By Sneha Dave
My brain swirled as I waited on the surgery table for my colectomy, the removal of the entire large intestine. I told the anesthesiologist I was ready for him to start the sedation, knowing this is an irreversible surgery, but also knowing I would come out with a new life. I was 13. I thought to myself that for the first time in years, I could go back to school full-time. I could go on a walk in my neighborhood—I would be “normal.” What I didn’t expect was the numerous challenges in reentering society.
I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age six. Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that is said to affect primarily the large intestine, but in truth, it affects the entire body—the joints, the mouth, other organs. In young adults, it can create emotional, professional, and social barriers. There is limited research about this, but it is not a debated fact among young patients with ulcerative colitis and other invisible chronic diseases.
Realizing the barriers that young adults with chronic illness face, I created the Health Advocacy Summit, (HAS) an advocacy event for young adults with chronic diseases. With Summits in nearly four states, this organization has become more than a support system or a fundraising organization—it is a direct tool for empowerment. HAS is not only connecting young adults with similar conditions to each other but also hosts sessions that address different aspects and needs of a chronic disease.
There is a definite need for more resources to support the community of younger patients who face chronic illness. Further, there needs to be a fundamental change in the way young adult patients are treated by the medical model. When I was diagnosed, my care was rudimentary. I would only see my pediatric gastroenterologist and the occasional specialist for other related symptoms. There was no holistic care, no addressing the psychosocial aspects of chronic disease, especially at a developmental adolescent phase.
Some medical facilities do have a psychologist integrated within the specialties, such as gastroenterology, which is of incredible value in early intervention therapy. I am hopeful that other hospital systems will become focused on treating the patient as a whole, by including specialists such as psychologists within their practice.
Nearly 15 years after my diagnosis, I live with a J-pouch, which is my small intestine functioning as my large intestine. I’m not yet what one would classify as healthy, and I’m still seeking effective treatment while hoping for more research. But I feel incredible! I know that there is a wide community of other young adults with invisible illnesses, and given an empowered voice and more recognition, this community can transform the healthcare system to be even more patient-centered—and more effective in not treating the patient as a number, but as a person.