The perception with Crohns Disease is that you have a little bit of bowel problems.  Maybe too much Diahrea and some cramping.  I really think this is how the general public sees this disease.  Little do they know that many people live daily on pain medication.   Some are on pretty strong Biological Drugs similar to chemotherapy.  Many have other Diseases and or complications that they live with along with Crohn's Disease.  Most of had some sort of operation, resection or removal of some or all of their Guts.  The way Crohn's Disease is seen by others is changing, we are seeing more media ads and generally more and more people afflicted.  Seems that most everyone knows of someone with this Disease or something similar like Ulcerative Colitis.  Hopefully as things change so will the work being done to find a cure as that is really the only way we will be able to live pain free lives.