Cold vs. Hot Water: Turning Up the Heat on Digestion"Do you want to put your water in the fridge?" Dad posed this question as he handed me a freshly-filled water flask. During a recent holiday, my husband and I...reactionscomments
Vitamin D Levels and Crohn’s DiseaseMcGill University conducted a study in 2010 that suggested vitamin D can counter the deleterious effects of Crohn's disease. As Dr. White put it, a professor in McGill's Department of...reactions2comments
HidrateSpark Summer Kickoff Giveaway- CLOSED"The HidrateSpark Summer Kickoff Giveaway is now closed. Thank you for your interest!" We're kicking off the hot days of summer with a hydrating giveaway! If you're living with Crohn's...reactionscomments
Why Do I Talk About My UC?To the average person, hearing about ulcerative colitis is disturbing. I'm used to all of it now – used to thinking about how many times I've used the bathroom and...reactionscomments
First Comes Stress, Then Comes DiarrheaJust like death and taxes, change is guaranteed in life. While I think most everyone struggles with navigating big changes, having ulcerative colitis can make that process even more harrowing...reactionscomments
The Benefits of Juicing With IBDAs I've gotten older, I've become more health-conscious. Don't get me wrong. I was always interested in cutting out trigger foods and averting environmental toxins. The difference is I've tried...reactionscomments
Taking IBD One Step at a TimeWhen handed a lifelong illness, it is very easy to feel overwhelmed. Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel is almost impossible, especially since this tunnel has no...reactions10comments
Do More Women With IBD Choose to Stay Childless?The decision to have a child is a difficult one for lots of prospective parents. There are a lot of questions to consider, whether that's financials, childcare, or even the...reactions2comments
Alcohol, Caffeine, and Crohn'sWhen I was first diagnosed with Crohn's, I was told to stay away from alcohol and caffeine. Since I loved the taste of coffee, I would order decaf. I did not touch...reactions3comments
My Scars Tell My StoryI was reading the article "Crohn's Disease Surgery Scars" on this site recently, and have great respect for Matt's honesty about his feelings about his scars. I can relate. My...reactionscomments
Packing for an IBD Hospital AdmissionAfter being lucky enough to spend a few years free of hospital admissions, I struggled with 2 back-to-back admissions over the last month. A quick-onset Crohn's flare brought me to...reactionscomments
Mental Health and UC ConnectionMy life was total darkness. All around me, the walls closed in. My breath came in shallow bursts. The pain throbbed in my gut and drummed on incessantly. It was...reactionscomments
In America: What's That?A diagnosis of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis can bring about an array of emotions, from frustration to relief. The lack of information and research available for people with the...reactionscomments
The Anxiety of Using the Toilet in Other People’s HomesI used to experience so much anxiety when I needed to use the toilet away from home. Whether it was when I was at work, out shopping, or in a...reactions5comments
5 Things I’m Doing to Improve My Sleep With IBDSleep with IBD is a difficult topic for many of us. Research has found about 75% of people with active disease report disturbed sleep, whether that's due to symptoms keeping...reactions3comments
Trusting and Following My GPS: "Gut Positioning System"I know the pain instantly. It's a pain, unlike any others. Different from menstrual cramps. Different from gas pain. Different from a night of drinking too much. The ulcerative colitis...reactionscomments
Roasted Crispy Chicken WingsI had never been a fan of chicken wings, primarily because they did not treat my sensitive stomach kindly. Between the spicy buffalo sauce and being deep-fried and often breaded, my...reactionscomments
The Difference of Having a Good CaregiverI had a very difficult, complicated year in 2021. I have lived in and out of the hospital due to several health events, learning to live and thrive on enteral...reactionscomments
Thankful For BiologicsDespite being actively ill with other diseases, including a troubling GI diagnosis, this is the closest I’ve come to deep and clinical remission in all 17 – going on 18...reactionscomments
Explaining IBD To Others: One Spoon At A TimeOften, I close myself off from friends and family when in a flare from ulcerative colitis. The considerate "how are you feeling?" conversations are met with my unenthusiastic one-word answers...reactions10comments
