Hydration: The Significance and the StruggleOne of my biggest struggles with Crohn’s disease has been staying hydrated. It is something I have struggled with for years and when I had surgery to have my colon...reactions2comments
5 Tips for Living with a J-PouchLast week, I reached a milestone in my ulcerative colitis treatment. I can officially say that I've been living with a relatively happy and cooperative J-pouch for 2 years. Getting...reactions33comments
Something I'm Embarrassed to Talk About: My TeethDuring my longest hospitalization I've ever had (6 months) a tooth of mine chipped and I was left with only a portion of it. A few months later the tooth...reactions17comments
Accidents And Urgency With Ulcerative ColitisThere are some really terrible videos out there on the internet that are supposed to be funny. Sometimes all I can do is just shake my head at my disappointment...reactions13comments
With Crohn's Disease, the Smallest Tasks can be Huge AccomplishmentsWhat is your biggest accomplishment? For me, some days just taking a shower feels like running a marathon. During times in my life where my Crohn’s disease has been severe...reactions1comment
Potty Training at 22One of the most horrid experiences of my life was when I had to reteach myself how to use the bathroom. I was twenty-two years old and I was being...reactionscomments
How My Evil Colon Tried to Ruin My Marriage Proposal (Part Two)Find part 1 here. ...He ran into my room looking like a child who’d just found a chest full of candy. He was so excited. This was a big deal...reactionscomments
The Tangled Web of StressStress is something that everyone deals with on a daily basis. However, as an IBD patient, the amount of stress increases due to pain and other debilitating symptoms, medications and...reactionscomments
Rehashing Medical History is Emotionally DifficultWhen I had to have a MRI recently, there were two separate rooms for people to wait in, given everyone had to be in a gown. Women were on one...reactionscomments
Navigating Family Get-Togethers During a Flare up!Family gatherings are a time to indulge in family favorites that may be more decadent than your usual fare. You may find yourself feeling overwhelmed at the dinner table, especially...reactions1comment
How to Respond When Others Just Don't "Get It"One of the many complaints people living with chronic illness have is that their friends and loved ones just can’t grasp the concept of a chronic illness. They don’t understand...reactionscomments
The Holistic Health Ring: Who do you want in your corner?When diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, we unknowingly create a team of people that accompany us on this life-long journey. These people include: Our team supports and cares for us...reactionscomments
Little Things Can Make a Big DifferenceOver the course of my almost 16 years as someone with ulcerative colitis, I have learned quite a lot. You do have to go through a good amount to really...reactionscomments
Community Tips: Concealing Your Ostomy BagFor many people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including those with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, there may come a time when treatment is not enough to control disease progression...reactionscomments
How My Evil Colon Tried to Ruin My Marriage Proposal (Part One)David and I had been dating for about a year and a half. Though we hadn’t really been dating for very long, we’d already been through some pretty major crises...reactionscomments
Three Weeks and Counting!Remember, I went into surgery to have my whole entire colon removed on December 17 2007? As I stated before I was suppose to be out five days after surgery...reactionscomments
The Importance of CaregiversI can’t tell you exactly when I came to the realization, but eventually, I realized that I couldn’t do this disease thing on my own. It was probably more of...reactionscomments
How To Appeal a Social Security Disability DenialThough the statistics vary somewhat from state to state, nationwide about 65% of all disability claims are denied on the first application. Luckily, receiving a denial does not mean that...reactionscomments
25 Things that Living with Crohn's Disease Has Taught Me"There are many illnesses and negative things that have happened to people that have gotten them to greatness. Without the obstacles, these people may have never become great." –Prince Ea...reactions3comments
So You've Just Been Diagnosed With Crohn's or UC. Now What?Being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis is a life-changing event. There are likely so many things going through your head that you’re not sure where to start. Here...reactionscomments