Poor Sleep and IBD: Are They Linked?You are not imagining things. That poor night's sleep may have made your inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) worse. Poor sleep can increase the risk of IBD relapses and flares. And...reactionscomments
Watching Your Diet While On The RoadThe famous writer Gustave Flaubert once wrote: "Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world." There are other ways to gain perspective of course: developing new...reactionscomments
Lessons of Gratitude: A Letter of "Thanks" to UC"Experience is the best teacher." This mantra rules my life. As Thanksgiving approaches, I thought I would address how ulcerative colitis has taught me lessons of gratitude. So, here is...reactionscomments
From the Community: Experiencing Ulcerative Colitis Flare-UpsLiving with ulcerative colitis (UC) eventually means you will have flares. These are times when inflammation and symptoms get worse. They are uncomfortable and exhausting. To better understand your experience...reactions4comments
Navigating Drinking Culture If You Can't Drink the Way You Did BeforeOver the years I have gone back and forth with alcohol. There have been in times in my life when I drank heavily during remission and did okay with it...reactionscomments
Improve IBD Care: Add a Dietitian and PsychologistInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be complicated and may require a team effort to help you achieve the best health. It is important to think about health from a holistic...reactionscomments
Fall, Football, and Food (While Having UC)Last weekend, I got to enjoy one of my favorite fall activities. No, I didn’t visit a pumpkin festival with the hopes of gorging on every conceivable pumpkin food item...reactionscomments
I Can’t Hold My Pee!!Lately, I find myself wanting to talk about the stuff we don’t ordinarily talk about. Things that might embarrass us. Things that other people might be experiencing, and feeling alone...reactionscomments
Treating Crohn’s and Colitis Is Not An Exact ScienceThere is no magic pill to treat IBD. There is no 1-size-fits-all diet or cure-all method. Despite developing research and treatments, many living with Crohn's and ulcerative colitis (UC) are...reactionscomments
Tips for Talking With Loved Ones About UCWhen I was first experienced ulcerative colitis symptoms, I hid them from my family. On a visit home my parents figured out that something was wrong because I kept running...reactions2comments
Chicken Ropa ViejaIf you're like me, you probably love Latin-inspired cuisine and flavors – but your stomach may be in disagreement. I wish I could sample all of the bold flavors of spicy...reactions3comments
Tips for Recovering From IBD SurgeryIt's been more than 7 years since my partial colectomy surgery and I often reflect on how much it has changed my life for the better. However, upon hearing the news...reactionscomments
Tips Before Giving Advice to a Crohn's PatientCrohn's patients are all too familiar with the unsolicited advice we receive from others about how to treat our disease. What causes a flare, what we can do to "cure"...reactions10comments
A False Sense of UrgencyLately, I’ve been experiencing a new phenomenon in my life with inflammatory bowel disease. Up until recently, I was a first-thing-in-the-morning pooper. I knew that in the hour between waking...reactionscomments
How My Crohn's Can Make Me Feel Like an OutsiderCrohn's disease can easily make you feel like an outsider. Why? It often exacerbates a sense that you are not like others. It also frequently alters your priorities away from...reactions4comments
Life Is Still Beautiful With Crohn’sI realize this can be a loaded phrase, and it’s okay to disagree with me, but I am just sharing my opinion: I think despite being diagnosed with the horrid...reactionscomments
National Stress Awareness Day: Is There a Link to IBD?Emails. Phone calls. "Chat" messages. "Ms. Musick, can you help me?" Teach. Change Class. Change subject matter. Bell rings. Intercom interruptions. As a classroom teacher, I am inundated with daily...reactions1comment
Should We Be Talking Surgery Earlier?A question I'm often asked, and one that I’d like to pose to you is, "Do you think our healthcare team should be bringing up surgery sooner rather than later?"...reactions2comments
Acid Reflux and Crohn's DiseaseIf having Crohn's disease isn't bad enough, lots of us struggle with other digestive symptoms alongside it. For me, one of these is acid reflux: categorised by burping and a...reactions14comments
IBD: Not To Be Confused With IBS!“My friend had that. She takes Buscopan and she’s fine now.” Let’s look at this statement for a moment. If someone had it, it’s not inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). If...reactions2comments
