What is Crohn's Disease, Can I Catch It, and Other Burning Crohn's-Related Queries

Crohn's Disease is a chronic auto-immune disease of the intestine. As with other auto-immune diseases, the body's immune system mistakes microbes in the body (in this case, in the intestine) for foreign matter, and attacks the body itself. There is no cure for Crohn's Disease, though there are a number of treatments; these vary in efficacy, cost, convenience, and general pleasantness. For more on Crohn's Disease, visit the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America home page.

No one knows what causes Crohn's Disease, but you certainly cannot catch it from someone who has been diagnosed with it. So you can go ahead and take off your ski mask and full-body bubble wrap suit now. Go on. There you go.

I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease in August 1991, when I was about to turn 10. I've tried a number of different oral medications, Remicade IV infusions, Methotrexate self-injections, Humira injections, and hospitalizations for my treatment, but luckily I've never had to have any major surgeries. In September 2009, I began IV infusions of the MS drug Tysabri.

It's been my ad hoc mission to demonstrate that having Crohn's isn't about being sick -- it's about being whatever you were in the first place. And that's what you'll find here.