Helping a Loved One With Crohn Disease

It may be difficult to accept that you have no control over your loved one’s Crohn disease. That doesn’t mean there is nothing you can do. Your loved one relies on you more than ever for caring, understanding, and support.

• Respect your loved one’s privacy. He or she has embarrassing and uncomfortable symptoms and has to undergo invasive tests and examinations. Allow your loved one to talk about these as much or as little as he or she wants. It is not necessary for you to know all the details.
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• Offer to go along on doctor visits. Doctor visits can be stressful for your loved one. Just being there can provide tremendous support.
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• Be encouraging. It is natural for your loved one to sometimes focus on the negative aspects of the disease—the discomfort, the limitations, and the sacrifices. Try to be positive and keep him or her focused on goals.
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• Listen to what he or she is saying. Sometimes a comment about one thing may be masking a feeling about something else. For instance, a complaint about her appearance may signal that she is concerned that you no longer find her attractive. People with Crohn disease often suffer loss of self-esteem with changes in their appearance. Try to figure out what is really wrong and address that.
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• Show that you care. By being loving and attentive, you are telling your loved one that the disease makes no difference in the way you feel about him or her.