Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

 

Published - Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Life coach: Living with a chronic illness


By JUDY AUFENTHIE | Franciscan Skemp Healthcare life coach

A chronic illness affects your health over a long period of time — possibly your entire life. Even with advancements in modern medicine, in many cases, there is no way to cure a chronic illness.

It’s important to understand that your chronic illness, such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes and heart disease is something to be taken seriously. If you don’t, it’s very difficult to find the motivation to effectively manage your symptoms. Managing your symptoms involves making lifestyle choices, using prescribed medical treatments and adding holistic, complementary therapies to your regimen to be as healthy as possible.

Unless YOU take care of your body, mind and spirit now, your chronic illness can cause more problems in the future.

When you have a chronic health problem, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless, as if the illness has taken over your life. For example, you may need to take daily insulin injections, use an inhaler or monitor your blood pressure. However, you can take steps to control the negative effects of a chronic illness on your health. One method of taking control is called “self-management.”

Managing your illness means to take responsibility for the actions that are necessary for you to cope and live life as optimally as possible within the limits you are faced with. It empowers you to improve the quality of your life, reduces helplessness and hopelessness and promotes self-confidence and self-esteem.

Some ways to self-manage your illness include:

Become an expert in your disease. Learn as much as you possibly can about your diagnosis; how to take care of yourself; the research being done in the area of your interest; and what other medical centers are using for treatment.

Become an active partner with your physician(s) in your rehabilitation and treatment. Ask yourself these questions, write down the answers or ask your healthcare provider to help you with the answers:

  • What makes my condition better or worse?

  • What should I and my family do when my symptoms flare?

  • What are the warning signs to watch out for and when should I get professional or emergency care?

  • What can I expect from my medical team and what will I need to do myself?

    Learn the necessary skills to take care of yourself. You may need to learn to measure your blood sugar if you are living with diabetes. You may need to learn to breathe properly if you are living with a lung problem.

    Perhaps you need to learn how to exercise when living with a neck or back problem.

  • Learning relaxation techniques to help reduce stress can be extremely helpful.

  • Prayer and meditation can be useful tools for dealing with chronic illness.

  • Write down questions when you are preparing for you medical visits. What do you want to know regarding: Test results, medications, possible long-term management strategies, surgical interventions.

  • Explore community resources. Are there support groups for your diagnosis? Check community calendars for events for community resources. What resources are available through your local hospitals, clinics, social services, health departments, educational facilities and faith based organizations?

  • Would holistic, complementary therapies to your regimen be a possibility? Or even finding a life coach?

  • Check with the local library. Ask your librarian to help you find information.

  • Seek out providers who are open and willing to work with you to provide individualized care that meets your needs.

  • And finally, know that most chronic disease symptoms wax and wane. Develop a plan of how you are going to manage the good and bad days. When symptoms are bad, take extra care, have compassion and allow yourself more time. Remember, “This, too, shall pass.” Be accepting and patient when you’re not feeling your best and give thanks and gratitude for the good days.

    Finally, we wish a good luck to those taking part in this year’s MS Walk on May 4.

    Judy Aufenthie writes an online column about healthy living and wellness for the Tribune.

     

    All stories copyright 2000 - 2006 La Crosse Tribune and other attributed sources.

    		•