Live Like You Were Dying Poem Analysis

Living with Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis

Listening to Tim McGraw’s hit song: “Live Like You Were Dying,” I love the lyrics, “Like tomorrow was a gift and ya got eternity to think about what to do with it. . . . I hope you get the chance to live like you were dyin '” This song resonates with me because medically I

have had twelve (12) surgeries on my stomach and a few years ago, I died on the operating table. I have been struggling and living with Crohn’s Disease for more than 20 years. Because Crohn’s is very difficult to diagnose, I was diagnosed early on with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, then later Ulcerative Colitis. Though it has been a challenging struggle, I am in a good place now. You can live a vibrant and productive life
In some cases symptoms may also include rectal bleeding; urgent bowel movements, constipation and fever. In order to diagnose IBD doctors use a series of blood tests to determine if certain antibodies are present and to diagnose which type of inflammatory bowel disease the patient has. Blood tests allow doctors to look for signs associated with inflammation and intestinal disease. Doctors may also examine stool samples or administer a colonoscopy. The presence of white blood cells in a patient’s stool indicates an inflammatory disease, possibly IBD. The two most prevalent forms of IBD are Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. The cause of IBD is still not known. However, there is evidence that shows a greater risk if a close relative has the disease, suggesting a strong genetic component. “Crohn’s Disease is a condition of chronic inflammation potentially involving any location of the gastrointestinal tract, but it frequently affects the end of the small bowel and the beginning of the large bowel. In Crohn’s Disease, all layers of the intestine may be involved and there can be normal healthy bowel between patches of diseased
The first symptom of Ulcerative Colitis is a progressive loosening of the stool. The stool is generally bloody and may be associated with cramping abdominal pain and severe urgency to have a bowel movement. The diarrhea may begin slowly or quite suddenly. Loss of appetite and subsequent weight loss are common, as is fatigue. In cases of severe bleeding, anemia may also occur. In addition, there may be skin lesions, joint pain, eye inflammation, and liver disorders. Children with Ulcerative Colitis may fail to develop or grow properly.” (http://www.cdc.gov/ibd/) “One of the most important factors in treating Ulcerative Colitis, as with Crohn’s is diet. Ulcerative Colitis can be greatly improved by eating a well-balanced diet that 's high in whole grains, protein, complex carbohydrates and good fats. This type of diet will help the patient with energy overall wellness. A healthy diet for a patient with UC includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, cereals, fish, meat, poultry and dairy products (if he/she is not lactose intolerant). (http://www.webmd.com/ibd-crohns-disease/ulcerative-Colitis/creating-an-ulcerative-Colitisplan) Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn 's Disease have many similar characteristics and symptoms. (http://gastro.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=169 ). Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease affect men and women equally, usually manifesting in teenagers and young adults. The cause of both diseases remains unknown.