Do you know anyone with Crohn's?

The reason I ask is that I just found out that someone I work with (and sort of supervise in a weird way, although I'm not senior to him and I don't review him) has Crohn's.

I said, oh really?! I have ulcerative colitis!

He gave me this blank look that took me a while to interpret. Now I think that the blank look is because he's done little or no research and doesn't know that UC and Crohn's are members of the same family.

He told me he's not on any medication. He said he always knew he had a sensitive stomach, but he didn't know he had Crohn's until his regular colonoscopy at 50.

So I think he must have a very mild case, right?

So the thing is, he is out of work a LOT. Not long after he started, about 18 months ago, he told me that he had a chronic condition that flares occasionally and causes him to be down for a few days at a time. At the time, I thought about saying, "Lucky you, when I flare it's for months on end" and maybe I should have, so as to get this on the table sooner.

I didn't know that Crohn's flares just last a few days. Does that sound right? I'm going to post in the Crohn's forum, too, but I'd like to hear from UC sufferers if they know anyone with Crohn's and how it compares to our form of IBD.

I've already recommended my GI to him, since he moved recently and his GI is really quite a long way from home and work. Now I feel like I should be pushing meds on him if only to stop his flares from coming on so frequently. On the other hand, if he's basically normal most of the time, and is only out maybe 15 percent of the month, maybe he's really doing fine without meds?

He's really good at what he does so his job isn't in danger, but even the upper echelon here have noticed his absences.

My niece has Crohn's. For the most part she is fine most of the time and doesn't take meds at the moment. about 8 years ago she had a bad flare and her GI put her on Remicade. She had to stop it right away because she go the drug induced form of Lupus from it. After that she was on 6mp which put her in remission. She went off of it 3 years ago because she wanted to start a family. She has since had two healthy kids and she told me she felt her best while pregnant. She hasn't flared since before the kids were born. I was way sicker with my UC than she ever was with her Crohns but just like UC, people will have different levels of severity .

My mum has Crohn's. Hers was very mild for a number of years and she wasn't on medication at all. Then things went pear-shaped and she flared badly and had to have a re-section. She was on pred after that but tapered and is no longer on any meds.

Not that its a competition -lol- but my UC has always been worse than her Crohn's. I can't maintain remission without my meds but she can. Which is weird, because I've always been very thankful to have UC rather than Crohn's.

If the guy has sick leave to take, I wouldn't say anything. He probably feels bad enough about taking leave (I know I do). Just let him know he has your ear if necessary. So few people understand these wretched diseases.