The bad news and the good news

That is what my daughter has. I feel for you. It can be very painful at times. 

Lyn, I am so sorry to hear you suffer from this. What do your doctors recommend you do for it? Can it be cured or only treated?

Crohn's does not have a cure and they still don't know what exactly causes it. There are medications but in some cases when the disease is bad enough there is surgery.

Correct Catherine, there's no cure but it can abate for years sometimes. I'm on tablets for it, I have to take 6 twice a day, some days its better than others. Diet doesn't help, so you can eat whatever you want unless you KNOW it upsets you. Although they don't know what causes it the doctors and I reckon it was down to an infection I had in my blood for 8 months after coming back from Northern Cyprus...I was really quite ill and I lost 1.5stone in weight through that, and ended up with Crohn's.  I've travelled a lot and this is the only time I've come home ill. Ah well, there's alot of people worse off than me, so I don't complain.

Elsie and I feel for you Lyn. I am glad the pills help. Elsie was put on Pentasa at first but she cannot swallow pills. The first doctor refused to treat her because she could not swallow them. She has a fear of choking. She went two years before we could get her a good doctor and then the first thing they did was a colonoscopy and an endoscopy. Then they put her right in hospital with steroids, antibiotics, Pepsid, nutrition in an IV. She wasn't allowed to eat for a week. She was on what you call "bowel rest." SInce then she has been on the mend. As long as she gets her infusions every 8 weeks. Hopefully since yours came on later in life it will never get too bad. At least that is what I pray for you.

I had a colonosopy when I was 21 and the doctor called all the students in to have a look at me, in situ!   Had IBS since then and my father and aunty both had Crohns, so I do understand Lyn.  Keep smilin tho and you will beat it.  My dad was a great one for having a laugh and it works wonders. LOL

You are right Sue W. Laughter is the best medicine for all things!

Thanks everyone, I just take it day by day, I take Asacol tablets, what with them and my blood pressure tablets I will rattle soon!  As you said Catherine, I got it late in life so maybe thats a blessing, unlike you poor daughter, and everyone else who gets it young, I feel for them as they have the rest of their lives to live with it.  The most common age is between 15 and 30ish I think, but I had to be different and wait till I was 55 LOL Such is life......

You are just special Lyn!!!!! Very Special in my book!!!