Crohn’s Disease

You’ve been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. You’re feeling scared and uncertain about your future. What do you do now?

You may need to make some lifestyle changes. And you may have periods of worsening symptoms. But by working with a GI doctor, you can successfully manage your condition and prevent the development of medical complications.

The good news is that many treatment options can reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life.

This page will explain what Crohn’s disease is and the symptoms you may experience with it. We’ll also discuss treatment for this condition so that you know your options. Lastly, we’ll explore possible complications.

Crohn’s disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It’s a chronic condition that causes inflammation in the digestive tract. Inflammation can occur anywhere in the digestive tract such as the stomach, small intestine, or large intestine.

An autoimmune response causes inflammation in Crohn’s disease. Your body mistakenly attacks your digestive tract, which leads to inflammation, ulcerations, and redness. When the damage becomes severe enough, Crohn’s disease can cause medical complications.

While Crohn’s disease can result in periods of worsening symptoms, you may also experience periods of symptom relief. Crohn’s disease can alternate between flare-ups and remission. Remission is when your symptoms lessen or disappear altogether. And this can last for months or years at a time.

The severity of symptoms will vary depending on the inflammation’s location in the digestive tract and subsequent damage.

Common symptoms of Crohn’s disease include:

• Watery diarrhea
• Cramping
• Abdominal pain
• Weight loss

Other potential symptoms include:

• Bloating
• Anemia
• Eye pain or redness
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Joint pain
• Nausea
• Red, painful bumps on the skin

Unfortunately, Crohn’s disease cannot be cured. But many treatment options can help manage your condition.

Treatment focuses on decreasing inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, which allows the damaged tissue to heal.

The main goals of treatment are to achieve and maintain remission. If this cannot be accomplished, we’ll work to reduce the severity of the disease and lessen your symptoms.

We’ve found that Crohn’s disease responds best to early, aggressive treatment. As the disease improves, we may be able to scale down treatment. But each person’s condition is different, and treatment must be individualized to meet your needs.

Treatment for Crohn’s disease may include medication, dietary changes, and lifestyle modifications. We’ll discuss these treatment options below.

Medication for Crohn’s Disease

Medication for Crohn’s disease typically works by suppressing the immune system to decrease inflammation. Below, we’ll discuss two common types of treatment, including immunomodulators and biologic therapies. We’ll also highlight new medications for Crohn’s disease that work through a different mechanism.

Immunomodulators

Immunomodulators control the body’s immune response so that it doesn’t attack your digestive tract. These are oral medications that take time to build up within your system. You may need to take an immunomodulator in collaboration with other drugs until it begins to work effectively. Examples of this type of medication include Azathioprine and 6-MP.

Biologic Therapies

Biologic therapies contain antibodies that prevent your body from causing inflammation. These are typically used if you have severe Crohn’s disease symptoms and do not respond well to conventional medications. Biologic therapies are effective for location-specific symptoms and are administered through IVs or injections. Examples of these medications include Humira, Cimzia, and Remicade.

New Medications

There are alternative options for people who may not respond well to the above medications. New medications are always coming out for Crohn’s disease. These medications are gut specific and don’t affect your whole immune system.

Is There a Special Diet for Crohn’s Disease?

There is no special diet for Crohn’s disease. But making specific dietary changes can reduce your symptoms.

During a Crohn’s flare-up, you should avoid trigger foods that cause abdominal pain, cramping, and diarrhea.

Each person responds differently to certain foods, so there’s not a one-size-fits-all diet plan. But common trigger foods for Crohn’s disease include:

• Insoluble fiber foods
  • Cruciferous vegetables
  • Whole nuts
  • Whole grains
  • Fruits with skin and seeds
• Dairy
  • Yogurt
  • Cheese
  • Ice cream
• Spicy foods
• High-fat foods
  • Red meat
  • Butter
  • Coconut
• Sugary foods
  • Fructose found naturally in pears, cherries, peaches, and apples
  • Artificial sweeteners
• Alcohol
• Caffeinated beverages

Many of these foods are harder to digest and can increase symptoms of Crohn’s disease. For example, if you’ve been diagnosed with a stricture, consuming insoluble fiber foods can potentially cause an intestinal blockage.

Just because a particular food is on this list doesn’t mean it will bother you. You should listen to your body’s response to certain foods and adjust your diet as needed.

If you’re in remission and your symptoms have lessened or even disappeared, you may be able to incorporate more foods into your diet. You should add new foods slowly and keep track of the foods that bother you. Always consult your doctor before changing your diet to prevent your symptoms from worsening.

Lifestyle Modifications

You can make many lifestyle modifications to decrease symptoms of Crohn’s disease and improve your digestive health. We’ll touch on some of these interventions below.

Quit Smoking

Smoking irritates the digestive tract and can worsen your symptoms. If you smoke, you have a higher chance of experiencing complications of Crohn’s disease. Quitting smoking is hard work, but it can significantly improve your digestive health.

Reduce Stress

Stress can also exacerbate symptoms of Crohn’s disease. Some techniques that you can use to reduce stress include:

• Exercise
• Deep breathing
• Meditation
• Biofeedback
• Mindfulness

Crohn’s disease can lead to serious medical complications and should be monitored carefully. If you experience new symptoms or changes in your overall health, you should contact your doctor immediately. Below, we’ll discuss some complications of Crohn’s disease that you should be aware of.

Colon Cancer

Long-term, untreated Crohn’s disease increases your risk for colon cancer. And, most times, colon cancer does not present with symptoms until the cancer becomes advanced.

If you have Crohn’s disease, ask your doctor when you should start preventative screening to reduce your risk for colon cancer. Catching colon cancer early or preventing it all together will give you the best treatment outcomes.

Signs of colon cancer include:

• Rectal bleeding
• Abdominal pain
• Constipation
• Weight loss

Stricture

A stricture is a narrowing of the intestinal walls. This occurs when chronic inflammation in the digestive tract causes the formation of scar tissue.

Signs of a stricture include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Severe cramping
• Constipation

Strictures can lead to intestinal blockages and should be monitored closely. Contact your doctor if you experience signs of a stricture.

Fistula

A fistula forms when an ulcer expands through the digestive tract wall and creates an abnormal connection between 2 different organs.

Depending on the location, fistulas can have many different symptoms. Some symptoms may include:

• Diarrhea
• Undigested food in the stool
• Urinary tract infection (UTI)
• Skin abscess that leaks fluid or stool

Fistulas require immediate medical attention to prevent the development of infection.

Abscess

An abscess is a collection of pus that forms when a fistula becomes infected. Spots can occur in the abdomen, pelvis, or anal area.

Signs of an abscess include:

• Severe abdominal pain
• Painful bowel movements
• Pus discharge from the anus
• Swollen and painful lump at the edge of the anus
• Fever

If you experience any of the above symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately. Abscesses require antibiotics to treat the infection and may also require surgery.

Crohn’s disease is a severe diagnosis that should be managed in collaboration with a gastroenterologist. Ensure you attend all scheduled appointments, take your medication as prescribed, and contact your doctor if you experience new or worsening symptoms.

Dr. Sameer Islam is a gastroenterologist and West Texas native. He has several years of experience helping people with Crohn’s disease successfully manage their conditions.

If you live in Lubbock, Texas and have concerns about Crohn’s disease, you can schedule an appointment online or call our office at (806) 696-4440.