Books

“Understanding Crohn’s Disease: A Teen’s Guide,” by Anya L. The resource aims to help teens diagnosed with Crohn’s disease navigate their struggles.

The book begins with my journey(Anya L) of being diagnosed with Crohn’s during my junior year of high school. I share my experiences dealing with the medical procedures and lifestyle changes in addition to the roller coaster of emotions that accompany the condition.

What is Crohn’s Disease: Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the digestive tract.

Potential causes can be ones that are hereditary or affected by one’s epigenetic changes.

Common Symptoms can involve the following:

• Diarrhea

• Abdominal pain

• Fatigue

• weight loss.

I discuss the diagnostic process which includes but is not limited to medical history, lab tests, imaging, colonoscopies, and endoscopies.

Treatment: There are several treatment options like medications (anti-inflammatories, immune suppressors, antibiotics), dietary management, and surgery. I explain why finding the right treatment is so important and how because Crohn’s Disease cannot be cured, managing symptoms through lifestyle adjustments is crucial.

The book offers advice on how to manage daily life, focusing on diet regulation, exercise, sleep, and stress management.

Resources and Support: It is crucial to have support systems, including family, friends, and support groups as you continue on your Crohn’s journey. My nonprofit, Support For Crohn’s DIsease, which provides resources and support for those affected by Crohn’s disease is a valuable resource(www.supportforcrohns.org)