Living

Over 30 years ago, if you told me that one day my Crohn's and I would be finally pain-free, I would have probably thought it a dream. Well, I guess...

Today I wanted to share a personal post about my experience with a changed menstrual cycle since I started Humira (also called adalimumab). After asking in Facebook groups and doing...

Living with a long-term health condition requires us to stay on top of everything: doctor’s appointments, new symptoms, insurance, and, of course, managing treatment – all while taking care of...

As someone who grew up in a working-class home, I’ve always been highly conscious of money and spending. As a graduate student, my attention to money has continued to be...

It’s holiday vacation time. I’m sitting in a restaurant enjoying an ocean view and finishing a scrumptious seafood meal with my husband when the pain hits. The low rumble, gurgle...

About 4 years ago, I stopped taking my medications. I had been on mesalamine for my ulcerative colitis and had been in remission for about a year. I was in...

When I first began experiencing symptoms of Crohn’s disease, I went into survival mode. Anything else took too much of my time, my energy, my hope, my life – and...

When you suffer from a Crohn's diagnosis or any chronic illness for that matter, we are masters at faking being well. That's right. Have an important event you need to...

During the last several years, I’ve written about my life with Crohn’s disease. I’ve written in-depth about how it’s impacted my mental health, my physical health, my identity, my relationships...

The first time I started taking rectal medications I used to go to the pharmacy and fill my whole backpack with boxes of enemas. These were mesalamine enemas and I...

Recently, a friend called. She'd only had Crohn's disease a few months, hadn't eaten in a few days, and was now in severe abdominal pain. Should she go to the...

In a recent post, I talked about how I stay organized in managing the logistical part of living with IBD – including keeping track of important contacts, symptom fluctuations, appointments...

Note: These descriptions are based on my personal experience with a variety of treatments as an ulcerative colitis patient. Always remember to speak directly with your doctor about your medications...

A pulsating throb awakens me at night. I attempt to stretch, to ease the lightning bolts of shooting pain, but my arms don’t seem to want to move easily. At...

Many Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis patients are prescribed a biologic treatment, where the method of delivery is via IV infusion or injection. Today, I want to focus on self-injections...

Everyone has their own journey when it comes to getting their IBD diagnosis. Everyone's journey to that discovery is different even though there are hundreds of thousands of us with...

For many people, gaining weight is dreadful. It can make us self-conscious. Or encourage us to pursue new avenues to slim down: diet, exercise, gastric bypass surgery, or a thousand...

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and my point of view reflects what rheumatologists and gastroenterologists have advised me in the past, in addition to reliable, scholarly resources. Always...

It's January, the start of a new year, and, unfortunately for me and many others, the start of a flare-up too. Each year, just after the holidays, I really struggle...

I honestly have a headache just typing the title for this article. As anyone on any type of expensive medication knows, a new year means new prior authorizations are required...