Discover the psychological and daily challenges faced by a 32-year-old nurse living with Crohn's disease since age 18, and how she manages her condition.
Extract
[...] Definition of Crohn's disease Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease it indeed generates significant physical and psychological distress. A late diagnosis can exacerbate these difficulties, due to prolonged diagnostic uncertainty and prolonged exposure to debilitating symptoms (Szigethy et al., 2013)1). The unpredictable and often debilitating symptoms, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fatigue, can disrupt professional, social, and personal activities (Graff et al p. 1333)2). In this testimony, Madame has two children and is particularly concerned about the risk of transmitting the disease to her descendants. [...]
[...] Lazarus and Folkman identified two main categories of coping: problem-focused coping, aiming to modify or resolve the stressful situation through strategies such as information seeking, planning, problem-solving, or direct confrontation of the situation, and emotion-focused coping, aiming to regulate the negative emotions associated with the stressful situation through strategies such as seeking social support, distraction, positive reappraisal of the situation, or emotional expression. Conclusion In conclusion, the testimony of this nurse highlights the multiple challenges faced by patients with Crohn's disease. Early diagnosis, diagnostic wandering, impact on professional and family life, anxiety related to heredity, and management of debilitating symptoms are all aspects that underline the complexity of this chronic disease. [...]
[...] This anxiety can be exacerbated by the feeling of guilt and responsibility that many parents with Crohn's disease often feel towards their children. The simultaneous management of family and professional life, in parallel with Crohn's disease treatment, can represent a significant psychological burden for the patient. Recurrent hospitalizations and demanding therapeutic protocols can hinder the patient's ability to fully assume their professional and family responsibilities, thereby generating additional stress (Casati & Toner, 20004). Furthermore, in this testimony, we observe that Madame's husband, as well as her children, adapt to the particularity of the medical and therapeutic follow-up of the disease. [...]
