Crohn’s Disease is one of the most prevalent types of digestive disorders in the United States and the signs of Crohn’s Disease can often be mistaken for something else. Doctors are actually now calling Crohn’s a chronic disorder because so many people suffer from it. It is thought that this disease is an abnormal immune response which causes the gastrointestinal tract to become inflamed affecting the entire digestive tract from the mouth to the colon. When a person with Crohn’s eats certain foods, many symptoms can occur, namely bloating, pain and problems with digestion and elimination. However, the symptoms can mimic other digestive disorders, and even come at times a patient isn't eating, making it hard to detect. Here are the top 7 signs of Crohn’s Disease and some tips below for what you can do about it.
One of the main signs of Crohn’s disease is chronic diarrhea. A person often has to go to the bathroom every time after they eat anything. This can occur because food isn’t being absorbed into the intestines properly due to inflammation and can cause irritation to the colon, resulting in diarrhea. If this becomes an issue for you, don’t simply take over-the-counter diarrhea medication chronically. See your doctor and get tested.
Cramping right after meals, or a few minutes or hours after meals can also be a sign of Crohn’s because the stomach is so inflamed. Someone with Crohn’s suffers pain from problems with digestion that leads to cramping because the food isn't able to break down normally in the stomach. Constant cramping should never be ignored, so be sure to tell your doctor if you suffer on a regular basis.
Though abdominal pain may sound similar to cramping, it is somewhat different. Abdominal pain is a constant sense of pain that a person with Crohn’s may feel in their stomach. It tends to be like a mild stomach ache and can come along with other symptoms like bloating or gas. Patients with Crohn’s tend to have this pain because food is literally constantly irritating the lining of the gut and the immune system sees it as a threat, which signals pain to be released through the central nervous system.
Most people with Crohn’s get what they call “flares”, which are much like when you break out with a rash out of nowhere, except instead of a rash, the flare occurs in their stomach. Symptoms during a flare are usually intense and rise at once. Loss of appetite can come out of nowhere all of a sudden, such as during a flare, but most of the time, people with Crohn’s Disease often have a low appetite around the clock. We all know anytime our stomachs aren’t their strongest, food just doesn’t sound so great. This is one of the reasons Crohn’s patients aren’t as hungry; because they’re in constant pain. If you see that your appetite has taken a direct halt and you have other symptoms that are associated with Crohn’s, don’t just ignore it. Go to your doctor to get tested.
With all the women trying to lose weight out there, trying new diets and trying new trends, this is one symptom that is really hard to pinpoint. Weight loss associated with Crohn’s occurs because nutrients from food aren’t being absorbed, which results in diarrhea and malnutrition. Crohn’s patients will often suffer most of the weight loss in the beginning stages of the disease when it first sets in, due to the fact they have no appetite and are malnourished. If you notice you’re rarely hungry, having pain and are losing weight fast, don’t look at this as a new diet scheme, please. Get to your doctor immediately.
Nausea is one of the most recurring signs of Crohn’s as well. Due to the digestion issues a patient has, nausea is almost an automatic result of the problems that occur with this disease. Most patients find that a large variety of foods cause nausea and are ongoing. If you suffer this problem, there are simple over-the-counter treatments or prescriptions a doctor may be able to provide if you have Crohn’s, along with a dietary plan.
Due to being malnourished, many people with Crohn’s find themselves so tired because their body isn’t absorbing nutrients and digestion is taking all their energy. It can mimic the signs of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, except a person with Crohn’s has significantly more digestion issues and stomach pain than a person with CFS. If you’re constantly tired after a full night’s sleep, your routine hasn’t caused extra stress, and your stomach is giving you issues, this could be a symptom of Crohn’s, so be sure to check with a trusted medical professional.
There are many different treatment options for a person with Crohn’s. Many include natural over-the-counter treatments, avoiding certain foods and dietary therapies, along with prescription medication. I suggest checking out a few websites for more information on doctors who can help, and getting free information on how to manage Crohn’s naturally. You can find many website in the sources below, or talk with your doctor. Do you know anyone with Crohn’s Disease?
Sources: crohnsandcolitisinfo.com, crohnsandcolitisinfo.com, mayoclinic.com