|
I have had it for the last 15 years, possibly longer since it was misdiagnosed as irritable bowel for a long time. I was on daily medication all that time until I stopped it 2 years ago because the flare-ups had practically ceased. I have colonoscopies every three years and I appear to have a mild form of the disease, thank God. My father died of bowel cancer, so there may be some link. My cousin's daughter, mid-twenties, has a very serious case of it. She has had several operations. Both my children, mid-twenties, are not displaying any signs of it so far. My three sisters do not have it. Because my condition has been fairly mild, I have been able to manage it and have rarely had to have time off work. I have only worked part-time because of it, because stress can cause flare-ups. I also suffer from iritis, usually once a year, which is directly linked to the disease. This is an inflammation of the iris which is treated with steroid drops. That's another story! I can eat whatever I like but during an attack, stodgy food is best, no fibre. It is a horrible, debilitating disease if you are unfortunate enough to suffer from it badly. Not many people are aware of it. There is an official Crohn's disease website which you may find helpful. All the best.
|
