In 2009, Leslie Ewins’ health suddenly deteriorated. Her entire gastrointestinal tract rebelled, and diarrhea, pain, and nausea dominated her daily life. Her nails became brittle, her hair began to fall out, and she battled constant fatigue. “I had no idea what was going on,” she says.
In 2009, Leslie Ewins’ health suddenly deteriorated. Her entire gastrointestinal tract rebelled, and diarrhea, pain, and nausea dominated her daily life. Her nails became brittle, her hair began to fall out, and she battled constant fatigue.
“I had no idea what was going on,” she says.
So Ewins, a human resources analyst at a local university, underwent a colonoscopy at an Orange County hospital. One doctor read her results and suspected she had Crohn’s disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but her colleagues disagreed and said Ewins’ symptoms were He suggested that it may have stemmed from an eating disorder.
“I think she thought I was bulimic, but I told her, ‘No, I love to eat.’ You can’t keep it all down,” says Ewins.
Further tests revealed that Ewins was infected with Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium often associated with peptic ulcers and inflammatory bowel disease. Antibiotics temporarily relieved her symptoms. However, her diarrhea, vomiting, and seizures soon returned and got worse over the next four years, and Ewins lost nearly 50 pounds, from 160 pounds to 112 pounds in just three months. At that time, her husband insisted that her insurance plan and her health care provider be changed.
seek professional care
In early 2012, armed with new insurance coverage, Ewins sought treatment at UCI Health.
The team of experts at HH Chao Comprehensive Digestive Disease Center (CDDC) fully diagnosed her disease for the first time and provided her with the care she needed to successfully manage her disease.
“When Leslie first came to us, she had quite a few symptoms. After thorough diagnostic testing and evaluation, we discovered where her symptoms were coming from. Based on that, we used the treatments we have for Crohn’s disease, and it benefited her tremendously,” said her gastroenterologist, who is treating this disease. says Dr. Nimisha Parekh, director of the UCI Health Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program, Orange County’s only comprehensive program for complex cases of .
An estimated 1.6 million Americans have IBD. IBD is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation in the intestines and other areas of the gastrointestinal tract. Inflammatory bowel disease is divided into two categories: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. If not properly managed, IBD symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, cramps, fever, weight loss, and fatigue can take over a person’s life and cause feelings of isolation and despondency.
There is no cure for this disease, but there is hope. With proper care, people with IBD can enjoy long, happy, and productive lives.
get her life back
Ewins’ treatment included medications (Cimzia® and Humira®), lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, meditation), and surgery to reduce inflammation in his esophagus and intestines. She underwent two bowel resection surgeries to remove diseased tissue, as well as endoscopic surgery to open a partially blocked area of her upper intestine.
She is now successfully managing her illness with the support of her family, colleagues, and CDDC medical team.
“I used to suffer from so much pain that I could barely get out of bed. I missed family events, social events, and sporting events. But I feel much better now.” Ewins says. “Dr. Parekh and her team have done so much for me. I feel like they gave me life back.”
team approach
When patients come to the UCI Health Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program for treatment, they see an entire treatment team, not just one doctor.
- gastroenterologist
- colorectal surgeon
- radiologist
- pathologist
- nurse
- nutrition expert
- social worker
“We often see very complex cases, and that’s where our team’s approach really makes a difference. Each member of the team may feel different nuances about the patient, but then , we can bring it all together as a team,” says Parekh.
“Leslie is a testament to that approach. We took a combined approach to her management plan, including endoscopic dilation, medications, and surgery. Working together has really put her mind at ease. , helped me deal with complex decisions about care.”
In addition to expert team care, UCI Health empowers IBD patients through monthly support groups and annual patient education conferences.
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