If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, make sure to check in with your doctor as untreated Crohn’s disease can cause severe complications. With no treatment, you may end up dealing with malnutrition, ulcers, bowel obstruction, blood clots, arthritis, kidney stones, gallstones, and liver disease.
General Treatment Options
To determine the right treatment options for you, your doctor will use a few common testing methods. These methods are blood tests, imaging tests, and an endoscopy. Once you’ve been diagnosed, you might be prescribed different medications.
For example, corticosteroids and other anti-inflammatory drugs will help to combat the disease’s main characteristic.
You may also be prescribed anti-diarrheal drugs, antibiotics, or medications that will modify the immune system. A new treatment option is the use of biologic drugs that are more targeted than other medicines. They are often used to bring severe Crohn’s disease into a state of remission that can then be easily maintained.
The most invasive form of treatment is surgery and up to 75% of those who are dealing with Crohn’s disease will need one. One procedure involves removing the affected area of the bowel while another addresses parts of the rectum that have become diseased. Of course, these don’t cure the disease. They only alleviate the symptoms for short period.
In addition to medical interventions, persons with Crohn’s disease often benefit from making changes to their diet and exercise routines. These changes will not only make living with the disease more bearable, but they can also reduce the likelihood of a flare-up.
Even if Crohn’s Disease isn’t the reason behind your chronic fatigue, the symptom should never be ignored.
In a few cases, your tiredness may be caused by something simple like stress but there are some serious illnesses that can be the problem as well. It’s always best to get your doctor involved as soon as possible.