know so you can avoid the trigger in the future.
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5. Your Diet Will Be Important
As you might expect, a disease that causes inflammation in the stomach will affect what you’ll be able to eat.
When you’re living with Crohn’s, doctors suggest avoiding alcohol, bulky grains, dairy products, spicy foods, and fried foods. It’s best to stay hydrated, eat mild foods, choose cooked vegetables over raw ones, and focus on having smaller meals.
6. Surgery Might Be In The Future
In some cases, medications aren’t enough to keep Crohn’s disease under control so doctors opt to remove a part of the inflamed bowel. That doesn’t mean your illness is cured though. The inflammation usually moves on to the next part of the bowel.
Surgery may also be necessary if you have complications from Crohn’s. It would be used to repair damage or remove a blockage.
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7. Some Drugs Will Be Off-Limits
While aiming to protect your stomach, your doctor will advise you to avoid medications that might trigger inflammation. One of those is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). If you used to take NSAIDs, talk to your doctor about alternatives.
8. You Should Watch Out For Complications
Apart from the symptoms that come from Crohn’s, the constant inflammation can cause complications that will affect your overall health. These complications include ulcers, fissures, arthritis, colon cancer, skin disease, and liver damage. It’s a good idea to ask your doctor what symptoms to look out for and let them know as soon as you see anything that’s a cause for concern.
Depending on the type of Crohn’s disease you have, it can be really disruptive. If you work with your doctor though and make some changes to your lifestyle, the disease is completely manageable. With the right treatment, you may even be able to keep your Crohn’s disease in remission.