Experience of Illness

Experience of Illness

The Experience of Illness from the Patient's Perspective

Alcoholism is severe disease and this needs to be taken care of in a very appropriate manner. Many nations in the world today face the challenge of alcoholism and drug abuse and many people lose so much of their lives to these addictions.

According to an alcoholic patient patient “I'm a problem drinker. I don't feel dependent on alcohol (as in having to drink every day) but I have a problem with self-control in terms of the amount I drink when I start and also my behavior when under the influence.” (Karlsson, 2001:117-131)

Alcohol is a part of food culture of many of the cold countries, and does some good to body, but if not taken in limit and a regular intake of alcohol is addictive and has devastating effects on body. Alcoholic people suffer from body ailments like hypertension, nausea, palpitation, tremors, tachycardia etc. (McFadden, 2006:68-81)

Another patient said “As I write I'm sitting alone at home as I have been for the past two days having called in sick to work due to excessive drinking over the weekend ("sickness & diarrhoea" being more convincing if it lasts more than one day). I'm worried that if I don't do something to control my drinking I'm going to end up in real trouble. In recent months I've been in hospital twice for alcohol related injuries (once having completely lost control when another seemingly problem drinker started a fight with me in the street, the other after falling and smashing my face on concrete paving), I've missed days at work, engaged in casual sex with people I would never consider to be appropriate partners otherwise and just generally seem to be demonstrating in increasing lack of self control.” (Karlsson, 2001:117-131)

Similar is the case for drug abuse where a person gets addicted to drugs like marijuana, cocaine etc. however, to sure the addiction of these kind of people only alcohol and drug rehabilitation centers have sprung into life at massive level.

The Experience Of Caring For These Population Groups

However, if a person is forced to leave the constant intake of alcohol he faces several abruptions and may react in a very unexpected and sick way. This at times may even be life threatening. This is known as the alcohol withdrawal delirium. Because of their physical dependence on alcohol, hospitalized alcohol-dependent patients are at risk for developing the lifethreatening complications associated with alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). The severity of AWS is directly related to the quantity of alcohol intake and the chronicity of alcohol abuse. In a hospitalized patient, the severity also increases with the amount of injury or surgical stress she's experiencing. Let's take a closer look at AWS and how it undermines your patients recovery. (Ramstedt, 2002:330-338)

Whether or not a good alcohol use history is available, suspected signs and symptoms of AWS should be evaluated with the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA-Ar). It consists of multiple rating scales covering 10 assessment areas: nausea ...