Summary: Personal Impact Of Crohn's Disease
Personal Impact of Crohn 's Disease
Stephanie M. Collins
NUR/ 427
June 8, 2014
Joan Taylor, BSN
Personal Impact of Crohn 's Disease
Crohn’s Disease (CD) is a chronic, intermittent inflammatory, autoimmune disease that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract from the mouth to the anus. CD is most commonly diagnosed in the small and large intestines. It is idiopathic in origin and is characterized by a variety of symptoms. Patients frequently present with severe abdominal pain, diarrhea and rectal bleeding. There is no one test available that can diagnose CD therefore it may take some time to obtain a correct diagnosis.
CD can have a devastating impact on those that are afflicted. Debilitating pain, nausea, incontinence …show more content…
Wynne, however does not. Each move she makes around food must be carefully planned. Restaurants and menus are carefully chosen around the short list of foods Wynn can easily digest. Even when she does plan there is no guarantee that her symptoms won’t act up. There is always the anxiety provoking thought in the back of her head, “what if." She goes on to say that most people would only have to look at her restrictive diet and become depressed. Not Wynn though. She will stick to her restrictive diet any day over the times she is forced to maintain a clear liquid diet due to a Crohn’s flare-up. The days she is able to eat solid foods and not receive nourishment through tubes are days she cherishes. Most days, Wynn will simply turn down an invitation out so she can stay in the comfort of her house. Her medications, medical supplies and bathroom are all within reach there, and she doesn’t have to worry about a “what if” scenario (Wynne, …show more content…
Its tentacles branch out in to every aspect of a patient’s life. Nurses must not only treat the physical symptoms of this terrible disease, they must provide the appropriate psychosocial support for the patient as well. This holistic approach to healing not only applies to patients with CD, it can be applied to help patients with chronic illness across the board.
References
Keefler, L., Doerfler, B., & Artz, C. (2012, February). Optimizing Management of Crohn’s Disease within a Project Management Framework: Results of a pilot study. National Institute of Health Public Access Author Manuscript, 18(2), 254-260.
Kappelman, M. D., Rifas–Shiman, S. L., Porter , C. Q., Ollendorf, D. A., Sandler, R. S., Galanko, J. A., & Finkelstein, J. A. (2008). Direct healthcare costs of crohn 's disease and ulcerative colitis in us children and adults. Gastroenterology, 135(6), 1907-1913. Retrieved from http://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(08)01675-2/pdf
Klug Redman, B. (2007). The practice of patient education: A case study approach (10th ed.). St. Louis, Missouri: Mosby Elsevier.
Telpner, M. (2014). Meghan Telpner: Nutritiionista. Retrieved from http://www.meghantelpner.com/blog/my-story-how-i-got-here/
Wynn, D. (2012). CNN Health. Retrieved from
Stephanie M. Collins
NUR/ 427
June 8, 2014
Joan Taylor, BSN
Personal Impact of Crohn 's Disease
Crohn’s Disease (CD) is a chronic, intermittent inflammatory, autoimmune disease that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract from the mouth to the anus. CD is most commonly diagnosed in the small and large intestines. It is idiopathic in origin and is characterized by a variety of symptoms. Patients frequently present with severe abdominal pain, diarrhea and rectal bleeding. There is no one test available that can diagnose CD therefore it may take some time to obtain a correct diagnosis.
CD can have a devastating impact on those that are afflicted. Debilitating pain, nausea, incontinence …show more content…
Wynne, however does not. Each move she makes around food must be carefully planned. Restaurants and menus are carefully chosen around the short list of foods Wynn can easily digest. Even when she does plan there is no guarantee that her symptoms won’t act up. There is always the anxiety provoking thought in the back of her head, “what if." She goes on to say that most people would only have to look at her restrictive diet and become depressed. Not Wynn though. She will stick to her restrictive diet any day over the times she is forced to maintain a clear liquid diet due to a Crohn’s flare-up. The days she is able to eat solid foods and not receive nourishment through tubes are days she cherishes. Most days, Wynn will simply turn down an invitation out so she can stay in the comfort of her house. Her medications, medical supplies and bathroom are all within reach there, and she doesn’t have to worry about a “what if” scenario (Wynne, …show more content…
Its tentacles branch out in to every aspect of a patient’s life. Nurses must not only treat the physical symptoms of this terrible disease, they must provide the appropriate psychosocial support for the patient as well. This holistic approach to healing not only applies to patients with CD, it can be applied to help patients with chronic illness across the board.
References
Keefler, L., Doerfler, B., & Artz, C. (2012, February). Optimizing Management of Crohn’s Disease within a Project Management Framework: Results of a pilot study. National Institute of Health Public Access Author Manuscript, 18(2), 254-260.
Kappelman, M. D., Rifas–Shiman, S. L., Porter , C. Q., Ollendorf, D. A., Sandler, R. S., Galanko, J. A., & Finkelstein, J. A. (2008). Direct healthcare costs of crohn 's disease and ulcerative colitis in us children and adults. Gastroenterology, 135(6), 1907-1913. Retrieved from http://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(08)01675-2/pdf
Klug Redman, B. (2007). The practice of patient education: A case study approach (10th ed.). St. Louis, Missouri: Mosby Elsevier.
Telpner, M. (2014). Meghan Telpner: Nutritiionista. Retrieved from http://www.meghantelpner.com/blog/my-story-how-i-got-here/
Wynn, D. (2012). CNN Health. Retrieved from