How to Live With Crohn's Disease

As more Americans are diagnosed with Crohn's disease every day, it has become much easier for doctors to recognize. It has also become easier to manage. If you have been diagnosed with Crohn's disease, there are many simple things you can do to continue enjoying a healthy and active life.

Instructions

Change Your Diet

• 1

  Recognize your symptoms. They can vary from mild to severe diarrhea, stomach cramps and, sometimes, rectal bleeding. Although the symptoms may periodically disappear, there are ways to control them when they reoccur.

• 2

  Keep a food journal to track the foods that cause discomfort. Discuss your findings with your doctor and avoid the foods that cause your Crohn's disease to flare up.

• 3

  Drink plenty of fluids, slowly. Doctors recommend that you drink 0.5 ounces of water every day for every pound you weigh. So, if you weigh 150 pounds, you need to drink 75 ounces, or 9.25 glasses of water per day.

• 4

  Eat small frequent meals. Five small meals every three or four hours may make your Crohn's disease easier to live with. Managing your meals may be easier than managing your symptoms.

• 5

  Cut back high fat foods in your diet. Greasy fried foods may cause diarrhea and gas. Milk and pork products may also cause stomach distress.

• 6

  Allow yourself high-fiber foods only occasionally. The amount of popcorn, nuts and nut-butters and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and their relatives) must be closely controlled to avoid stomach cramps or diarrhea.

Change Your Life

• 7

  Reduce your stress. Although stress doesn't cause Crohn's disease, it can worsen the symptoms and may spark flare-ups. Cutting stress out of your life, as much as possible, will help you live with the disease.

• 8

  Maintain a positive attitude. Laughter is still the best medicine and one of the best ways to manage any chronic disease, including Crohn's, is to look on the bright side of life.

• 9

  Build a support network. Because Crohn's is a chronic disease, you will need friends and family to stand by you and help you along the way. Don't be afraid to ask for help.