In this article, we'll explore Crohn's disease—its definition, symptoms, causes, and treatment options. We'll also learn from Lisa, a young woman with Crohn's disease, what it's like to live with this disease and how it affects her daily life.

What is Crohn's disease?

It's okay if you don't know much about it yet. Crohn's disease is one of those topics that often gets overlooked, but it's important that we talk about it. And that's exactly what we want to do today—simply, clearly, and understandably.

Imagine you're at your favorite restaurant. You're excited about your order and impatiently waiting for the waiter to bring you your favorite dish. But instead of looking forward to the meal, you're afraid. Afraid that the food you love so much will cause your body pain. Afraid that you'll have to run to the bathroom immediately. This scenario is everyday life for some people. Welcome to the world of Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease is a chronic condition that affects your digestive tract – and can affect everything from your mouth to your anus. It's as if your body constantly has internal wounds that just won't heal. These "wounds," or inflammations, can cause you to feel pain, need to go to the bathroom frequently, or simply feel constantly tired and weak.

Lisa, what would you say from the perspective of someone affected? What is Crohn's disease?

"Well, basically a chronic intestinal disease. In my case, it's mainly at the point where the small intestine ends and the large intestine begins." Furthermore, according to Lisa, the disease can be summarized as follows: “You can’t eat a lot of things that you find tasty.”

Symptoms of Crohn's disease

When we delve into the world of Crohn's disease, it is inevitable to talk about the symptoms. They can be subtle and barely noticeable, but they can also be quite obvious. How exactly Crohn's disease manifests itself depends on the individual. In Lisa's case, the disease manifests itself primarily through severe pain. When she has an acute attack, she also struggles with body aches, lack of energy, fever, and chills. She feels “really, really sick.”

Nevertheless, beyond individual cases, observations can be made that allow some symptoms to be identified as the most common. These include, for example, abdominal pain and cramps that feel like you have severe muscle soreness that just won't go away.

But diarrhea and fever as well as fatigue and exhaustion are also not uncommon. “Sometimes it feels like the illness is taking all your energy.” Lisa describes it. Many sufferers also report loss of appetite and, associated with it, unintentional weight loss. It's as if they've lost all hunger and every bite becomes a challenge.

However, the disease can also manifest itself outside the abdominal region.For example, in the form of joint pain, skin changes, or eye inflammation. However, every person is different and not everyone experiences the same symptoms, and for many, they aren't noticeable for a long time.

Lisa can also confirm this observation. "There are days when I feel almost normal", she says. "Then I almost forget that I have Crohn's disease. But there are also days when my body reminds me very clearly."

Precisely because they occur so suddenly, in fits and starts, and unexpectedly, many sufferers are downright afraid of the symptoms. And it's okay to be afraid. It's okay to feel insecure. But remember: Symptoms aren't the enemy; they're signposts. They can help you and your doctor figure out what's going on and find the best treatment options. Because yes, there are treatment options—more on that later.

Causes of Crohn's disease

Now you know the symptoms and general appearance of Crohn's disease, but you're probably wondering why people suffer from this disease in the first place. To put it bluntly: No one can answer this question with complete certainty yet. But some scientists believe that many factors play a role.

For example, there are genes. Yes, our genes. The unique recipe that makes us who we are, gives us our appearance, and predetermines many things. Unfortunately, this also affects the likelihood of developing Crohn's disease. Some people have certain genetic mutations that increase their risk of developing the disease.

But environmental factors also play a role. These are the things we encounter every day, such as the type of food we eat, whether we smoke or not, and even the bacteria that live in our gut.

Our immune system can also play a role. Normally, it's there to protect us from all sorts of things. But sometimes it gets a little confused and reacts to harmless things in our body as if they were dangerous invaders.

Last but not least, stress is also a crucial factor, which does not necessarily lead to the development of Crohn's disease, but greatly increases the likelihood of a flare-up.

What do you think could have been the cause in your case and what did your doctor say?

"I think there were many factors in my case. My doctor says genetics may play a role, but my lifestyle also contributed to the disease. I ate really poorly, smoked, and occasionally drank alcohol. These are all risk factors, although I would probably attribute the greatest influence to diet."

Treatment of Crohn's disease

Treatment for Crohn's disease is complex and individualized, as symptoms and progression of the disease vary greatly from person to person. While there is no cure for Crohn's disease, there are many treatment options aimed at alleviating symptoms and improving quality of life.

Medications designed to control inflammation in the gut play a central role in treatment. These include anti-inflammatory drugs, immunomodulators, biologics, and, in some cases, corticosteroids. The exact medications used depend on the severity and location of the inflammation, as well as the patient's individual needs and circumstances.

In some cases, surgery may also be necessary to remove damaged sections of the intestine or to treat complications such as abscesses or fistulas.

A healthy, balanced diet is also an important part of treatment.The right diet can help alleviate symptoms and prevent deficiencies. It's important to emphasize that there is no single "Crohn's diet," as different people react differently to different foods.

How about you, Lisa? How much does the illness limit you, and what's on your menu?

"It does restrict me a lot. I've gotten used to it somewhat, you could say, but the social aspect is a real nuisance. It's rare that you can go out to dinner with friends or have a barbecue without being restricted."

Exactly which foods are intolerant varies greatly. In Lisa's case, she has to avoid fatty foods in particular. Meat, sugar, fried or deep-fried foods, and a whole range of different spices are on her menu only in very small quantities. Instead, she eats mostly healthy foods and uses fresh vegetables, rice, and pasta in her cooking. She tolerates these basic foods quite well.

Living with Crohn's Disease: An Interview with Lisa

But what does it actually feel like to live with Crohn's disease and be treated? To better understand this, we asked Lisa a few final questions:

How does Crohn's disease manifest itself in your everyday life? What challenges does the disease present?

"I think the illness is most noticeable through food. I had to completely change my eating habits and have to be very careful about what I eat. I think the biggest challenge is giving up things that I actually find delicious."

How did you feel when you received the diagnosis and did you already know what it meant?

"At first, I didn't feel anything. I didn't really understand the term Crohn's disease, and I think many other people didn't either. But when I learned what changes it meant for me and that you'll never really get rid of the disease, it really hit me. But now I've found a good way to live with it."

What medications do you take and how do they affect your quality of life?

"In the beginning, I had to take a lot of cortisone, but I was afraid that this would cause damage to my liver, especially in the long run. I decided to completely turn my life around and avoid all risk factors as much as possible. I no longer smoke, I don't drink alcohol, and, above all, I eat healthily. This allowed me to completely stop taking cortisone in consultation with my doctor and now I only have to take it when I have a severe flare-up."

Have you ever considered or had surgery?

"Actually not. Often, surgery doesn't help as much as desired, is associated with risks, and in my case, because I made many changes in time to protect my health, it wasn't even necessary.“

How do you personally deal with the illness? Do you have any tips?

"I think, first and foremost, you should rethink your consumption, both in terms of diet and things like cigarettes and alcohol. Of course, it won't magically cure the disease, but in terms of quality of life, it makes a huge difference!"