Purpose: Informative
Specific Purpose: My specific purpose is to inform my audience about Crohns Disease
Intro: : Imagine a young man writhing in pain on the bathroom floor. He had been vomiting for most of the day even though he hadn’t eaten anything. His body felt like he had gotten hit by a semi truck going 80 in a 45. He was so weak that when his brother carried him to the car to go to the emergency room, he couldn’t muster up the energy to put on his seatbelt. This is the story of my Fiancé Nathan. Shortly after his hospital visit he was diagnosed with Crohns Disease.
Crohns disease is an intestinal disease that
according to the US Department of Health and Human Services one in five-hundred
Americans suffer from. Nathan told me about his disease when we first started
dating and naturally I was curious to know more about it so I went and did as
much research as I could so I could support him. Today I would like to tell you about Crohns
disease and share what I learned. By explaining first what Crohns disease is, the
cause and how it is treated and finally I’m going to share how different Nathan’s
lifestyle is since he has been diagnosed with Crohns.
Credibility: Research I did to be support nathan.
Central Idea: Crohns disease is an intestinal disease
Preview: Today I would like to tell you about Crohns disease and share what I learned. By explaining first what Crohns disease is, the cause and how it is treated and finally I’m going to share how different Nathan’s lifestyle is since he has been diagnosed with Crohns.
Outline:
I.
What is Crohns Disease? What are its
symptoms
A. Crohns
disease was named after Dr. Burrill B. Crohn who discovered the disease in
1932.
B. Crohns
disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that occurs in the Intestinal tract.
1. The
American Society of Colon and rectal surgeons says that the inflammation may
occur in any part of the digestive tract from the mouth to the anus, it most
commonly affects the last part of the small intestine (ileum) and/or the large
intestine (colon and rectum).
2. The
inflammation that occurs is nicknamed flare-ups by patients and doctors. These Flare-ups
come and go and are very unpredictable. A Crohns patient could go months or
years without having a flare-up.
C. Crohns
disease can be confused with ulcerative colitis because Both of these diseases
have similar symptoms
1. Ulcerative
colitis only effects the lining of the large intestine while Crohns affects the
entire thickness of the bowel wall
2. Ulcerative
Colitis can be cured through surgery whereas Crohns disease cannot.
D. The
common symptoms of Crohns disease are: pain in the abdomen and diarrhea, bleeding
from the rectum, weight loss, joint pain, skin problems and fever can sometimes
occur.
1. Children with the disease may have growth
problems. Other problems can include intestinal blockage and malnutrition.
2. It’s
not very common that children get this disease. Its affects mainly young adults
from 15-40.
II.
The cause of Crohns and How it is
treated.
A. The
cause of Crohns disease is unknown, but researchers believe it is the result of
an abnormal reaction by the body’s immune system
1. National
Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse says:” in Crohn’s disease the
immune system attacks bacteria, foods, and other substances that are actually
harmless or beneficial. During this process, white blood cells accumulate in
the lining of the intestines, producing chronic inflammation, which leads to
ulcers, or sores, and injury to the intestines.”
2. In
other words: People who have Crohns, their immune system over reacts and
attacks everything. Causing inflammation to the intestines.
B. Crohns
Disease is Genetic. More commonly seen passed from brother to sister.
C. People
who smoke have a higher risk of getting Crohns and people who come from Jewish
heritage have a higher risk.
D. Treatment
of Crohns varies from person to person and also how severe their Crohns is.
1. Almost
always, someone with Crohns is going to need long-lasting medical care and
regular doctor visits to monitor the condition.
2. The
different medications and treatments include:
Antibiotics, Steroids, Anti inflammation medication, Immune system suppressors,
Biological medications, surgery and special vitamins/supplements.
E. Some
people have long periods of remission.
Predicting when a remission may occur or when symptoms will return is
not possible. This changing pattern of the disease makes it difficult to be
certain a treatment has helped.
III.
How has Nathans Lifestyle Changed?
A. Since
being diagnosed with Crohns Nathan avoids hard to digest foods like raw
vegetables, oily foods and things with seeds when he does eat these foods it’s
extremely obvious because he will be in a lot of pain.
B. Nathan
has to avoid stress at all causes because this increases flare-ups as well.
1. He
makes an effort to take time to himself as much as possible to unwind and
relax.
2. Avoids
video games because of how easily frustrated and worked up he gets
C. Nathan
digests his food fairly fast so if we go and do things together we have to make
sure that there will be a bathroom around for him to go to. This has never
really been a problem except for long car rides but we avoid eating meals
during those until we get to our destination.
D. Lastly
Nathan is going to the doctors a lot. He is having Biological medication injected
into his body every two months by an IV. It is called Remicade.
1. Remicade
is a fully genetically engineered human antibody that reduces the inflammation
that Crohns causes.
2. Nathan
has to sit in a chair for three hours while the fluid is processed into his
body.
3. Even
though this medicine reduces his inflammation it of course doesn’t remove it
completely.
Conclusion: Since
doing more research on what Crohns is, the other treatments, and how to change
our lifestyle to prevent flare-ups, Nathan
and I have been eating healthier together and learning other tips to keep the inflammation astray. I'm happy to
say that he hasn’t had any fair up in five months. Crohns disease is a very
unpredictable intestinal disease that has no cure, but there are many
foundations out there that hold annual walks. Mike Mcready, the guitarist from
Pearl Jam, has Crohns and has started a foundation and a huge following in
hopes of discovering a cure.
