flareups

I was diagnosed with crohn's disease in 1983 at the age of 30, but my doctor thinks I have suffered from the disease most of my life.  I don't know about flare-ups causing problems in the future, but I know that the medicines you take and just the crohn's itself can affect your whole body in the future.  I have arthritis from the steroids I took in my earlier years and even the medicine I take today has a side effect of joint pain.  Every person is different as to what affects their crohns and their body, so you have to just take it one day at a time.  My sister also has crohn's, but she can control hers with diet, while I take several medicines.  I have had 2 colon resections, and contrary to what I have been told, after my last resection, I have already gon a year longerbetween surgeries and have had no flares that caused hospitalization.  I don't know if this is because I change my diet to fit how I am feeling (some days all I eat is rice), or because the medicines are helping to keep the disease under control better and I live a more stress free life.  One of the main things I recommend is finding out what foods are 'triggers' for you.  If they are favorites, don't deny yourself, but make sure you only eat them on really good days and in moderation.  Good luck!