By Katie Lucksho
Transitioning from pediatric to adult GI care is not an easy task for a young patient living with Crohn’s disease. I was scared and anxious about changing from a doctor and a program I had come to know, trust, rely on and confide in wholeheartedly. I was not sure what my future health care would be like, but I knew I did not want to be sick, and if I happened to get sick again, I wanted the same care I had in pediatrics. To me, that was the best care in the world. Knowing the University of Maryland Medical Center would still be providing my care, I was certain everything would be okay, though many tough challenges were still ahead of me.
The most difficult challenge was discontinuing my treatment with my pediatric GI doctor at UMMC, who immediately diagnosed me with Crohn’s disease when I was 16.
Although the first two years were difficult and included several hospital stays, I eventually achieved remission and remained in remission for the next five years, thanks to my doctor and my parents’ dedication and commitment to getting my Crohn’s under control.
My relationship with my doctor was a partnership. I fully trusted his choices for my treatment, and he fully trusted me to follow his dos and don’ts. Changing doctors after seven years was devastating. He was the only one who knew my medical history and had ever treated me. I was unsure how a new doctor could possibly understand my past journey with Crohn’s without having been there every step of the way.
When I transitioned to Dr. Raymond Cross three and a half years ago, I was sick and needed my first surgery. The most important thing became trusting him as a doctor and getting better quickly.
Not only was I transitioning to an adult GI doctor and program, but I was transitioning into an adult patient. I realized I needed to be more independent and in control of my health care. As a pediatric patient, I relied on my parents to ask questions, find out details, conduct research, tell me which medications to take and how often, fill my prescriptions, call my doctor, schedule appointments, be aware of side effects from medications and handle my health insurance and bills. Now, I needed to be the one who did all of those things for myself.
Dr. Cross and his team helped me gain total control of my health care by fully explaining options, providing information, encouraging me to make decisions and being there when I needed them. This was a huge change, especially when I was used to my pediatric GI doctor telling me what to do and my parents taking care of everything.
During those years, I was in high school and college and I just wanted to be a normal, healthy young adult, so I only needed to know what would make and keep me healthy. I had a lot to learn, but I think the transition was harder for my parents than it was for me.
I believe the change was a good change, and I now have a better understanding of my Crohn’s and realize that managing this disease takes great responsibility on many levels. My surgery with Dr. Adrian Park was a success, and three years later I am still in remission thanks to Dr. Cross and my dedication and commitment. Wherever my journey with Crohn’s takes me, I know I will be in good hands at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
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thanks for your sharing!