Living

I have been talking openly and honestly about having inflammatory bowel disease for years now. I guess that would make most people assume that I am not embarrassed about it...

As someone who was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC) 20 years ago, I have experienced a lot. I also know firsthand how difficult it is to navigate a new diagnosis...

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to several conditions that cause inflammation in the digestive tract. The two most common are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. IBD can cause symptoms such...

Editor's Note: Response to treatments are different for every person. Please discuss any concerns about medications with your healthcare professional. If you've been following my writing on here, you may...

IBD sufferers frequently experience abdominal pain. This is often chronic and debilitating. In other cases, it can force you to go to the hospital for an obstruction. Certainly, at the...

While some appointments can be done virtually using telemedicine, there are still many visits that need to be done in person. If you need to attend an in-person visit, planning...

I sometimes get asked: how did you know you had Crohn's disease? And the answer is, I didn't. I had no clue what was going on in my body and I...

We have all heard of fiber and are familiar with what it does. To formally define it, fiber is the part of plant-based foods (grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and beans) that...

Invisible awareness day; it’s talked about all of the time. We’re aware. Down in the trenches of advocacy and activism in whatever form your's looks like - we’re all just...

Managing an active toddler, life in social isolation, and full-time work is a lot. I literally worry every single time I am in the bathroom that this will be the...

Being handed a lifetime sentence with a chronic illness is devastating. The uncertainty, panic, and endless questions wrapped up in a body that feels like it has been completely drained...

Searching for and starting a new medication to treat IBD always comes with a hint of hesitation and distress. Personally, I was in the hospital for the umpteenth time when...

As I enter the last year of being in my 20s, I honestly feel as if I’m entering my 40s most days. My body does not move as fast. The...

I got caught driving in the recent hurricane. Pounding rain. Flash floods. High winds. Trucks dumping so much water on my windshield I could not see at all. At a...

And for my third installment of this series, I bring you... but first a quick recap. In Part 1, I talked about having a geriatric womb and opening a Pandora’s...

Having Crohn's disease is no easy journey. The endless symptoms and mental battles can be taxing on even the strongest of us. But, as we all do, taking each day 1...

With every new year comes renewed hope and optimism. A fresh page on the calendar means endless possibilities when it comes to what we can achieve, both personally and professionally. The...

You might be wondering why I haven't learned what I can and can't eat by now. The thing is, I have. I do know what bothers me. So why do...

Getting an accurate diagnosis is important with any disease. A proper diagnosis helps ensure that you will be treated correctly. However, diagnosing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be challenging. IBD...

Having a chronic, autoimmune disease during a pandemic is... What can I say? When I became educated on my condition, I of course realized life would be different. I knew...