Experiencing Rectal Bleeding With Ulcerative ColitisThe sight of blood makes me queasy. I've never had a strong stomach for it. Not even fake gore in horror films or television shows. And if it’s my own...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Invisible Illness FrustrationsLooking OK does not equal feeling OK, and this is one of the most frustrating things when it comes to having an invisible illness such as ulcerative colitis. Anyone that’s...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Infertility, the AutoImmune Protocol, and the Double-Edged Sword of PrednisoneIn addition to living with Crohn’s disease, I’ve also struggled with infertility. In 2018, I went through almost a year of fertility treatments after a year of trying to get...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Fish and Potato Tomato StewI'm back with another simple recipe this week. This time it's fish and potato tomato stew. This combines two of my flare-friendly ingredients: white fish (low fat and high in...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
What to Consider Before Starting a BiologicSince being diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2009, I have been on 7 different medications. I started with Pentasa, dabbled in Remicade, Humira, Cimzia, and Azathioprine, tried Stelara, and am...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
UC Regrets and the Negative Impacts on My HealthI have a lot of regrets when I look back on the journey my ulcerative colitis has taken. I can see many times when I should have done things differently...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The Pitfalls of Prednisone"Mommy, why do you look like a squirrel with a mouth full of nuts?" When my son was little, he often asked this question as we looked through family photos...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Things People Have Accused Me of During Meals OutHaving ulcerative colitis or an ostomy can make meals out feel daunting. You name it, we've probably considered (and gotten anxious about) it! I also feel paranoid about how long...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
Sex and Self-Pleasure for Pain ManagementMy most notable Crohn’s symptom has always been pain. The kind of pain that has me doubled over, curled up in the fetal position, begging the universe for any kind...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Acai Smoothie BowlI am a huge fan of acai smoothie bowls. They are fresh, delicious, easy to digest, and packed with essential nutrients. Also, they're fun to create since you can mix and...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Steps to Loving Yourself MoreI recently wrote an article about the one relationship that is affected most by IBD, and that is the relationship we have with ourselves... Between constant battles with fatigue and...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The Benefits Of Crohn's Surgery Involving StrictureplastyI wrote an earlier blog post about an intestinal resection, a common type of surgical procedure for Crohn’s disease that I had many years ago. That post seemed to attract...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
The Time Has Come... To Change My Diet.Ever since I could remember, I thought that inflammatory bowel disease caused people to only lose weight. I remember being 160 pounds, on major doses of prednisone, and thinking, “After I...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
What If We Changed the Conversation About Crohn’s?I have been living with Crohn's disease since 2009 and working with those in the IBD community since 2018. During this time, I have seen and heard a lot of the...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
I Have Crohn’s and I Want KidsIf you haven’t read my previous article, click here. In that post, I discuss my serious relationship and our desire to start a family. I ended with the question that tends...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Low Residue Herb-Marinated Tuna Steak and SpaghettiI love a good tuna steak. It’s a great source of protein and it’s lean, so it’s healthy too! I try to cook with fish two to three times a...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Brew Up: My Favorite Herbal Teas to Help IBDThere's nothing quite like a soothing cup of tea to start or end your day. For some, that might be in the form of traditional tea, Earl Grey, or perhaps...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
What If I Don’t Want to Rest?!I HATE resting. I have never been very good at it. It always feels like there’s so much to do! Work needs doing, my daily exercise to help fibromyalgia pain...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Do Acid Reducers Increase the Risk of IBD?You may have heard of a link between using stomach acid reducers and flares of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Several different studies have looked into this question, and results have...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Turmeric: A Natural Anti-Inflammatory Agent?"Can anyone offer 'natural alternative' suggestions for someone living with ulcerative colitis?" As I was scanning social media one evening, I noticed this question posed by someone on my newsfeed...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
