but pleasant.  However, a planned resection is preferable to an emergency procedure.  You will be prepped to clean out your colon.  You will be put on antibiotics to ward off potential infections, and you can be emotionally and physically prepared for what to expect.  So, keep those scheduled appointments, and do not ignore increasing symptoms of potential problems. In short, you have to learn to read your own body.  Learn what you can about chrons and the symptoms, so you will recognize any changes, before they get out of control.  Keep those appointments, take your meds, and do what you can to stay healthier.  Be aware of the complications of chrons disease , so you are in control and the disease does not control you.

 

< Prev