When "Hot Girl Summer" is Really "IBD Girl Summer"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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Fear of Being Discharged From My GastroenterologistI 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...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
IBD Disclosure in the WorkplaceAlmost 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...Reactions0reactionsComments27 comments
Managing My UC During Times of Stress and AnxietyIt’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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Fear of "The Look"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...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Wedding Planning with Crohn’s DiseaseThere 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...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis: My First Steps into the IBD CommunityIn 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...Reactions0reactionsComments10 comments
Living with UC and POTSAfter 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...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Why Practicing Mindfulness is Important When Living with IBDWe can practice mindfulness in many ways in our lives. We can practice mindfulness before replying to an angry email as to not escalate the situation. We can also use...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Managing My UC with Natural Therapies“How are you able to work full-time with ulcerative colitis?” I am often asked this question by people newly diagnosed with IBD. After living over 30 years with UC, I’ve...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Coping Strategies During a Flare UpFlares can be life-altering and completely rock you to your core, especially if it is your first flare. If you have Crohn's disease, your flares can also be unpredictable not...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Understanding Mouth Ulcers in Ulcerative ColitisToday, I want to talk about the relationship between ulcerative colitis (UC) and mouth ulcers, highlighting the challenges faced and sharing practical strategies for coping with this aspect of the...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Skin Conditions I've Experienced With IBDThe thing about IBD is, it’s known as an “invisible illness” because no one can see that you are actually ill and suffering. But one visible sign of IBD can...Reactions0reactionsComments10 comments
Every 2 Years - Another Colonoscopy“We’re going to administer this sedative that will make you feel sleepy,” said the nurse with the bright, white, toothy grin. “Yeah, I know. I’m just going to take a...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Community Views: Fatigue, Pain, and Accidents, Oh My!Living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be painful and messy. So many symptoms can make life challenging. InflammatoryBowelDisease.net has a forum for sharing difficult IBD symptoms and their impact...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Dating Like an IBD RockstarIt can definitely be daunting to think of dating while living with IBD. Worrying about what the other person will think if you have to cancel plans last minute, what...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
More Than Just Fatigue: Managing Anemia with Ulcerative ColitisUlcerative colitis has many different faces. Sometimes, it can be explosive, other times sneaky. You might think a flare is under control, but your body could still silently be struggling...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
What Not to Say to Someone with IBDAs someone who has lived with IBD unofficially for 15 years and officially for 8 years, I have heard just about everything in the book when it comes to other...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
What to Expect: Iron InfusionsIron deficiency anemia is a symptom I've experienced with Crohn’s disease. Lack of iron is actually quite common in healthy people, so when you add a Crohn’s diagnosis it isn’t...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Kale Pesto PastaIf you follow my recipes, you know I am a pasta gal. I cannot get enough of the classic spaghetti and meatballs, but I love mixing it up and trying...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments