It's Back: Another Painful UC FlareThe pain is back. Like a jackhammer in my gut, I feel the pulsating, rippling high-tide of pain throbbing throughout my belly. As I draft these words, I sit hunched...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
"You Didn't Fail Those Medications, They Failed You."I recently was giving an oral medical history to a new medical provider. This past fall, I was diagnosed with asthma, and I had been seeing a pulmonologist to manage...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Does Your Diet Feel Extremely Limited?As a certified health coach, I work with a number of individuals who suffer from Crohn's and UC. While most of our work together involves identifying a diet and lifestyle that...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Vegetarian LasagnaLasagna is one of those go-to comfort food meals that just hits you in the heart. But, if you aren't careful, it can definitely hit you in the gut, too! ...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Injured, Not Able to Wipe, and Cursing my Crohn'sAs an IBD advocate, I talk all the time about how this is far more than just a pooping disease. As anyone with IBD knows, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments
Important Questions to Ask Your GI Prior to a ColonoscopyColonoscopies and living with IBD go together like milk and cookies – you cannot have one without the other. It is highly likely that as a Crohn's or UC patient...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Blueberry Hemp SmoothieSince going gluten-free to improve my Crohn's symptoms in 2013, I knew my traditional grab-and-go breakfasts comprised of bagels and muffins had to drastically change. Gone were the days of buying...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Finding an Outlet When Struggling With Ulcerative ColitisLiving with ulcerative colitis can be difficult, requiring constant attention. After being diagnosed, I felt that my life had been upended. I struggled to find ways to cope and often...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
My IBD Glossary for the Newly DiagnosedIt is a pretty scary time when you start having symptoms that you cannot figure out or understand. It's sometimes even scarier having to go see a doctor, or even...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
Slow Cooker Turkey ChiliUsing the slow cooker is one of my favorite home-cooking hacks since you can simply add your ingredients, set it, and forget it until you have a delicious meal several...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
What Is Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation?People whose inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is in remission can still experience gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. These symptoms may include an inability to control their bowels, known as fecal incontinence. Constipation...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Stepping on the Scale: How IBD Has Impacted My Weight and Body ImageThere are many routine questions asked at my doctor's check-ups and one of those is always: How much do you weigh? My relationship with my weight has always been a...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Carne Asada Rice BowlIt's no secret that as Crohn's and ulcerative colitis patients, we tend to fall into the "borderline anemic" category due to malabsorption of iron, thus leaving us feeling fatigued and...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Giving In to a Craving… and Paying the Cost in the BathroomI will admit, I have an addiction. It's a good addiction. I promise. I am addicted to coffee. I really love it, and have acquired such a craving for it. I know...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
When You Fail a Medicine... AgainFailing a medication is always a hard blow to deal with. When you first try a new drug, you think that this could finally be it. This medication can finally be the...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
Peanut Butter Cup Rice CakesRice cakes are my saving grace when I am experiencing digestive issues, as they are light, not fried, easy to digest, and full of soluble fiber. And, the one aspect of...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
By My Side Through It All: Chronic Illness and Our PetsWith Crohn's and ulcerative colitis comes pain, sickness, flares, and so many emotions. Through all of my difficult health struggles, having my service dog Piper by my side has been...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Crohn's Disease and the FODMAP Elimination DietThere was a time when doctors believed that diet could cause Crohn's disease. They now know this is not true. But some diets may trigger Crohn's or worsen its symptoms...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Another Stool Test FiascoIt is inevitable. If you have Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, you will be asked for a stool test at some point throughout your IBD journey. For me, personally, I...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
What Is the Specific Carbohydrate Diet?For people with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis – 2 forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) – eating a restricted diet may help manage symptoms. The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD)...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
