“Hi! I’m Lenette and I wear purple for Crohn’s and Colitis (IBD) awareness. After several years of health struggles, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2014. Crohn’s disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD.) IBD is a term for two conditions (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) that are characterized by chronic inflammation of the GI tract and with prolonged inflammation, damage to the GI tract often requires surgery.
IBD can be debilitating and sometimes leads to life-threatening complications. An estimated 3.1 million Americans have IBD, with more diagnosed each day. Crohn’s disease can affect more than your GI tract and many patients suffer from at least one extra intestinal manifestation.
IBD is complex and is specific to each individual patient. Finding the right treatment can take time (trial & error), be expensive and can be a struggle with your insurance company. Many times, IBD patients are made to feel like drug seekers or that their pain is “in their head.” This makes it more difficult to get treatment and can cause some patients to not seek out medical care.
Crohn’s disease is an invisible illness and can be difficult to convey to family and friends what you were going through. Lack of support is common for Crohn’s patients and it’s why the online IBD community is so important! I started my Instagram, @_lifewithcrohnsdisease_ in September 2016 a couple of months before my bowel resection surgery. I was scared, felt alone and wanted others to talk to who knew what I was going through. It has been pivotal in my Crohn’s journey to have this online community. I strive to spread awareness, build community and show a positive perspective to living with Crohn’s disease.
Generating greater awareness of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis means that more progress can be made toward finding a cure and reducing the signifi- cant impact of these diseases on individuals and the US healthcare system.” @_lifewithcrohnsdisease_