Resources for Crohn's Patients in Washington, DC

If you suffer from Crohn's disease and live in the metropolitan Washington, DC, area, you're lucky. Few other areas of the country offer opportunities for so much Crohn's patient support.

The be-all and end-all of local Crohn's resources is the Greater Washington DC/Virginia chapter of the Crohn's Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA). Most locals interpret the DC metropolitan area to include the District as well as an arc with about a 35-mile radius into Virginia and Maryland. For this reason, the majority of Maryland Crohn's patients would probably find the DC/Virginia chapter convenient. Those a bit further out will want to check out the Maryland/Southern Delaware chapter.

The DC/Virginia chapter began in the mid 1980s. I was privileged to be a founding member and watch it grow. If you don't have easy access to a computer, the office is located in Fairfax, VA. You can give the staff a call at 703-865-6130 or at 877-807-5271.

Crohn's patient education programs alternate among sites (typically hospitals) in the District, Virginia and Maryland. The Web site lists a variety of upcoming Crohn's-related activities, among them a picnic in May and a Take Steps Walk in June.

Not thrilled about attending Crohn's patient education meetings or social events when you're under the weather? The DC/Virginia chapter site provides details on the new CCFA endurance training program as well as support groups. In addition to a new Teen/Buddy patient group now forming, existing support groups meet at these locations:

Northern Virginia: Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church and Prince William Hospital in Manassas

Maryland: Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring

District of Columbia: Howard University Hospital

Call the chapter or visit its Web site for meeting times. Leaders and facilitators are also needed for support groups at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, VA; Warren Memorial Hospital in Front Royal, VA; Potomac Hospital in Woodbridge, VA; and the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC.

If you're new to the area or recently diagnosed with Crohn's, you'll want to find a physician as quickly as possible. While I've lived in the DC area since 1980 and know most of the local gastroenterologists, your choice of physician is realistically dictated by your health insurance, if you have any.

Crohn's patients in the metropolitan DC area are blessed with many fine practitioners and facilities. Beyond insurance considerations, your choice of a doctor basically depends on whether you feel more comfortable in a large practice or a small one. For example, if you choose a practice with multiple gastroenterologists, when you're hospitalized, expect to see whichever one is assigned to cover that hospital on that day. The next day, you'll probably receive a visit from one of the other partners.

The trade-off for choosing a solo practitioner and getting more personalized attention is potential frustration over the doctor's unavailability at times. Find out who will cover if you have an emergency and the physician is treating someone at another hospital or is on vacation.

Thus far, I've been treated at Inova Fairfax, Inova Fair Oaks and Reston Hospital. While I preferred having surgery at Fairfax in Falls Church, again, where you go will more than likely be dictated by your medical insurance and where your gastroenterologist practices. Note that the trend is for practices to own their own labs to perform endoscopic work. Before agreeing to use one of these instead of a hospital or free-standing radiology facility, make sure your insurance will cover it.

Based on other Crohn's patients' experiences, I would choose Georgetown University Hospital in the District and Holy Cross in Maryland for treatment.

If you're looking for sitz bath equipment or your very own Crohn's doughnut pillow to ease certain sore parts, you have two excellent choices. Some of the CVS pharmacies in the metropolitan area stock hospital-type supplies such as these. The easiest way to find them is to check the telephone directory for a few in your area, call to find out if they carry what you need and ask if they deliver to your address.

My favorite pharmacy for getting exotic Crohn's prescriptions or equipment is Vienna Rexall Drug. This very accommodating pharmacy is located at 150 Maple Ave W. in Vienna, VA. You can call the helpful folks there at 703-938-7111. If they don't have what you need to help you handle Crohn's, they'll order it if at all possible.

Over the years, I've undergone a number of Crohn's surgeries. At times, I've had to exist for weeks on Ensure. You can buy this liquid food at almost any pharmacy, supermarket or Costco. However, if you want a flavor other than vanilla or chocolate, try a Giant supermarket. Butter pecan is my hands-down favorite.

My favorite Chron's-friendly restaurant in the Washington, DC, area is one you might least expect. I have found I can always eat at the Outback Steakhouse. When you arrive, ask for the manager, who is usually very accommodating as far as special needs. Assuming you've already decided to skip the salad, you have a number of choices to make. Most managers will permit you to order off the children's menu, which is very helpful when you can only eat a limited quantity at one sitting. I've also found the staff very reasonable as far as omitting sauces with lactose and permitting more digestible substitutions for some items.

If the kids' menu isn't appealing and you can't see spending the menu price for an adult meal when you can't eat it all at one sitting, the staff is normally happy to bring you just half the entrée and serve the remainder already boxed to take home.