What is the prognosis for Crohn's disease?

Answer 1

One of the major long term Crohn's disease effects can be to suffer malabsorption of minerals and nutrients, which leaves the sufferer generally very ill. Additionally, you can develop gall stones as a consequence of Crohn's, which can require gall bladder removal.

The many medical treatments can lead to long term secondary effects, osteoporosis, Arthritis, liver problems, anemia, etc.

Finally, when surgery to remove the diseased intestines is the only option, it is not a cure, and can actually lead to further diseases at the site of the joining of the intestines remaining after the surgery. Additionally, increased numbers of surgeries, leaves less intestines to absorb vital nutrients from food, often leaving the patient with increased diarrhea.

In addition to chronic fatigue the Crohn's sufferer must make constant trips to the toilet without much notice, therefore is reliant on quick access to facilities and does not enjoy a good quality of life until a flair up ends. Constant pain, cramping and no appetite renders the patient housebound and bedridden.

Answer 2

Crohns almost always starts with cramping and diarrhea, and other basic flu like symptoms. Often ignored or treated as a short term illness, patients usually believe it will soon go away. It does not. Weight loss can be dramatic. Abdominal pain severe and ongoing. Blood in the feces often goes unnoticed because of the consistency of the stools, lose and unformed. Blood noticed after wiping is often put down to irritation from numerous trips to the toilet over the past several weeks. Sores can form in the mouth but can be masked by dehydration and or over the counter medication taken for the control of the diarrhea. After three or four weeks the sufferer often seeks help from the doctor but even then, help is not always at hand. Doctors almost never automatically assume Crohns disease and getting in to see a specialist can take months. Fatigue and feeling constantly sick takes its toll on the patient. Symptoms can just go away as quick as they came on. This is called a remmission. The symptoms may be gone but the disease is still there. Fistulae can form and narrowing of the digestive tract can take place causing a blockage. Large ulcers and absesses may start in the inner walls of the bowel. All of this can result in another attack even more severe than the first one.

Once diagnosed, medications can be administered to help drive the disease back into remmission but it cannot be cured. Surgery is no cure either, the disease often comes back, sometimes very soon after. A diagnosis of Crohns is life altering. Patients can and often do enjoy a full productive life but different than those without this disease. Medication to control symptoms is long term and can often have side effects undesireable to the patient resulting in the patient reducing or stopping the required doseages.

Answer 3

The severity of the disease can vary, and a patient can experience periods of time when the disease is not active and he or she is symptom free.