Crohn's and Colitis Impact Extends Beyond Patients

Twenty-four-year-old Lauren began experiencing excruciating intestinal pain in June 2012. Two months later, as she was facing the removal of portions of her small and large intestines, Lauren was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Sitting by her side in the hospital and standing by her in the years that followed her diagnosis were her parents, grandfather, brother, sister, boyfriend, five best friends, gastroenterologist, surgeon, physician's assistant, and nutritionist. These 15 individuals make up Lauren's core support system -- the people who, while they may not have the disease themselves (although some do), are affected by her incurable debilitating disease. More than 1.6 million Americans live with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, the two chronic diseases that fall under the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) umbrella. Crohn's disease may attack anywhere along the digestive track, while ulcerative colitis is limited to the large intestine (colon) and rectum. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fever, weight loss and fatigue, and many patients require numerous hospitalizations and surgeries. These diseases impact every facet of a patient's life -- physical, emotional, and financial. Because of the nature of these incurable diseases, support systems, like Lauren's, are critical in helping patients cope with living with these lifelong illnesses. Merriam Webster defines a support system as "a network of people who provide an indiv...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news