My Crohn’s VowsI attended a wedding in Connecticut recently. It was a very nice affair on a pastoral farm in an area that felt more like Iowa. It was nice to gather...reactionscomments
Will I Ever Find a Proper Medicine to Treat My Crohn’s?I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease back in 2011, and I feel like I have tried it all. I am sure you feel that way too. Likewise, every Crohn's patient...reactionscomments
Common IBD Diagnostics and Exams and How They Disrupt LifeI don't think we talk about the kind of tests and procedures we encounter throughout our journey with IBD enough. For me, because there have been so many, and because...reactions1comment
That Agonizing Feeling: Butt BurnLet’s talk about it. That agonizing feeling. It might be during a bowel movement, it might not be until afterward, but I’m quite positive most people with inflammatory bowel disease...reactions2comments
Drinking Alcohol vs. Ulcerative Colitis"Ohhh... my gut!" My adult son was visiting one weekend. He made this exclamation after waking from our evening spent catching up while drinking a few alcoholic beverages. "I think...reactions8comments
Always Staying on Top of Your Disease, Especially During PregnancyI am excited to announce that I am due with my second child in December of this year. Our daughter will turn 2 in September, so having two little ones...reactionscomments
IBD and Flu Shots: How My Patient Experience Comforted My KidsThere are moments as an IBD mom when you realize that all you do day in and day out to manage your disease carries over into how your children face...reactionscomments
Beef Liver Supplements for Iron Deficiency AnemiaI have always struggled with iron deficiency anemia since being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2011. Since my diagnosis, I have been prescribed a million different types of iron supplements...reactions8comments
Sleepless NightsOne challenging aspect about IBD is it can interrupt sleep. Most of us need 6 to 8 hours to feel refreshed. This is often difficult with Crohn's disease and ulcerative...reactionscomments
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...reactions3comments
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...reactionscomments
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...reactionscomments
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...reactions1comment
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...reactions2comments
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...reactionscomments
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...reactionscomments
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...reactions9comments
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...reactionscomments
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...reactionscomments
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...reactionscomments
