Crohn’s Disease Prognosis
The mortality rate for sufferers of Crohn’s disease is relatively low, and as many with the disease will tell you, it is quite possible to live a long time with the condition.
What is of greater concern to many Crohn’s patients is quality of life, or the lifestyle a Crohn’s patient leads and what they will and won’t be able to do when they have it.
I can tell you from an experiential perspective that the thing I have to think about most often, no matter what I do, is being away from a bathroom - just how far away I’ll be and for how long.
I work a full-time, 40-hour-a-week job, and I thank God for every single day I’m able to wake up at the crack of dawn and go to work.
Sometimes I need to use the bathroom at the office once, twice, or even a few times; some days I don’t need to at all. My office is a modern building with modern facilities, so even if I do need to take a trip while I’m there I don’t worry.
Now, if my friends invite me to go on a camping trip, on the other hand, I have to think. If it’s a pretty tame campground with bathrooms on the premises, I may or may not go depending on how long the trip is. When they talk about hiking up a mountain and camping on a cliff, though, I politely refuse if I don’t feel comfortable with a backwoods excursion of such magnitude.
Sure, there will be some things you can’t do because you are living with Crohns disease. Big deal! Getting to know your body and how it responds to different conditions and situations is the best thing you can do for yourself; you’ll have a better idea of what you can handle and the quality of life you’ll experience.
Comments
Comment from crohner
Time: October 16, 2009, 2:35 pm
Hi Sandee! I’m 26, and for the past two years or so I’ve been taking Humira every two weeks. It’s in the biologic therapy class of drugs and is administered as an injection. I get the medicine delivered by mail order once a month from the pharmaceutical company associated with my medical insurance. It comes in a box lined with styrofoam and ice packs, and the package contains two syringes. You can get it administered by your doctor or do it yourself, and I do the latter. I alternate between injecting into my left and right thighs each time. It’s a little weird giving yourself an injection, but you get used to it over time and it beats taking pills every day. However, I have also heard good things about Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) and that is what I want to try next. My doctor refuses to give it to me because of the supposed ‘lack’ of studies done, but if you have the opportunity I’d suggest giving that a try for your daughter as well. God bless!
Comment from Helga
Time: January 5, 2010, 12:09 pm
If everybody with the sickness would be as positive as you - it would help them a lot. Greetings from Germany, Helga
Comment from Sandee
Time: October 12, 2009, 9:53 pm
I don’t see on your website what medications you take. Would you care to tell me. It is for my 24 yr. old daughter who has been diagnosed with Crohn’s and is having a horrible time with pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.