Living

Recently I had an interview with a job. It wasn’t my dream job or anything, but it was a source of income and would’ve helped greatly with the stack of...

Crohn’s is my constant companion. It’s lived within me for three decades and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Regardless of living in remission, Crohn’s has a stranglehold on how I...

In a few weeks, I will be attending a destination wedding. Yep, you are all wondering where I am going. I am going to a Caribbean island to escape the...

I never felt like I belonged in Australia. I just didn't fit. I wasn't like my peers and felt a little too traditional compared to others. In 2007, I moved...

In real estate, there is an often repeated adage: “location, location, location.” The same might be true for IBD. As Crohn's and ulcerative colitis patients, all day long we hear...

I've always had long, strong, and healthy nails but only recently have I noticed they've changed. Part of this has been from low ferritin since having my son but my...

Hello, I am Shawn. If you don't know by now, I have Crohn's disease. It's a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and other complications throughout my digestive system. It's...

For many people, a diagnosis of IBD has brought about some pretty major life changes. For some, that has been purely dietary changes. As someone who has had to forgo...

I'm pretty sure this is what dying feels like... It's weird. I'm awake and I'm breathing but I'm spinning down into the dark. You'd think that I've been murdered in...

As a person who is an Enneagram 2, who’s favorite book is “If You Feel Too Much” by Jamie Tworkowski, and who has Crohn’s disease, I find myself sitting with...

Staying positive during a Crohn’s flare is always easier said than done. When my symptoms get severe, I truly can turn into the biggest grouch. Mostly because I am tired...

I know you’re probably reading this title and thinking, “WHAT?” but hear me out... A few weeks ago, I was having dinner with a friend who has struggled with stomach...

"You’re too fat, there's no way you have Crohn's disease. Only skinny people have that." "You’re too skinny, you must have an eating disorder. It can’t be Crohn's disease." "Your...

This past October, I celebrated the 10th anniversary of giving birth to my son. It was also the 8th anniversary of my journey as a single mother. Becoming a mother...

You know how you wake up somedays and you can just feel it's not going to be a good day. As if something in the wind is telling you so?...

I have lived with two traditional ileostomies in my life. The first one was when I was 16 and the second (and now permanent) one was given to me when...

It’s no secret that dealing with a Crohn’s flare is hard. Not only does it take a physical toll on your body, but it messes with your mind and spirit...

I previously wrote about how I lost my first IBD specialist. She moved out of state for an amazing opportunity. Well, I am on the brink of losing IBD Specialist #2...

My grandmother, Sylvia Nagin, who died this year, sadly, at the very sprightly age of 99, was a real inspiration to me. She had certain catchphrases that I will never...

For the last seven years, I have been taking numerous amounts of medications to make sure my Crohn’s stays in remission. It did take a while for me to reach...