After you have received a Crohn's diagnosis, your doctor will probably explain to you that there is no cure for Crohn's disease, but that there are lots of different methods of treatment available to help make the disease manageable. In addition to suggesting different methods of treatment, your doctor might also advise you of some dietary changes you could make to help with your symptoms as well as give you some tips on managing stress, which often causes Crohn's symptoms to worsen. Receiving a Crohn's diagnosis combined with dealing with the disease day to day could also affect you emotionally, and you might begin to feel yourself becoming depressed more often than you used to. Your doctor might recommend some Crohn's support groups in your area to help you cope.
Some of the treatments your doctor might recommend to you after a Crohn's diagnosis include anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppressants, and antibiotics. Anti-inflammatory drugs should help to reduce the inflammation inside your intestines when taken regularly. Immunosuppressants could also help reduce your intestinal inflammation by targeting the response of your immune system, which triggers the inflammation. Antibiotics might also be used to heal abscesses inside your intestines, which is a common side effect of Crohn's disease. Sometimes doctors also prescribe antibiotics occasionally for Crohn's because, in addition to healing intestinal abscesses, antibiotics might also reduce intestinal inflammation by impacting your immune system.
Your doctor might recommend some dietary changes to help you deal with Crohn's disease. Drinking lots of fluids and cutting back on dairy and fat might greatly reduce your symptoms. Increasing your fiber intake might also help. Reducing your stress levels can also prevent difficulties with Crohn's, and your doctor might advise you to take time out to relax every day. Regular exercise might additionally help you to calm down when your stress levels are high.
Feeling depressed and emotional after a Crohn's diagnosis is typically normal, and you may go on to have feelings of depression off and on as you deal with your symptoms. Connecting with other people who suffer from Crohn's disease could help you get through the tougher times, and your doctor might be able to give you information on local Crohn's support groups in your area. If you would prefer not to meet up with other Crohn's sufferers in person, you can find similar support groups on the Internet. Some people find it easier to be open and express their feelings without having to actually meet in person.