How do you NOT freak out?

[MissBG]

So I have recently been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in the last few months and it is really hitting me hard that it is a genetic disorder. I have 2 amazing kids who thank God have been extremely healthy most of their lives, but now every time they have an upset stomach I panic. Every time my 2 year old has diarrhea I panic and worry for days. My 7 year old stayed home from school yesterday saying her stomach hurt and today the office called and said she was doubled over in class because it hurt but she is not running a fever, no diarrhea, or vomiting and I am about to have a nervous breakdown!

Don’t get me wrong this girl is a drama queen and makes mountains out of mole hills but I am at a loss… 2 days of problems and part of me wants to rush her to the dr and schedule all the tests to see if she has Crohn’s too. Realistically I know that is completely irrational but still.

I need someone to knock some sense into me! lol :ybatty:

 

[Natalie38]

Hi there,

Its completely understandable that you would be worried about your children having Crohns, but, the more you worry and stress about something like this, the greater the possibility of working yourself into a flare. And, I am going to safely assume that you would like to avoid that.
For me, and my Crohns, stress is major and usually why I have bad flares.
Bottom Line, worrying does noooo good. Take care of yourself and live your life to the full.

Nat

 

[shamrock15]

I think about the only way not to freak out is to look for more than just a couple symptoms. I am scared to death about my daughter getting this "gift". Everytime she says her tummy hurts, I immediately try to sort out possible reasons and look for other symptoms. In her case, she has never really had an issue with loose stools. That in and of itself really does a lot to dissuade me. Aside from that, she gains weight at a good rate, her height is good, her personality is generally good, good appetite. I know there are many symptoms, but these ones seem to be common to a lot of Crohn's cases. It does sort of settle me down.

 

[kiny]

I think it's better to say Crohn might be a genetic predisposition in some cases, which is a lot less alarming. There are perfect siblings where one has crohn and the other does not. You're not born with crohn, the gut flora is still forming after birth, it can be influenced by millions of things other than genes. I think this way of thinking is a lot more hopeful than the idea that it's purely gene related, which it isn't, a gene mutation might make someone more susceptible that's all. You can have parents without crohn and have crohn and you can have parents with crohn and kids without.