Living

One of the most common side effects of having a Crohn’s or UC flare is dehydration. Since we are constantly using the bathroom or throwing up, it is easy to...

If you haven't had a chance to read part 1 of this article, I highly recommend doing so before continuing on. If you have read part 1, I appreciate you...

Before I exhibited symptoms of IBD in my twenties, I had what my family classically referred to as a “nervous stomach.” As you can imagine, this always came at some...

Ah yes, the dreaded topic of food and IBD. It is so complicated to chat about this since everyone is so drastically different when it comes to diet and how...

I like posting health updates. I don't do it all the time, but I think it can be useful. It can be a quick and easy way to spread awareness...

As patients with chronic conditions, we heavily rely on the healthcare system. Let's face it, we need it. Whether we'd like to believe it or not. Even those of us...

How many times have you walked into the Emergency Department and tried to accurately explain why you are in there? Do you think that they understand that you are (if...

Dear Self, For twenty years of your life, you had an “iron stomach.” No foods bothered, you, and you were the “good eater” of the family.  Unfortunately, that has changed. All...

To my newly diagnosed self (in 2013), I'm nearly six years into this Crohn's malarky now so I thought it only right to look back and give you some much-needed...

When I first began showing symptoms of IBD back in the fall of 2009, I was living with a roommate in a high rise apartment in the city and had...

"Broken homes, where all the broken people live." If you're a true Grey's Anatomy fan, I assume you know where this quote comes from. On a very old episode of Grey's, Meredith said she...

It is common, if not expected, for those with IBD to have the "why me?" mentality. Sure, we deal with chronic pain, the urgency to find a bathroom, extreme fatigue...

Have you ever been afraid of being positive? Afraid of having high expectations of yourself or your body? Solely because you know better. Have you ever wanted to have faith...

Often those who don't have IBD ask, "What does the pain feel like?" If you're like me, it can be difficult to put into words. At the same time, the...

Do you remember that childhood game red light, green light? You know, that game where you had to race across a field when the gamemaster would yell out "green light."...

We have been getting a lot of questions in the IBD community about whether living with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis can cause weight gain. I know the more common...

I struggle all the time to recognize myself. My body has drastically changed over the past 5 years. And when I struggle with my mental health, my physical health starts...

Don’t get me wrong. I love that I have a J-Pouch. I would not be able to live the life I do, without one. What a J-Pouch is is something...

Have you participated in a study? I haven’t, but I’ve always wanted to. I love science. And since I’m not a scientist, participating in a study could be my personal...

For a long time, I didn't realize there was a difference between a gastroenterologist and an actual IBD specialist. I assumed that because I was seeing a gastroenterologist, or "GI,"...