Living

You will often hear people with IBD saying, "I'm fine," "I'm OK," or even, "I'm good." But are we really fine, OK, or good? And what are some of the...

"Psst! Come closer. You know you want a sip." That’s what I heard in my head as I looked inside my tiny classroom refrigerator before heading to lunch with my...

Spice. It is what runs the economy on planet Arrakis in Frank Herbert's novel (turned blockbuster movie) "Dune." It also appears to be an excellent way to improve gut health...

It was a hot June morning when I was sitting across the table from a client at the local Panera Bread when suddenly, it felt like a cold heavy wet...

In 2014, when my son was 12 years old, I began to worry that his growth was slowing, as he didn’t seem to be moving past the 5th percentile in...

Most of us would love to take a medication and never experience any side effects. Who wants to deal with a skin rash or heightened energy or hair loss or...

I had my partial colectomy on April 10, 2014. I remember that day vividly, as it was the day that my life changed for the better. The warm, spring day...

The first time I experienced tenesmus, my bowel wasn't even connected to my butt! Go figure?! Actually, it’s not that complicated. I only had my colon for less than a...

Over the years that I've lived with Crohn's disease, I’ve been willing to try almost anything suggested to me by my doctors and medical professionals in order to best manage...

When you are diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, your life turns upside down. Not only is your body in disarray and struggling to deal with symptoms but your mind, thoughts, and...

The Media Habits Survey is now closed. Thank you for your interest! Managing a chronic condition is not easy and can be physically and mentally exhausting. What types of media...

Travelling can be a source of anxiety at the best of times. Throw IBD into the mix and it’s a whole new ball game! I wanted to share some tips...

After years of struggling with IBD symptoms, when I was finally diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, I was most hopeful of not only finding symptom relief, but of any chance of...

The other day I had a vexing Crohn's episode. Countless trips to the bathroom. Abdominal pain. Nausea. Exhaustion. While I’ve since improved, the episode got me thinking about the best...

There are many decisions that must be made when living with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. From selecting an insurance carrier to deciding if you should start a biologic, the...

I’m more than a decade into living with IBD. I have spent agonizing days, weeks, months, and years navigating what I eat, how it affects me, how much or little...

It’s the worst. You walk from point A to point B, and you leak. Why? Oh, there are so many factors, unfortunately. Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and all other inflammatory bowel diseases...

At the time of my diagnosis back in the '80s, there were 2 options when it came to medical treatment when dealing with my Crohn's. Just 2. Medication or surgery...

While city life offers definite cultural and social benefits, a more rural environment has helped moderate my IBD symptoms. Coincidence? Perhaps. All I can say is I’ve had way less...

Content note: This article includes content related to suicide, which may be upsetting for some readers. For more information on mental health resources, click here. Most people living with inflammatory...