A glass of wine may trigger a flare in one person but never bother another. Some people with Crohn’s may be particularly troubled by stomach cramps and nausea, while others struggle more with constipation and fatigue. Similarly, what works for one person may or may not work for another. Here, real people with Crohn’s speak up with advice that helps them manage the disease.
Allow Yourself to Be Sad
People with Crohn’s disease can have triple the depression rate of the average American, according to a study published in October 2017 in the Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. But you don’t always have to put on a brave face. For Sara Fierman, 42, simply allowing herself “to feel sad, upset, or depressed” has given her great freedom. “Having an autoimmune disease is a lifelong battle,” says Fierman, of Pennsburg, Pennsylvania. “You will have bad days and good days. Some weeks there’s a lot more bad than good, but know you will feel better eventually.” Fierman regularly reads blogs and articles by others with Crohn’s disease or another autoimmune condition on websites such as Medium and The Mighty, which teach her how others are coping.
Exercise Your Body (and Gut)
Emmett Quaine, 43, of Fort Mill, South Carolina, credits exercise with dramatically reducing his Crohn’s symptoms. This is also backed by research, such as a study published in December 2017 in the journal Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology. “Stress contributes to my Crohn’s, and exercise is great stress relief, ” he says. Emily Petokas, 28, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, agrees. Diagnosed in September 2019, she tells people to “Grab a friend and go for a walk, or try some yoga in your living room.”
Trust Your Instincts
“You know your body. If something doesn’t feel right, do something about it,” says Charlie Goodman, 31, of New York City. After Goodman was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, his former gastroenterologist told him that diet would have no impact on how he felt. “I did not agree with him at all,” says Goodman. “I ended up finding two other amazingly supportive and knowledgeable Crohn’s specialists instead.” Seek a second opinion, if you feel you should. According to a study published in March 2019 in the journal JAMA Network Open, small groups of doctors were more likely to make accurate diagnoses than single physicians were — even when that physician was a specialist.
Know Your Food Triggers
“We all have food sensitivities,” says Goodman. “It can present itself in big ways like stomach discomfort or small ways like a little cough that you may not even realize is linked to food.” Before his diagnosis, Goodman thought he had irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a disorder that can cause IBD-like symptoms, such as abdominal pain and bloating. “I knew that if I ate too much gluten, rich foods, dairy, or fried foods that it would make me sick,” says Goodman. He’s now realized that eating a diet full of fruits and vegetables also helps him feel his best.
Invest in Self-Care
“Crohn’s disease can be just as exhausting mentally as physically,” says Dana Schaeffer, 40, who lives in Lancaster, South Carolina. “I cannot stress simple self-care actions enough.” Schaeffer does yoga and meditates to help ease stress and anxiety and recommends taking a warm bath with Epsom salt, which can also alleviate stomachaches, body aches, and joint pain. Alternative medicine may also bring some relief. Acupuncture has been shown to ease Crohn’s symptoms, according to a report published in April 2019 in the journal Medicine, and mindfulness-based therapies were shown to reduce markers of inflammation in people with Crohn’s disease, according to a study published in April 2020 in the journal Nature.
Recruit Some Support
You can find a support network to help alleviate some of the stress associated with the disease through in-person groups or private groups on social media or online. “There are so many great support groups on Facebook and through the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation where you can share experiences with people who are going through similar things,” says Schaeffer. “Crohn’s can be a very isolating disease and awkward to talk about. It’s comforting to be part of a community who just gets it. You don’t have to go through a flare alone.”
