Living

Planning a wedding (or other major events) as a healthy person can be stressful, but planning a wedding with a Crohn’s diagnosis can be extra stressful. Thankfully so far, planning...

After an inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis, the world of food takes on an entirely new complexion. Suddenly, harmless snacks become potential landmines, and mealtimes transform into bouts of digestive distress...

For some people, summer is the most glorious time of the year.  School's out, the beach awaits, fresh foods are plentiful, and you just can't beat sitting on the deck...

I recently had a conversation with my gastroenterologist that really put the fear of the universe in me. I’ve had the same gastroenterologist since I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis...

Almost a year and a half ago, I left my full time corporate job in patient advocacy at a small biotech company. The demands on my time and energy were...

It’s no wonder I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC) at age 19. As a child, I learned to wad up my feelings as tight as they’d go and stuff...

Fear of “the look” holds far too much power over me sometimes. I imagine we’ve all gotten the look at least once. Sometimes it might be a look of pity...

There are major moments in life that remind you how Crohn's disease does not take a pause. Life moves on and Crohn's remains present. In January I got engaged, and...

In early 2013, I began experiencing severe gastrointestinal issues - abdominal cramping, urgent bowel movements, bloody diarrhea. At first, I chalked it up to a stubborn case of food poisoning...

After many bouts of dizziness, abnormally high heart rate, and long periods of air hunger (where it felt like I could never get a full breath) I was diagnosed with...

We can practice mindfulness in many ways in our lives.  We can practice mindfulness before replying to an angry email as to not escalate the situation.  We can also use...

“How are you able to work full-time with ulcerative colitis?” I am often asked this question by people newly diagnosed with IBD. After living over 30 years with UC, I’ve...

Flares can be life-altering and completely rock you to your core, especially if it is your first flare.  If you have Crohn's disease, your flares can also be unpredictable not...

Today, I want to talk about the relationship between ulcerative colitis (UC) and mouth ulcers, highlighting the challenges faced and sharing practical strategies for coping with this aspect of the...

The thing about IBD is, it’s known as an “invisible illness” because no one can see that you are actually ill and suffering. But one visible sign of IBD can...

“We’re going to administer this sedative that will make you feel sleepy,” said the nurse with the bright, white, toothy grin. “Yeah, I know. I’m just going to take a...

Living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be painful and messy. So many symptoms can make life challenging. InflammatoryBowelDisease.net has a forum for sharing difficult IBD symptoms and their impact...

It can definitely be daunting to think of dating while living with IBD.  Worrying about what the other person will think if you have to cancel plans last minute, what...

Ulcerative colitis has many different faces. Sometimes, it can be explosive, other times sneaky. You might think a flare is under control, but your body could still silently be struggling...

As someone who has lived with IBD unofficially for 15 years and officially for 8 years, I have heard just about everything in the book when it comes to other...