How to Support Someone With Crohn's Disease

It can be a husband, sister, child, coworker or friend. When you know someone with Crohn's disease and understand what it's like to live with this ongoing illness, you'll naturally want to help. This inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) causes serious intermittent bouts of symptoms--and occasionally the need for hospitalization or surgery. Learn to support those with Crohn's disease so they can live better lives.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Reference material about Crohn's disease

Friend-to-Patient Support

1. Learn all you can in order to support those with Crohn's disease. Knowledge helps patients cope. They'll be glad to have someone with whom to discuss symptoms or the latest medical research news.
2. Support friends or family members by going to Crohn's disease group meetings with them. Most support groups welcome everybody.
3. Donate money or time to Crohn's disease fundraising events. Sponsor someone in a walk-a-thon or get sponsors yourself and participate.
4. Be sensitive to patients' dietary needs or ability to participate in activities. Symptom flare-ups or hospitalization for surgery may require special foods or take them out of circulation for a while.

Patient-to-Patient Support

5. Join a support group and learn to give as well as get support. Mutual support builds social relationships, improves esteem and well-being and takes your mind off your own condition in a positive way.
6. Support a group member by joining her in reaching a goal, such as a weight maintenance goal or participation in a marathon.
7. Help all Crohn's disease patients by participating in fundraising events that donate money to research. Learn about events by joining the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Having a support network decreases stress for patients and helps to stabilize their mental and physical health.
• Sometimes just listening is the best supportive gesture.
• Making donations to research and advocacy groups, such as the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, puts money directly toward a cure for Crohn's disease.
• When exchanging patient information, share the names and details about drugs or treatments, but don't suggest a dosage to someone with Crohn's disease. Serious complications could arise.
• Many ingredients, and not just spicy ones, can irritate the intestinal tract and cause discomfort. Don't insist that someone with Crohn's disease eat foods that they decline, even "just a little taste."