IBD and Flu Shots: How My Patient Experience Comforted My KidsThere are moments as an IBD mom when you realize that all you do day in and day out to manage your disease carries over into how your children face... By Natalie Hayden3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The Power of Patient Advocacy: A Behind-The-Scenes LookPatient advocacy has a way of pulling at your heartstrings. There are moments that stand out and make you pause to recognize that the work you are doing is changing... By Natalie Hayden3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Why getting a flu shot is so important when you have IBDIt's that time of year when everyone starts talking about flu season and sharing flu shot selfies, but this year, much like everything else, the importance of it and the... By Natalie Hayden3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Showing More Than The Highlight Reel as an IBD MomLiving with IBD takes a lot of balance and often feels like a guessing game. I recently went to dinner with five girlfriends and had dinner on a patio. It... By Natalie Hayden3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Motherhood and IBD Is Not All or NothingBeing a mom with IBD can be complicated. You want to be everything to everyone and you often feel like your needs and your health are at the bottom of... By Natalie Hayden2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
You Belong in the IBD Community, Regardless of How Severe Your Disease IsWhere do you fall on the "spectrum" that is Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis? Is your IBD more on the mild or the severe side? For many of us, the... By Natalie Hayden2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments10 comments
Quality of life and IBD: How to discover yours and not let goWhat does quality of life mean to you? As someone who was diagnosed with Crohn's disease nearly 15 years ago, it feels like a loaded question. Quality of life is... By Natalie Hayden3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
So you have osteoporosis...along with Crohn'sGetting a bone scan. It's pretty simple when you think about all those with IBD endure for treatment, disease management, and care. All you have to do lie down on... By Natalie Hayden2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments4 comments
5 Tips for Staying Jolly Through the Holidays When You have Crohn'sIs the hustle and bustle of the holiday season making you stressed and overwhelmed? Chances are, if you have IBD like me, this time of year can be complicated. Whether... By Natalie Hayden2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Living with Crohn's from one decade to anotherAs we say goodbye to 2019 and look onward to the start of 2020 and beyond, it's expected that we all reflect on what has happened and what's to come... By Natalie Hayden2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Crohn's Becomes Part of Your IdentityEditor's note: Between the pain, symptoms, flares, and other daily challenges, life with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is hard. We want to shed light on these challenges during Crohn’s and... By Natalie Hayden3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
What it was like to be hospitalized as a momWhen you live with Crohn's you learn to expect the unexpected. The unpredictability of the disease is a constant reminder that the joy from your day can be robbed in... By Natalie Hayden3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
How an Empathetic Stranger Helped Me Through Crohn’s SymptomsThe music was loud. My friends were all having a great time in the bar. And there I was. In the bathroom stall. Hurting. Nervous. Upset. Then, I heard someone... By Natalie Hayden2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments4 comments
What it's like to be a mom with Crohn'sWhat’s it like being a mama with Crohn's? It’s feeling like a walking zombie day in and day out as you deal with interrupted sleep and chronic illness fatigue. It’s... By Natalie Hayden2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Putting IBD Pain Into WordsOftentimes those who don't have IBD ask, "What does the pain feel like?" If you're like me, it can be difficult to put into words. At the same time, the... By Natalie Hayden3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments17 comments
Thoughts that cross my mind as a mom with IBDEach and every day for the past 13.5 years I’ve wondered. Will today be the day? Will today be the start of another flare up. No matter how long I’ve... By Natalie Hayden3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Why waving the white flag and calling your doctor can be empoweringI waved the white flag today. Rather than try and take on my disease on my own from home, I succumbed to my symptoms and decided to call my GI... By Natalie Hayden2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
What’s It Like to Experience an IBD Flare?When a loved one or friend says they're "flaring," you may wonder what they mean. You may question how serious it is, how painful it is, or what this means... By Natalie Hayden4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments9 comments
Hiding behind a smile while living with IBDFor more than 13 years, IBD has been a part of my identity. I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in July 2005, at age 21. Since that time, I have... By Natalie Hayden2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Will I Be Enough? Thoughts from an IBD MomThe past few nights I've laid awake in bed. Holding on tightly to my pregnancy pillow. Feeling my baby girl kick and punch her way around my abdomen, as another... By Natalie Hayden2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
