Mike McCready

     Mike McCready

Mike is a lead guitarist for a band called Pearl Jam, who was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at the age of 21. Mike has always been very open about Crohn's disease because he has not let it stop him from doing what he loves.(Team Challenge, 2022) He has stated that it has not been easy, he has had accidents on stage, has been on numerous medications, coped with the stress of traveling, and much more. Mike has found a foundation that he is a spokesperson for that has helped get through this process as well. The foundation is called Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. Mike also host fundraisers every year for this foundation, an shares his story through the media. Mike's goal is to show others who have this disease that it does not have to prevent you from achieving your dreams. (Team Challenge, 2022) 

    Self-Concept and Perceptions

When Mike was first diagnosed in 1986 he states in a video that it was devastated. He says living with it is difficult because it comes and goes and sometimes it is difficult. he states that one of the hardest parts is trying to find a bathroom right way while in public. He expresses that it can be embarrassing especially if he has an accident. He also states that the research has improved since he was first diagnosed. hen he was first diagnosed there were only two medications now there are about 30 because every individual is different. Mike also has stated that his band members have been very supportive and make him feel comfortable and always make changes needed to help him feel better. (Team Challenge, 2022)              

Linked below is video of Mike talking about Crohn's Disease:                                                                          https://youtu.be/96cVbvwkfDw

    How this Affects Those Coping with Crohn's 

Mike is very passionate about helping others with Crohn's disease, his own coping method was to join Team Challenge Crohn's and Colitis foundation. Joining this foundation has helped him know he is not alone and that he should not be embarrassed for having this disease. Mike's wife pushed him to look for a foundation and get involved because when he was first diagnosed he was embarrassed, devastated, nd just depressed about it. This foundation has helped many individuals fighting Crohn's disease or Colitis feel comfortable with their disease. Mike's ultimate goal is to help kids and adults to get the care they need for their disease and to know they can do anything they want to do, the disease does not have to stop you. (Team Challenge, 2022) 

    How Crohn's Disease Impacts Physical Development

Crohn's disease effects physical development in children, resulting in growth delay or weight loss. Many children have a poor nutrition at presentation of the disease and it can worsen during the clinical course. (Wiskin, 2007) The poor nutrition status is complex and contributing factors can include inadequate intake, malabsorption, altered energy demands, and losses through stool. The goal of medication management for this disease is enabling normal growth and development. Although that is the goal it is not that easy because you need to find the nutrition needs of the child but also have to determine how that may effect the Crohn's disease. (Wiskin, 2007)  Research is still being done to find the best result for the children with Crohn's disease.

     How Crohn's Disease Impacts Psychological Development

Being diagnosed with Crohn's disease as a child can be difficult, especially with school. in order to help these children come to terms with the diagnoses and help them through the nurse specialist and parents need to be there for support. (Ellis and Cole, 2011) The nurse needs to provide support and education to not only the child but also their parents or family. There are different ways to do this, through clinical psychologist, local support groups, and national associations. The goal of treatment for children is to manage their illness sin a way that they are able to enjoy and achieve fully in their lives.(Ellis, and Cole, 2011) If the support and education is not there then the child and their family will not know how to take care of the disease and could be embarrassed and depressed. 

    

    How Crohn's Disease Impacts Social Development

Crohn's disease mostly impacts the young adult group when it comes to social impact. This is because this age group is already struggling to decide what they want to do in life or who they want to be and adding Crohn's to it is even harder.(Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, 2022)  Relationship and intimacy are the hardest, young adults who have his disease struggle about telling their partner about the disease. They do not know when is the right time to disclose their Crohn's but they also do not know what is to much to disclose. Some individuals may worry about keeping up wit their partner because they are limited by abdominal pain, fatigue, and/or concerns about not making it to the bathroom. They may also struggle with their body image and coping. Some patients may lose weight and others may not be able to exercise making weight stay. In the end all that matters is what you think and how you feel about your body. Another difficulty is bullying especially in school because the disease makes you need the bathroom more than others and it may effect your body and individuals can be cruel. (Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, 2022)   Being a young adult with this disease can be difficult but as you get older and learn more about the disease things will get easier and you will learn to love yourself and body and accept the disease. 

    References:

Team Challenge, Crohn's and Colitis Foundation (2022), From Pearl Jam to IBD Activist https://info.ccfa.org/mikemccready

Wiskin, A. E, (2007), Nutrition issues in pediatric Crohn's disease,                                                  https://eds-s-ebscohost-com.bakerezproxy.palnet.info/eds/detail/detail?vid=6&sid=bc0af754-56e3-409b-a1fb-d8ae7b1af270%40redis&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#AN=17374795&db=cmedm

Ellis, M.; A. Cole. (2011), Crohn's Disease in Children and Adolescents,  https://eds-p-ebscohost-com.bakerezproxy.palnet.info/eds/detail/detail?vid=4&sid=9c60934a-5bd0-4f1b-b015-b7dbe0936b82%40redis&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#db=ccm&AN=104842957

Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, (2022), Social Life, https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/campus-connection/navigating-college/social-life#:~:text=Other%20than%20the%20physical%20manifestations%20of%20the%20disease%2C,contributing%20factor%20to%20the%20life%20of%20IBD%20patients.