A Painful Disease That Can Be Difficult To Discuss

SEATTLE - Crohn's disease affects more than a million Americans. And though it can trigger excruciating pain and even cause some sufferers to consider suicide, there's such a social stigma surrounding the illness that few people talk about it.

But now people who have Inflammatory Bowel Diseases are trying to put a human face on the illness.

"In a full-blown flare-up it can mean complete life disruption," says Forest Hooker who has Crohn's Disease. "Nausea, diarrhea, significant weight loss up to 25 or 30 percent of your body weight."

Hooker was 11 when he was diagnosed with the illness, which results in painful blockages in the bowel.

"At work, it can mean having to excuse yourself three or four times during the course of a two-hour meeting to go to the bathroom," says Hooker.

It can be a difficult issue to talk about.

"I think most people when they first have it don't want to talk about it," says Dr. Scott Lee, an Inflammatory Bowel Disease specialist at the University of Washington Medical Center. " People who have it don't want to go to a physician for it. And it's partly society -- we're taught not to talk about our bowels and things like that."

Dr. Lee says that though the cause of Crohn's Disease is unknown, progress is being made.

"They've just found the first genetic defects," he said. "And that'll probably be the first step to finding many more therapies and possibly a cure. Although right now, it's incurable."

The disease causes a narrowing in the small intestine.

"It's horrible pain," Dr. Lee said. "I've had several women patients tell me it's the equivalent, if not worse, than having a baby."

Though many people with the disease find talking about it difficult, Forrest says it's important to do so.

"I think that the worst thing a patient can do is go into denial about the disease," Dr. Lee said. "And it's one of the diseases easier to go into denial about because it's not a disease that a lot of people want to discuss at the dinner table."

For More Information:

Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America -- www.ccfa.org
University of Washington Medical Center Gastroenterology Clinic --www.washington.edu

Also, the Northwest chapter of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America holds its annual "You Gotta Have Guts" 5K race at Sandpoint's Magnuson Park in Seattle Saturday, August 24th at 9 a.m.

Proceeds benefit research, education and support programs. For more information about the event, go to ccfa.org or call (206) 574-0698.