Living

We've all been there. You spend months (or more) waiting for your next appointment with your gastroenterologist. You walk into the clinic, a mix of hope and anxiety swirling in...

You may have read the title of this article and thought you will be reading about IBD, and feeling tired and chronically fatigued despite getting 8-10 hours of sleep per...

Traveling has always been a priority of mine, but when I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, I feared my globe-trotting days were over. The unpredictability of UC in unfamiliar places...

Advertising slogans are intended to attract the public’s attention to a particular product. For example, look at the history of the Coca-Cola Company. Their website reports they’ve relied on 60...

In my over 36 years of Crohn’s “experience” I have seen doctors, nurses, specialists, surgeons, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and even a naturopath - to name just a few. And after...

Living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can sometimes mean facing unexpected and perplexing symptoms that aren't always easy to discuss. In our community, many members have bravely shared their experiences...

Looking back on my Crohn’s journey, one of the biggest mistakes I did was isolate from my friends and community. And by isolate, I mean that I didn’t reach out...

There are many fears to be had when living with Crohn's or UC. Many fear needing a bathroom urgently during a traffic jam, having a nonworking commode on a 2...

After managing ulcerative colitis with 5-ASA medications for nearly a decade, I recently took a significant step in my treatment plan by starting Zeposia, an oral medication (S1P receptor modulator)...

As a Crohn’s patient, I was prescribed my first biologic in early 2016, just a few months after my official diagnosis. When it came time to navigate logistics, I was...

Planning a wedding (or other major events) as a healthy person can be stressful, but planning a wedding with a Crohn’s diagnosis can be extra stressful. Thankfully so far, planning...

After an inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis, the world of food takes on an entirely new complexion. Suddenly, harmless snacks become potential landmines, and mealtimes transform into bouts of digestive distress...

For some people, summer is the most glorious time of the year.  School's out, the beach awaits, fresh foods are plentiful, and you just can't beat sitting on the deck...

I recently had a conversation with my gastroenterologist that really put the fear of the universe in me. I’ve had the same gastroenterologist since I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis...

Almost a year and a half ago, I left my full time corporate job in patient advocacy at a small biotech company. The demands on my time and energy were...

It’s no wonder I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC) at age 19. As a child, I learned to wad up my feelings as tight as they’d go and stuff...

Fear of “the look” holds far too much power over me sometimes. I imagine we’ve all gotten the look at least once. Sometimes it might be a look of pity...

There are major moments in life that remind you how Crohn's disease does not take a pause. Life moves on and Crohn's remains present. In January I got engaged, and...

In early 2013, I began experiencing severe gastrointestinal issues - abdominal cramping, urgent bowel movements, bloody diarrhea. At first, I chalked it up to a stubborn case of food poisoning...

After many bouts of dizziness, abnormally high heart rate, and long periods of air hunger (where it felt like I could never get a full breath) I was diagnosed with...