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...reactionscomments
The Benefits of Being a "Professional Patient"Living with Crohn's disease since 2009 has equipped me with a special superpower I never knew I needed. After numerous hospital stays...reactions6comments
What I Wish I Knew When I Was Diagnosed With IBD"I have what . . . ?" Some IBD diagnoses come as a shock. Perhaps you had never even heard of Crohn's...reactionscomments
Gastroparesis and IBD – An Unlucky ComboSince getting my PICC line and coming off total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in June, my body has been declining rapidly. I’ve chosen...reactions1comment
Having an Answer to “What Can I Do to Help You?"There are a lot of times someone with IBD might be laid up in bed because of a flare, recouping from surgery...reactions6comments
Finding Comfort and IBD Support From a Pet"Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation and almost as good...reactionscomments
Living with UC and PouchitisI lived with UC and pouchitis for many years – the majority of the time I had my J-pouch, actually. I was...reactions7comments
Do We Really Know the Root Cause of UC?As one who has suffered from ulcerative colitis (UC) for over thirty years, I’ve heard it all. People love to speculate about...reactions4comments
The Tin Man Effect: Joint Pain and UCA pulsating throb awakens me at night. I attempt to stretch, to ease the lightning bolts of shooting pain, but my arms...reactions18comments
What It's Like Getting An Iron InfusionIf you have Crohn's or UC, you have likely fallen into the "low iron" category. Malabsorption of key nutrients like iron, vitamin...reactions2comments
Overcoming Mental Hurdles of AnemiaUnpredictability reigns supreme in my experience with ulcerative colitis. Each success in managing my disease comes with a twist. My symptoms manifest...reactions3comments
Crohn's Disease and My Annual Full-Body Skin CheckLast year, I wrote an article about finding a lump in my breast, and how much I wanted Crohn's and ulcerative colitis...reactions6comments
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...reactions2comments
Working With IBD: I Am Reliable, but My Health Is NotIt's hard enough living day to day with my Crohn's, worrying about things millions of people don't have to, let alone worrying...reactions5comments
I Broke Up With My GI: The Dos and Don'ts of Switching DoctorsOver the years, I have visited numerous doctors seeking treatment for my ulcerative colitis. Through experience, I’ve learned that not all gastroenterologists...reactionscomments
How I Know When It’s Time to Go to the ER for Crohn's DiseaseUnfortunately, if you have Crohn's disease, heading to the emergency room is something that can occur often. The nature of the disease...reactions28comments
The Perspective of a Crohn's "Veteran"June 1988. I don't remember the exact date but I do remember that I had already been suffering from severe, curled-up-in-a-ball type...reactions6comments
The Uninviting Armchair in the CornerAs a patient with IBD, you have likely spent some time admitted to the hospital. You’ve also probably learned that almost every...reactions2comments
What Can Giving Back Give You?Giving can seem like a one way street. We let go of something that belongs to us - often my money or...reactions1comment
It's Not Me, It's YouI'm sorry, but it's just not me. It's you. You're the problem. You always have been. You're gone now. I'll never miss...reactionscomments
