Crohn's disease treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

Maple is a virtual care platform that connects you with doctors and other healthcare providers via text, audio, or video. After you log in to your Maple account, you can request an online consultation.

Consultations work similarly to in-person appointments — the doctor can complete an assessment by asking questions about your symptoms, going through your health history, and determining what treatment is right for you. If they think your condition is more serious, they may tell you to go to a clinic for an in-person examination.

As a Maple member, you get 24/7 access to virtual primary care online and more. You can connect with our network of providers via text, audio, or video call within minutes.

Our membership costs $79.99/month and covers virtual care for patients and their families, including the primary account holder's spouse and any dependents.

For patients in eligible provinces, our membership includes:

• Access to daily primary care provider visits: One daily visit with a primary care provider for each family member in their household.
• Paediatric care: Covered paediatric primary care visits, available by appointment.
• Second medical opinions: access to a network of experts for a second opinion if diagnosed with a complex condition (e.g. cancer).
• Personal Health Check-Ins: A series of personalized, evidence-based proactive care screenings to maintain and improve health.
• iCBT courses: Access to iCBT (internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy) self-assessment and courses.
• Access to specialists in eligible provinces: Easy access to specialists on Maple within days, not months. No referral is needed.
• Specialist referrals in eligible provinces: Ability to be referred to a physician specialist for in-person care, if needed.
• Credit discounts: An $80 credit per month to be applied to a Maple specialist visit.

Please note that our membership cannot be combined with other offerings, such as private insurance coverage and provincial programs, where available. In some cases, membership fees can be covered by a Healthcare Spending Account (HSA) — check with your HSA provider for more details.

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Our policies and consent processes are designed to be simple and easily understood, empowering individuals with control and a clear understanding of their healthcare journey. When using our services, a patient’s session is protected by a comprehensive security infrastructure and stringent data policies.

Patients also retain full control of their personal health information, medical records and test results at all times. Our approach is reinforced by consultations with leading experts, guaranteeing comprehensive policy frameworks that are reviewed at a regular cadence.

All providers delivering healthcare through Maple are licensed in Canada and governed by their licensing regulatory colleges, and in all instances, must act in accordance with the governing principles set out in the telemedicine policies of each medical regulator in the applicable province.

Regulators across Canada support and recognize the value of services like ours, and the way in which they can benefit patients, physicians, and Canada’s broader healthcare system by improving access to care and increasing efficiencies in the delivery of care.

Yes. In some cases, a doctor on Maple can help you diagnose Crohn’s disease or manage a previously diagnosed case. They can write necessary prescriptions and recommend an appropriate course of treatment. If the doctor suspects you have a more serious problem, they may suggest that you go to a clinic or hospital for a thorough physical examination and treatment.

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation in your digestive tract. It can involve different areas of the digestive tract in different people. The most common areas affected by Crohn’s is the last part of the small intestine and the colon. It can also spread deep into the layers of affected bowel tissue, which can be painful and debilitating.

Crohn’s disease is not normally life threatening, but it can lead to severe or life-threatening complications.

Symptoms of Crohn’s disease can range from mild to severe and usually develop gradually. Signs and symptoms of active Crohn’s disease include:

• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Abdominal pain and cramping
• Blood in your stool
• Mouth sores
• Reduced appetite and weight loss
• Pain or drainage near or around the anus because of fistulas

The exact cause of Crohn’s disease is unknown. What is known is that heredity and a malfunctioning immune system are likely involved in its development. Diet and stress were once suspected, but they have since been ruled out as causes (although they can aggravate the condition).

Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent Crohn’s disease, there are ways to manage it and to prevent it from taking over your life.

While there is no cure for Crohn’s disease, and no single treatment that works for everyone, there are treatment options that can reduce the inflammation that triggers the symptoms of Crohn’s disease. Treatment not only offers relief, but actually lead to long-term remission.

Treatments for Crohn’s include: 

• Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as corticosteroids.
• Immune suppressors, which reduce inflammation and target the immune system, which causes inflammation to begin with.
• Antibiotics 
• Anti-diarrheals
• Pain relievers
• Iron supplements, B-12 shots, calcium, and vitamin D supplements to replace lost nutrients
• Nutrition therapy
• Avoiding dairy, high-fat foods, too much fibre, and problem foods
• Eat smaller meals
• Drink plenty of liquid
• Exercise and stress reduction techniques such as biofeedback and meditation
• Surgery, if diet and lifestyle changes, drug therapy, or other treatments don’t work.