Tips for Keeping Crohn's Disease in Check

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with Crohn's disease, you probably have a lot of questions and concerns about what to expect. Living with Crohn's can pose challenges that may seem overwhelming at times.

You may be worrying about how to handle painful flare-ups, questioning which foods you should avoid and wondering how to manage everyday activities like work, school and exercise. With careful planning, a solid partnership with your health care team and a positive attitude, you can maintain control and learn to live well with Crohn's disease.

Follow these five easy tips for keeping Crohn's in check:

Partner with your doctor. The first step in managing Crohn's is to form a strong partnership with your health care team. Your general practitioner may refer you to a gastroenterologist, a specialist in treating digestive system disorders. You'll need to visit or check in with your health care team regularly about your symptoms and medication, as well as your exercise regimen and reactions to foods. Work with your doctor to create a treatment plan that matches your needs. A variety of medications can help manage Crohn's symptoms, and in some cases surgery may be required.

You may find it helpful to keep copies of your labs, X-rays and visit notes in a three-ring binder; take it with you when you visit your various doctors. This book will help keep all members of your health care team on the same page with your care and can enhance communication and reduce redundant and expensive testing.

As you build your partnership with your health care team, remember to maintain an honest and open dialogue. Even though it may be embarrassing or painful to share the details of your experience with Crohn's, the more candid you are in these discussions, the more help you will get toward living well with Crohn's.

Educate yourself. Living in the digital age means that we have a wealth of information at our fingertips. Visit sites created specifically for the Crohn's community that contain detailed information on topics such as how to handle Crohn's at work, while traveling and in everyday activities.

In addition, familiarize yourself with monitoring tests that may be suggested for some of the immune suppressive or biologic agents used to manage Crohn's disease. Know when these tests should be repeated. If your Crohn's disease involves your ileum, you may need your vitamin B12 level checked intermittently because inflammation of the ileum may cause poor absorption of this vitamin, as well as folate and iron.