How to Get Through Crohn's Exacerbation

Crohn's disease is a chronic, incurable inflammation of the bowel, characterized by symptoms such as abdominal cramping and pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, weight loss and fatigue. Severe, long-term cases can result in bowel injury, ulcerations, blockage and other complications. For individuals with Crohn's, flare-ups are often unpredictable and range from very mild and brief to prolonged, painful exacerbations during which sufferers may miss work or experience other disruptions. These Crohn's exacerbations eventually subside, but it is important to try to be as comfortable as possible during flare ups.

Instructions

• 1

  Take your regular medications as prescribed, even when your flare-up subsides. This will reduce the risk of Crohn's exacerbations in the future.

• 2

  Drink plenty of non-caffeinated liquids---8 to 10 glasses each day---as flare-ups can lead to dehydration. Limit the use of artificial sweeteners containing sorbitol, which can aggravate symptoms.

• 3

  Eat more calories during exacerbations than you would normally. This will help counteract nutritional deficiencies brought on from diarrhea and poor appetite.

• 4

  Split up large meals into more, smaller meals staggered throughout the day to take pressure off of your digestive tract.

• 5

  Incorporate protein rich foods, such as meat, fish and eggs, into your diet and take vitamin supplements to replace nutrients lost as a result of the flare up.

• 6

  Reduce your intake of fiber by cutting back on whole grains, beans, fibrous vegetables and fruits.

• 7

  Limit or cut off food consumption within three hours of bedtime.