Hi Zayannee --

As I mentioned before, you should really go to www.ccfa.org to find out more information about Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
There will be a lot of information that will answer the questions you just posted.

Quick answers:
Meds, lots of them for inflammation to get it under control -- but it's not a quick process.
Surgery: I remember reading that 3 out of every 4 people with IBD(or 75%) will require at least one surgery during their lifetime.
Why are they finding it just now? IBD is gene-related. This means that IBD sufferers, like your husband or my 10-year old daughter, were born with a this genetic link for Crohn's or Colitis. This gene is apparently dormant until some "environmental factor" (researchers are trying to figure out) triggers the gene and the auto immune response by the body.

While Crohn's and Colitis are very serious diseases, they are rarely fatal thanks to advances in medicines and surgeries. I'm not saying it's a picnic. Believe me watching my 10-year old suffer with this is horrible...and knowing she will suffer with it the rest of her life is agonizing as a parent. But I keep reminding myself it's not a death sentence (her best friend has Leukemia) and with proper medical care, changes in diet, etc. Crohn's can be a very managable disease.

Hope that helps.
Tammy

What we have is serious and frustrating! What the doctor's don't tell you is that your life will never be the same. What you knew before will never return.

Your husband is going to base his life on where the nearest bathroom is and hoping that people understand where he is coming from.

I was diagnosed this summer and I have been on a rollercoaster. First there is the adjustment to being sick and being in pain for a considerable amount of time.

Your husband have to adjust to all of the meds that he is going to have to take (I was up to about 8 pills and I think that that is pretty mild in comparison to other people!).

You also have to adjust to the physical changes. Depending on the meds, like our good ol' friend prednisone, depends on your physical. I gained about 30 lbs and went up from a size 8 to a 14 (again, this is mild in comparison to other people). SOme people put on 100 lbs while others can't keep on weight. Some people on here can't ever hold a steady job because they are so sick.

And then there is the emotional...when you are constantly sick, at the doctor, taking tons of meds, and your physical appearance is changing, you may get a little depressed.

You need to be supportive of your husband right now, because this is definitely going to be a rollercoaster!

Any chronic medical diagnosis such as Crohn's is life changing for that person and those close to them. Expect a rollercoaster of emotions, questions, and physical changes. I was originally diagnosed with colitis, but have recently had the diagnosis changed to crohns. I was 19 when I was first diagnosed. I have been the sickest of sick and then had times when I felt the best since I've been diagnsed. I have been with my high school sweetheart since I was 14. He has stuck by me through EVERYTHING! He hasn't always been able to understand the 20 trips to the bathroom a day, the pain, the meds., the physical changes, the mental/emotional ups and downs, etc., but he's done his best to be supportive. That's all you can do. Get as much information as you can, from wherever you can. Ask the doctors any and every question you and he have. Be sure to ask questions!!! Take care of yourself, so you can take care of him. When he feels really bad, he will need you desperately. You will have to try and wear many hats for him: the wife, the friend, the nurse, the mother, the advocate. It can be overwhelming, but just remember that you love him and want to help him get well. You will find the strength to get through this wih him. Be very patient with him because he is as overwhelmed as you are. Good luck. Ask doctors and us all here at DS lots of questions to make sure that you get all the answers you are looking for.

well, i think im lucky, i was diagnosed with crohn's when i was 18, had a reversable colostomy, it didnt work, bu the time i was 20 they decided i had ulcerative colitis and did an ileostomy, rmoving large intestine & bowel completely.

im now 47 and back then they had no meds for it, but reading other peoples problems, i feel lucky i had the surgery, as i dont have flair-ups, i dont have pain, i just live with a bag stuck to my belly.

it all depends how serious it is and how they can treat you as to meds.
it is a change in life style, it will make a huge difference, but your life is not over, you adapt to it.