What exactly is remission?

tes, clinically, remission just means a lack of symptoms.  Meds are still required to keep you in remission, you just don't have as many symptoms, as much pain, etc.  Many people still have some symptoms but they aren't as severe or frequent.  Some people may not have any symptoms...it's different for everyone and even differs from day to day for one person.  I've been in remission for 4 or 5 years but I still have the arthritis associated with Crohn's and it's in a major flare.  I've been having to take 5 or 6 Librax pills a day just for stomach spasms lately, but there have been periods where I went for weeks without having to take any Librax.  But, other than that, I have no gut symptoms and my tests all come back clear.  For a while, I was able to eat almost anything I wanted (but still stayed clear of a few items), but lately anything I eat gives me stomach spasms.  So, remission is great, but it doesn't mean that life goes back to pre-Crohn's normal.   

Clinical remission means no symptoms of Crohn's disease. Laboratory remission means bloodwork is normal (ESR, C-reactive protein, etc.). Sometimes people can be in clinical remission, but not laboratory remission, because the disease is still simmering at a low level. At times you may be in remission while not on any treatment, other times you may be in remission while taking one or another treatment. It's still remission.

Remission is completely dependent on the person it seems like. Some people have some symptoms while others have none. It's entirely dependent.

I spent 7 years in clinical/laboratory remission and lived a normal, active life. 12 - 16 hour days in grad school. Out drinking and dancing with friends on weekends. For a while in my health phase for about 2 years, I ran 3 miles 5 times a week. And ate salads and raw vegetables as a vegetarian nearly every day. I lived like a normal young 20 woman, while taking 75mg of Imuran and 750mg of Colazal 3x/day. My blood results came back normal everytime and on my colonoscopy, a bit of active inflammation was seen as my TI. But when deciding to up my meds to something stronger, decided not to rock the boat.

Crohn's became active again in my last year of grad school due to stress. Found out I have a fibrotic stricture on a CT scan while I thought I was still in remission (avoid the salads when you get there.). Flared up and trying to beat it into submission with Flagyl and more Imuran while I wait out the time to have a resection.

But that was just me...everyone is completely different.