The Big Bathroom StallThere’s a widespread misconception about the big bathroom stall. According to my former coworker: “The big bathroom (stall) is (only) for old people.” As a young woman suffering from an... By Shawn2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Pushing Myself Beyond Medical AdviceYou’re bound to have a different opinion than some of the care providers you may have on your healthcare team.Then there will be times you feel like certain restrictions are... By Kelly J.3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
The Comment that Made Me So Angry I Had to Write This Straight AwayI’ve just seen the most heartbreaking image. It was of a 10-year old boy with a tube in his nose sitting in a hospital bed. Next to him is his... By Luke Escombe5 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Accepting Your New YouOftentimes, people with diseases, such as IBD, feel an urgency to straighten out their lives, examine their purpose, and confront the reality of death. Ironically, in spite of the physical... By Kelly J.2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Why a Colonoscopy is So Much More with IBDIt's no surprise, people can't stand the thought of getting a colonoscopy. Whether it's your 60-year-old dad, your grandma or... yourself. Unfortunately for those of us with inflammatory bowel disease... By Natalie Hayden3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Dating with an OstomyDating with an ostomy can be daunting and a little frightening. It’s hard to put yourself out there in the first place, and it’s even more difficult to let your... By BrittenC2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
10 Things To Do On Bed RestBeing on bed rest is never fun. It can be long, dreary, and time-consuming. With ulcerative colitis, we can find ourselves on bed rest for various reasons. Whether it's a... By Shawn3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
How IBD Can Impact Your Eyes: Iritis and UveitisWe all know that Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis can affect the body in many different ways, both within the digestive tract and outside of it. I have dealt with... By Stephanie Hughes2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments4 comments
The Power of Saying: "I Have IBD"There's something to be said for connecting with someone who lives your reality. You can go from being perfect strangers to what feels like long lost best friends. Once you're... By Natalie Hayden2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Making Mental Health a PriorityWhile society’s views on mental health have evolved from where they were years ago, we still have a lot of work to do. We also have a lot of work... By Marisa Lauren Troy3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
What Should I Ask OF My Care TeamDiagnosis of IBD can be incredibly difficult. Without an education of more than basic Human Anatomy & Physiology in most college courses, many people don't know how detailed the human... By Kelly J.2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Dating with IBD: Then and NowSince being diagnosed, I have dated some grade-A jerks. From guys who didn’t even care about my condition, to my personal favorite, the guy who started an entirely new relationship... By Shawn2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Having an Answer to “What Can I Do to Help You?"There are a lot of times someone with IBD might be laid up in bed because of a flare, recouping from surgery or a number of other reasons. How many... By Kelly J.5 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Tricking UC & Treating CDHalloween is a favorite holiday in my house because it comes exactly 10 days after my little Hippo’s birthday. He’s a party animal who is always looking for a reason... By Brooke Abbott3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
The Phrase "Must Be Nice"This post was actually inspired by a very good friend of mine, Sarah Kay Hoffman. She runs a blog and also has Inflammatory Bowel Disease. We met during a patient... By Shawn2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Becoming Visible: My Life With Invisible IllnessI am a face of “Invisible Illness.” I want to show you what living with “invisible” me is like, in hopes others struggling with illness know “I see you.” I... By Kelly J.4 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments8 comments
IBD Life is Not a Sprint; It's a MarathonChronic illness has a way of hurting you not just physically, but mentally as well. It’s trying and exhausting to constantly feel bogged down by the fear of your next... By Natalie Hayden2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Homemade Baby Food: Putting My Mind At EaseAs a new mom with Crohn’s disease there are many decisions and moments where your disease plays a role in how you take care of your child. Before my son... By Natalie Hayden2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Dealing with Your Gut in Times of Grief In the days following the massacre in Las Vegas there are no words to truly capture the heart-wrenching feelings that overcome us all. It’s mind boggling to even try and... By Natalie Hayden3 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments1 comments
When Your Friends Are Living Life...Without YouI see it every year, more pictures of friends expanding their families, getting engaged, traveling the world with groups of friends. And I get sad. It's an initial wave of... By Kelly J.2 min readBookmark for laterReactions0reactionsComments5 comments