5 Tips to Make Your Infusion Day More EnjoyableGoing for your infusion every 4-8 weeks can be difficult to fit into your busy schedule. And, let's be honest, it is not always the most comfortable situation – the... By Julie Marie Palumbo3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Staying Organized With an IBD NotebookWhen I started experiencing daily symptoms of Crohn’s disease in 2009, I had no idea they would become part of my forever. I was naive and unorganized, and I had... By Amanda Osowski2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
My Crohn’s VowsI attended a wedding in Connecticut recently. It was a very nice affair on a pastoral farm in an area that felt more like Iowa. It was nice to gather... By Matt Nagin2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Will I Ever Find a Proper Medicine to Treat My Crohn’s?I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease back in 2011, and I feel like I have tried it all. I am sure you feel that way too. Likewise, every Crohn's patient... By thedancingcrohnie3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Common IBD Diagnostics and Exams and How They Disrupt LifeI don't think we talk about the kind of tests and procedures we encounter throughout our journey with IBD enough. For me, because there have been so many, and because... By Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford5 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
That Agonizing Feeling: Butt BurnLet’s talk about it. That agonizing feeling. It might be during a bowel movement, it might not be until afterward, but I’m quite positive most people with inflammatory bowel disease... By Amanda Osowski2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Drinking Alcohol vs. Ulcerative Colitis"Ohhh... my gut!" My adult son was visiting one weekend. He made this exclamation after waking from our evening spent catching up while drinking a few alcoholic beverages. "I think... By Traci Musick-Shaffer3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments8 comments
Always Staying on Top of Your Disease, Especially During PregnancyI am excited to announce that I am due with my second child in December of this year. Our daughter will turn 2 in September, so having two little ones... By Julie Marie Palumbo2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
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
Beef Liver Supplements for Iron Deficiency AnemiaI have always struggled with iron deficiency anemia since being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2011. Since my diagnosis, I have been prescribed a million different types of iron supplements... By thedancingcrohnie2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments8 comments
Sleepless NightsOne challenging aspect about IBD is it can interrupt sleep. Most of us need 6 to 8 hours to feel refreshed. This is often difficult with Crohn's disease and ulcerative... By Matt Nagin2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Experiencing Rectal Bleeding With Ulcerative ColitisThe sight of blood makes me queasy. I've never had a strong stomach for it. Not even fake gore in horror films or television shows. And if it’s my own... By Traci Musick-Shaffer3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Invisible Illness FrustrationsLooking OK does not equal feeling OK, and this is one of the most frustrating things when it comes to having an invisible illness such as ulcerative colitis. Anyone that’s... By Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Infertility, the AutoImmune Protocol, and the Double-Edged Sword of PrednisoneIn addition to living with Crohn’s disease, I’ve also struggled with infertility. In 2018, I went through almost a year of fertility treatments after a year of trying to get... By Amanda Osowski3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
What to Consider Before Starting a BiologicSince being diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2009, I have been on 7 different medications. I started with Pentasa, dabbled in Remicade, Humira, Cimzia, and Azathioprine, tried Stelara, and am... By Julie Marie Palumbo3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
UC Regrets and the Negative Impacts on My HealthI have a lot of regrets when I look back on the journey my ulcerative colitis has taken. I can see many times when I should have done things differently... By Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The Pitfalls of Prednisone"Mommy, why do you look like a squirrel with a mouth full of nuts?" When my son was little, he often asked this question as we looked through family photos... By Traci Musick-Shaffer3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Things People Have Accused Me of During Meals OutHaving ulcerative colitis or an ostomy can make meals out feel daunting. You name it, we've probably considered (and gotten anxious about) it! I also feel paranoid about how long... By Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments9 comments
Sex and Self-Pleasure for Pain ManagementMy most notable Crohn’s symptom has always been pain. The kind of pain that has me doubled over, curled up in the fetal position, begging the universe for any kind... By Amanda Osowski3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Steps to Loving Yourself MoreI recently wrote an article about the one relationship that is affected most by IBD, and that is the relationship we have with ourselves... Between constant battles with fatigue and... By Julie Marie Palumbo3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments0 comments