Anxiety & Trips to the RestroomBefore I exhibited symptoms of IBD in my twenties, I had what my family classically referred to as a “nervous stomach.” As you can imagine, this always came at some...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments
Foods I Don't Eat Since My Crohn’s DiagnosisAh yes, the dreaded topic of food and IBD. It is so complicated to chat about this since everyone is so drastically different when it comes to diet and how...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
A Health UpdateI like posting health updates. I don't do it all the time, but I think it can be useful. It can be a quick and easy way to spread awareness...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
When Healthcare Lets You DownAs patients with chronic conditions, we heavily rely on the healthcare system. Let's face it, we need it. Whether we'd like to believe it or not. Even those of us...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Safe Foods VideoToday I come to you from my kitchen to discuss Pandora's box - eating when you're in a flare. One of the posts I made regarding safe foods got a...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Good ol' Emergency Department visitsHow many times have you walked into the Emergency Department and tried to accurately explain why you are in there? Do you think that they understand that you are (if...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
A Letter to MyselfDear Self, For twenty years of your life, you had an “iron stomach.” No foods bothered, you, and you were the “good eater” of the family. Unfortunately, that has changed. All...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
A Letter to my newly diagnosed self...To my newly diagnosed self (in 2013), I'm nearly six years into this Crohn's malarky now so I thought it only right to look back and give you some much-needed...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
I Tried Going Vegan to Help My Crohn's Disease and Here's What Happened…I often chat about the foods that I find helpful and, let's face it, not so helpful (aka: makes my digestive tract freak out!) for my Crohn's disease but today...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
IBD & House HuntingWhen I first began showing symptoms of IBD back in the fall of 2009, I was living with a roommate in a high rise apartment in the city and had...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Broken Homes, Where All The Broken People Live"Broken homes, where all the broken people live." If you're a true Grey's Anatomy fan, I assume you know where this quote comes from. On a very old episode of Grey's, Meredith said she...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Why I am Grateful for Crohn's DiseaseIt is common, if not expected, for those with IBD to have the "why me?" mentality. Sure, we deal with chronic pain, the urgency to find a bathroom, extreme fatigue...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Fear of Expecting the BestHave you ever been afraid of being positive? Afraid of having high expectations of yourself or your body? Solely because you know better. Have you ever wanted to have faith...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Putting IBD Pain Into WordsOftentimes those who don't have IBD ask, "What does the pain feel like?" If you're like me, it can be difficult to put into words. At the same time, the...Reactions0reactionsComments17 comments
Red Light, Green Light: The Uncertainty of UCDo you remember that childhood game red light, green light? You know, that game where you had to race across a field when the gamemaster would yell out "green light."...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Can IBD Cause Weight Gain?We have been getting a lot of questions in the IBD community about whether living with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis can cause weight gain. I know the more common...Reactions0reactionsComments51 comments
My Journey With Body Dysmorphia: Part 1I struggle all the time to recognize myself. My body has drastically changed over the past 5 years. And when I struggle with my mental health, my physical health starts...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Things to Know about the J-PouchDon’t get me wrong. I love that I have a J-Pouch. I would not be able to live the life I do, without one. What a J-Pouch is is something...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Why I Chose Not to Participate in a Study, This TimeHave you participated in a study? I haven’t, but I’ve always wanted to. I love science. And since I’m not a scientist, participating in a study could be my personal...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
My Journey into Seeing an IBD SpecialistFor a long time, I didn't realize there was a difference between a gastroenterologist and an actual IBD specialist. I assumed that because I was seeing a gastroenterologist, or "GI,"...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments