Tips for Managing PTSD Related NightmaresThere is a tremendous amount of trauma and stress when a person has a severe chronic illness like IBD (inflammatory bowel disease). I have written about that a good amount...reactions1comment
Why I Hate Unsolicited Food AdviceFood – the topic that patients living with inflammatory bowel disease hate the most. Seems like everyone and their mama has an opinion about food. "You should be eating this, or...reactions4comments
Dealing with a Partial Bowel ObstructionHaving lived with a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) for almost 17 years now, I have unfortunately dealt with a lot of bowel obstructions and partial obstructions (also known...reactions17comments
So Much Variability in IBD - Part 2Inflammatory bowel disease alone is a mine field for most people in the healthcare field but when you start adding in surgery, I think people (patients, caregivers, the public, people...reactions2comments
Disney with A DisabilityMy boyfriend, me, and our friend at Disney. All of us have Crohn's. We all have different ways in which Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis affect us. Some of us...reactions1comment
Caring for IBD While Caring for Your FamilyIt's been one of those days as a mom with Crohn's disease. It's not even noon and I've had to pause while feeding my son, put him in the Rock...reactions1comment
Real Talk About RelationshipsThis sexy bearded man is my husband, Shannon. Look how loving this pose is and how he tenderly wraps his arm around my damaged body. How loving and romantic! right?!...reactions1comment
One Hour at a Time...Life can be very overwhelming for so many reasons. You certainly don’t need me to tell you that life can be stressful and feel insurmountable at times. Over my 17...reactions1comment
Grateful For My IBD FriendsAs I bring in the new year I cannot help but reflect on the past. I'm so grateful. I'm grateful for my IBD journey because it has shaped me into...reactions1comment
Controlling the Uncontrollable with IBDWith Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis (IBD) being such unpredictable chronic illnesses, there is an enormous lack of control that comes alongside this particular diagnosis. This doesn’t just hold true...reactions4comments
The Hidden Effects of Crohn's DiseaseWhen people look at me, they see a 170 LB man. They see my rosy cheeks, full head of hair, and smiling face. What they don’t see is the physical...reactions1comment
Can You Ever Truly Beat IBD?Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) has one goal: cause destruction. When living with a chronic illness, you often feel like a lone hobbit in a raging battle against the evil forces...reactions2comments
So Much Variability in IBD - Part 1We often talk about how inflammatory bowel disease is very individual and a spectrum disease, to an extent. Everyone reacts to medications and other treatment options differently. People’s personal views...reactionscomments
Tips for Surviving Universal Studios with IBDOrlando is a pretty popular vacation destination so I wanted to offer up some tips and tricks about traveling to two of their most popular theme parks: Universal Studios and...reactions5comments
Planning for the Future With Chronic IllnessI’ve talked about this a lot on my own website; the difficulty I have faced planning for the future because of living with severe chronic illness. I used to love...reactions1comment
Learning How to Eat AgainFrom around February 2008, to about August 2008, I did not eat or drink anything. That’s right, about six months! The reason why the doctors in the hospital stopped my...reactions1comment
Reality Isn't Always SweetEverything is going to be roses right? Sorry sweetheart. Life with an Ostomy isn't always smooth sailing. You have Crohn's disease. What they don't always tell you, probably because it's...reactions1comment
Dating and Intimacy with an Ostomy - Part 3: AdulthoodNow that I have shared a little about my background having lived with an ostomy from the ages of 16-19 and then again from 24 until present day, as well...reactionscomments
Socialize for Good HealthGoing out with friends may not sound as fun when you feel limited by what you can eat and drink. However, it is still possible to enjoy yourself without compromising...reactions1comment
Erring on the Side of Caution with IBDI learned at a very young age that I wasn’t invincible and I honestly wish I hadn’t figured that out so soon in my life. Being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis...reactions1comment