Living

We've all heard of "FOMO" – fear of missing out – especially when we see others enjoying their care-free life while we suffer in silence, spending nights that we could...

I'm one of the lucky ones. I say lucky not because my journey with IBD has been simple, not because my getting correctly diagnosed or finding a treatment that worked...

It would be nice if there was one pill that would simply solve ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease – but so far, there isn't. Instead, there are a plethora of...

For almost 9 years, dairy was an intense trigger food for me that I had to avoid. Before being diagnosed with Crohn's disease, I was a dairy feign. As a matter of...

The liquid diet. The hunger. The downing of glasses of laxative. The lead-up to a colonoscopy is not a pretty picture. Unfortunately, though, colonoscopies are now a regular part of...

At age 19, I remember I didn't even know what a gastroenterologist was or what one did. But back in 1989, I had an appointment with one to get help...

One thing I have learned with having Crohn's over the decades is that IBD is unpredictable and even though you may get it under control (to a point) and learn...

As with IBD, we all react differently to medications and there are dozens of medications, or combinations of medications, on the market to help us try and live a "normal"...

Other than the mention of a "cure," there is only one topic that causes more controversy when it comes to living with inflammatory bowel disease: diet. Whether it's arguing over...

Unfortunately, last-minute cancellations happen often whenever you are diagnosed with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or any other form of IBD. As we all know too well that 1 minute you can...

I have found in the past 13 years of living with Crohn's disease that it is those who suffer the most who are the most vocal. When experiencing a flare or...

After finding rectal inflammation during a recent colonoscopy, I had the feeling my doctor would bring up adding suppositories to my UC treatment plan for the first time. I always...

During times of inflammatory bowel distress, the tiniest acts mean so much. I realized this when my husband and I traveled during Winter Storm Elliot this past December. First, everyone...

"Healthy" eating is hard. I know it's hard for everyone but even more so for Crohn's and colitis sufferers. It's hard to know what foods to eat when it comes...

Life with ulcerative colitis comes with many symptoms. From diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, an urgency to defecate, fatigue, and weight loss, so many issues creep up that it's challenging...

Living with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, it is most likely that you have been told to "get a second opinion" at least once during your journey. Maybe it was...

Many things are associated with January – cold weather, NFL playoffs, MLK Day, and of course the inevitable new year's resolutions. It's great to set resolutions, aiming to become a better...

Though I don't have a lot of moles or other markings on my body, my gastroenterologist advised me to get a skin check every year. The reason for this, according...

More than 2 and a half years into the pandemic, I was starting to think I would somehow avoid getting COVID-19. I've always been an introverted homebody, and I thought...

Colonoscopies are some of the most detested medical procedures, and yet they are vital for everyone, especially those of us with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's. Though this test is invasive...