Crohn's disease

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My sister has just been diagnosed. It's overwhelming and a shock. Does anyone have any real-life advice or day-to-day tips please?

Lived with chrons for 16 years now, currently in remission, most important thing is for your sister to get started on medication.

I currently self inject my medication and have had surgery

What information would be helpful to her or you and I'll answer away!

The chrons and colitis website has loads of good information on it.

I get ulcerative colitis which I believe is less intense. Colitis is inflammation lower in the digestive system and chrons I believe is all of it.

I have personally found what I eat massively affects me as well as stress. I got mine under control to the point where it didn't affect my everyday life while waiting for treatment. I went to hypno therapy and some more conventional therapy to get my stress levels under control, I took probiotics and cut out most sugar, raw foods and alcohol. I cooked most things from scratch to avoid emulsifiers. Tim Spector has good information on foods generally. No raw food is a big one. I cut out dairy until I had symptoms under control. Also getting enough sleep helps me.

My friend has chrons and changed nothing and got his symptoms under control with infusions. They caused some insomnia but he stopped after maybe a year and has been in remission for a while.

I find the worst part now is explaining to people I have a condition which is for me mostly horrible poo symptoms which I find embarrassing! Particularly as when at its worst I have had not very much control over it! I also found my diagnosis really scary, I hope your sister is alright!

My DD has Crohn's, since she was 10.

The medication choices are improving all the time and whilst finding the right meds can be bumpy, once they get it right she should get some relief from symptoms and hopefully periods of remission.

My DD is on self injections as well, called adalimubab. Also immune suppressants, but they suppress her frisky immune system down to ordinary levels so she hasn't been more ill than any of her friends.

Join Crohn's and Colitis the charity and FB page for useful info and support.

Thank you all for your responses and advice. I really appreciate you posting. Wishing you all well on your journeys.

I had a horrible journey to diagnosis but since being diagnosed I've been very well. My medication has worked in keeping me in remission and I live life as normal. That includes getting married, owning my home, completing a PhD and working full-time.