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7 Things You Can Do To Keep Crohn’s Disease Under Control
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How are you diagnosed with Crohn’s disease?
In order to determine if you have Crohn’s disease or possibly something else, like ulcerative colitis, your doctor may depend on the following tests:
- Blood tests
- Stool tests
- A biopsy
- Sigmoidoscopy – a tube that can show the condition of the lower bowel
- CT scans – will show a 3-D image of the bowel
- Barium enema x-ray – x-rays are taken of the abdomen
- Endoscopy – a telescope is used to determine the condition of the upper gut
- Solonoscopy – a tube is inserted to check the condition of the colon
How Crohn’s is treated
There are three major ways that Crohn’s is treated: medication, surgery, and nutritional supplements. You doctor will probably use a combination of these treatments to help get the inflammation under control, cut down on the symptoms, and correct any possible problems based on nutritional deficiencies.
Refrain from dairy products, spicy foods, grains that are bulky, and alcohol. These all make the symptoms of Crohn’s worse. If you have Crohn’s disease don’t be surprised if your doctor wants to operate at one point. Surgery is used to take care of any symptoms that have not responded to medication or to handle any complications that may occur such as a blockage bleeding, a perforation, or an abscess.
Some doctors may suggest you have part of your intestines removed but that not only will not cure your Crohn’s disease, it will just make the disease move to other areas. A colostomy may also be recommended but it should be seriously considered first. This is where the ileum is raised to the surface of the skin and the feces of the patient will be redirected to a pouch on their side.
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7 Things You Can Do to Keep Your Crohn’s Disease Under Control
1. Move. Spend time outside, focus on your breath and try yoga.
2. Watch what you eat. Talk with your doctor to see which foods or supplements will give you the most nutrients and vitamins.
3. Try to stay calm. Talk to a counselor if you need one; stay around positive people.
4. Have a support group you can depend on. Make sure you have people who are there to help you and will remind you to take good care of yourself.
5. Find out which over-the-counter medications might work for you. Always ask your doctor before taking any medications; some could make you feel worse rather than better.
6. Try to bring someone with you to your doctor visits. Whether it is your mother or your best friend, it’s always great to have someone with you in case you forget something.
7. Make sure you stay in touch with your doctor regularly. Keep your regular appointments and check in with your doctor if anything changes in between visits.
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