Crohn's disease question?

Question

Is there any way a person with mild crohn's disease can progress to moderate or severe, or does it stay constant? Also, I've been reading that people with Crohn's can be hospitalized rather frequently, why is that? Also, is hospitalization more common with people with moderate or severe Crohn's? Thanks

Answer 1

well, my dad has this so i'm not an expert but i do know a lot. I think that it can get worse. People with crohns end up in the hospital usually because of their intestines. my dad had to get about three feet taken out. worst case scenario, you have to get a colostomy (?) bag. but that is by far the most severe.  

Answer 2

This is a good book with alot of good info on living with the disease....

http://www.amazon.com/Straight-Gut-Disea...

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Answer 3

I'm pretty sure I have Crohn's disease.  I started having trouble about 2 years ago.  I will have admit it has gotton worse. I'm 15 so I started having trouble when I was 13 ish.  People that have really bad inflammation can be hospitalized for bleeding problems.  If they are bleeding a lot they need to go to the hospital for observations and to help them to stop because if you bleed to much you can die.  

Answer 4

hi iam, I am a female crohn's pt. for 28 yrs. dxed at the age of 12. I can answer your question seeing as I have been in your shoes and frequently hospitalized.

Patients w/CD tend to respond to treatments differently. For me, it was mild and it responded to steroids (back in the 1980s) for a few yrs. Then it flared up and got worse to the point of upping my prednisone to 80 mgs senior yr. But it didn't get better as abscesses and fistulas along w/inflammation destroyed my entire colon so it had to be removed to save my life and I was given a permanent ileostomy.

It's basically a c**p shoot with IBD. Some people will get better on the newer treatments provided they avoid smoking, drinking, eat healthy when well, and for women avoiding any kind of hormonal birthcontrol b/c we tend to throw clots when flaring.

I've been hospitalized over 28 yrs. due to severe pain due to flare ups and partial bowel obstructions. I've learned how to recognize the signs of an obstruction and know enough to get medical attention STAT to avoid a full blown blockage.

I learned so much from the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation local chapter. They have support group meetings and educational meetings to educate pts. and their family/friends. They have a lot of updated information on the newer treatments, how to dx the severity of a flare, surgery info, coping skills, as well as a hotline & live chat that is run by healthcare experts. There is also an open forum where you can post questions to others w/crohn's or ulcerative colitis.

    

See if you are a candidate for Entocort (I am on it for several yrs.), 6MP, Imuran, Humira, or Remicade. The newer treatments tend to get a crohnie into remission faster provided they don't have a reaction to it.   Feel free to email me anytime. I truly understand your concerns and can relate to your questions.  Just know that you are not alone in dealing with this.