Category Archives: Support

C. difficile; A Preventable Infection Resulting In Personal Losses

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The C. difficile infection is a preventable infection, and more than 14,000 individuals die each year from or with the involvement of a C. difficile infection.

In eight hours time - it claims 13 individuals in America. 13 people will have died from a preventable infection.

While attending a “Raising C Diff Awareness” Conference you will listen to various presentations from world renown topic experts presenting on the many topics pertaining to C. difficile prevention, treatments, and environmental safety. During the conference you will learn something important. Then the day after the conference we will all return to work and on that day we will remember those 13 individuals - we will remember the 14,000 + people nationwide.

Your skills, your passion is instrumental in saving their lives.

Remember: None of us can do this alone…..all of us can do this TOGETHER!

Thank you and we look forward to meeting you at the

upcoming “Raising C Diff Awareness” conferences.

 
Nancy C Caralla
Executive Director of the C Diff Foundation

 

Finding Peace While Battling a Short-Term Infection That Turns Into A Chronic Illness

Finding Peace While Battling a Short-Term Infection That Turns Into A Chronic Illness

Chronic illness is defined as a medical condition that lasts for a year or more, as many have experienced diagnosed and battling a C. difficile infection. This condition is often not well understood by the medical community. It may take many months to obtain an accurate diagnosis and then, may take even longer to get the correct treatment regimen in place. In the meantime, the patient becomes depleted in body and soul resulting in a disruption of normal day to day activities because of limited mobility and/or independence. This can affect emotional, physical and financial stability. The individual may experience a loss of control and may experience feelings of frustration, anger and even grief. A sense of hopelessness may follow. As with other chronic medical conditions, individuals with C. Diff are at risk for developing clinical depression. Recent studies indicate that up to one third of those dealing with a chronic illness have co-occurring depressive symptoms. (http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/chronic-illnesses-depression). While full blown clinical depression will not be experienced by all individuals diagnosed with C. diff, certainly they are likely to feel high levels of stress and situational sadness related to their condition.

Only a mental health professional may diagnose clinical depression and recommend a treatment plan which may include medication as an intervention. However, it is important to be aware of the risk of depression and know that there are strategies you can employ to improve mood and sense of control.

Be Involved in Your Treatment – You are the Expert about You!
o Only you know what your C. difficile infection symptoms and experience feels like to you.
o Be confident that you have the right doctor and be honest about symptoms, feelings and ongoing challenges you are facing.
o Don’t hesitate to ask questions and to expect answers, even if the answer is that there is little information available.
Learn About C. diff. – Your understanding about your illness is beneficial.
o Finding out more about your condition increases your sense of control.
o Make sure to seek information from reputable sources. Not every website has accurate information. Use valid resources from the C Diff Foundation to find the best resources for information about this condition.
Seek Support – You are Not Alone in your Experience of a C. difficile infection:
o Define your circle of support – who can you count out to be there for you when you need them. This could include your spouse, family, friends and others who are struggling with a chronic illness.
Follow A Healthy Lifestyle Plan – You Can Impact Your Overall Well-being
o Eat a healthy diet that is recommended by your healthcare provider. Make healthy food choices despite challenges faced by a C. diff. infection. Food can be important medicine.
o Exercise several times a week. Do something you like and don’t have unrealistic expectations. You may be weakened by your condition so adjust the type and length of exercise to your energy level. Take a walk, weed a small garden, do yoga, dance….just do it!
o Decrease stress. Prioritize your activities to do what you have to, what you want to….then let the rest go, if you have to. Just say No. You have permission.
Consider Your Spiritual Journey – You Can Grow Stronger Despite Your Illness
o Spirituality may buffer you from some of the negative effects of a C. diff. infection.
o Prayer and/or self talk can bring a healthier attitude and overall well-being.
o Find gratitude for your life and seek opportunities to grow in a personal way from your experiences.
Have Dreams and Believe in Yourself – What Do You Want To Do With Your Life?
o Diagnosis of an illness, such as a C. difficile infection. may slow down your life plan but it certainly does not have to halt your journey.
o Sometimes slowing down is a reason to be grateful….you may learn something about yourself or others that you didn’t know before.

Just a word of caution – If you find that your feelings of sadness or frustration become more intense to the point of feeling hopelessness or thoughts of suicide, immediately seek an evaluation and treatment. Your doctor or local mental health center will be able to help you find the urgent mental health intervention that you may need.

NEXT MONTH – C. diff. and Relationships: How Short-Term/Long-Term Illness May Affect How You Relate to Others

 

Lesa Bridges, LCSW, MSW, Chairperson Mental Health Advisory Committee

 

My Glorious Opposite, A Book Of Beating The Odds Of Breast Cancer and C. difficile Infection By Veronica Edmond

CDiffBreastCancerWritten on the backdrop of unconditional love, Veronica Edmond shares her story of hope, resilience and triumph as a woman who defied the odds of Breast Cancer and C. diff. in her newly published book titled:

My Glorious Opposite: The Other Side of Breast Cancer.

To purchase your copy, visit http://www.gloriousopposite.com Thank you, again and may the Lord increase you more and more!

Veronica

New Years Goals vs Resolutions

Instead of New Years Resolutions - try to set reachable goals and avoid the disappointments. Here are some helpful tips from healthcare counselors:

When setting goals, don’t forget to develop the action plan with deadlines,
The art of setting goals properly is so that they are in a good position to reach them.

Write the goals down and include each action needed to accomplish the goal. One suggestion after this list has been created - sit with another person who has no knowledge of what you want to accomplish and review each step. The reason for this is if someone else reads the steps and does not understand what to do or seems confused, then that is a a good indication that the steps are not complete or need adjusting.

The next step is to set a specific date for each step - this is important because it helps in moving forward and reaching the goal defined. The more progress made within a short period of time the better.

Constant forward momentum helps keep the actions on track and displays tangible proof that the plan is working.This plan will be accomplished and appreciated as you enjoy the New Year, recognize the success rather than setting a resolution that may never be achieved.

Celebrate the New Year with a new beginning never looking back because you are not going that way.

Have a very happy New Year with a positive new you.