Crohn’s Disease, like many other autoimmune diseases affect all aspects of your life including: working, eating, sleeping, socialising, travelling and exercising.
Before and after diagnosis I experienced the struggles, the embarrassment and the challenges that come with the disease. Being a “glass half full“ kind of girl I always try and find the positives in a less than desirable situation. The amazing support of my family, friends and medical team, and developing a strength that I never imagined existed are just two of positives.
When I first received my diagnosis one of the first things I did was Google “Crohn’s Disease”. I wanted to know what, why, how, who…. question after question I was searching.
My goal of FitnessandGuts is to provide a hub of information, experiences and tips for anyone who has been diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, or an Autoimmune Disease. FitnessandGuts is not solely just for Crohn’s Warriors, it will provide fitness, nutrition, and motivation blog posts with a dash of Kate quirk and of course PUNS!
What is Crohn’s Disease?
The CCFA (Crohn’s Colitis Foundation America) have created this short video which gives you a run down on Crohn’s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8ryJ9P38B8
Currently, approximately 75 000 Australians suffer from Inflammatory Bowel Disease (either Crohn’s or Colitis).
Crohn’s Disease is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the intestinal tract. The intestinal tract includes your mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon and rectum.
Symptoms
Crohn’s Disease symptoms can include:
- Diarrhoea (or sometimes constipation)
- Uncontrollable Bowel Movements
- Bloody Stools
- Vomiting
- Cramping
- Fevers
- Weight Loss
- Malabsorption causing Malnutrition
- Anaemia
- Skin Rashes
- Mouth Ulcers
- Eye Sores
What I had: all of the above symptoms, excluding for the last three.
Complications
There are complications you may experience with Crohn’s Disease resulting in surgery, the complications can include:
- Strictures
- Abscesses
- Fistulae
- Fissures
What I had: stricture, which resulted in my urgent surgery. During surgery it was discovered I also had a fistulae (fusing onto my urinary tract).
Diagnosis
- Blood tests
- Stool tests (calprotectin)
- Colonoscopy (and/or endoscopy)
- Biopsy from scope procedure
- CT or MRI scan.
What I had: blood test, stool test, colonoscopy and MRI.
More Information
- https://www.crohnsandcolitis.com.au become a member of CCA to receive regular newsletters and a “Can’t Wait” card.
- http://www.healthline.com/health/crohns-disease
- http://crohnsmapvaccine.com/
What’s Next
Take your future into your own hands. Don’t sit back and wait to be ‘spoonie’ fed, get out there, research, share experience, seek medical help and be open to try different things to see what works for YOU!
Stay tuned for more posts about my experiences and tips: health, nutrition and fitness!
If you have any questions or feedback for me, please visit my Contact Page and drop me a message, and I’ll be sure to catch it and throw one back.
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