AIBD Episode 126 - Pelvic Health With Amanda Olson, DPT, PRPC

AIBD Episode 126 – Pelvic Health With Amanda Olson, DPT, PRPC

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Caring for pelvic health is important for people of all genders who live with an inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis). Dr. Amanda Olson, who holds a doctorate in physical therapy and is the President and Chief Clinical Officer for Intimate Rose, has dedicated her professional life to helping people improve their pelvic health. Learn more about pelvic therapy and how she has developed resources and tools to help people living with all types of conditions.

Find Amanda Olson, DPT, PRPC at:

Find Amber J Tresca at:

Find Mac Cooney (mix, sound design, and theme music) at:

Episode transcript and more information at: https:/bit.ly/AIBD126

These show notes contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, Mal and Tal Enterprises, LLC may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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Can You Stop Your Medication? - An IBD Community Poll

Can You Stop Your Medication? – An IBD Community Poll

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Many inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients receive medication. Which drugs, in what dosage and their combination, is individualized.

Almost everyone would probably prefer to not take any medications at all. However, IBD is complicated to treat, and there is potential for serious complications with untreated Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. 

Still, there are some patients who want to discontinue their IBD medications. And this might be a valid goal — if they can get into deep remission.

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About IBD - How You Can Choose Your Own Adventure

How You Can Choose Your Own Adventure

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There’s one question that I’ve been asked many times, and it’s one that I also ask others when I conduct interviews:

“What advice would you give to people who are newly diagnosed with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis?”

I see the importance of getting both new and veteran patients to give their experience with a new diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It might be fair to say that most people, in hindsight, whether this is weeks or decades later, can point out where their journey could have been improved.

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About IBD Podcast Episode 125 - Amber's Year in Books 2022

About IBD Podcast Episode 125 – Amber’s 2022 Reading List

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What did you read over the past year? If you made a reading goal: did you hit it? The books I read this year ranged from self-help to true crime to science fiction. Hear more about some of the books I enjoyed in 2022 (and in the year after I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis) and if you’ll want to pick them up for yourself.

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This is Not a Gift Guide

This Is Not A Gift Guide: An IBD Community Poll

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At the end of the year, we see the gift guides come out. There’s one for every type of person, usually focused on age and gender, but also based on hobbies or interests. Or, even, based on chronic illness such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

There’s no doubt, gift guides are helpful. For someone like me, who doesn’t go out shopping a lot, it’s useful to know what’s out there. Learning about the latest in cookware or video games can be helpful. To me, the funniest ones are the gift guides for teens or college students. Even I know they just want cash.

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About IBD Podcast Episode 124 – Recovering from Medical Catatonia With Lauren Thibodeau

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For some people living with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, the disease puts roadblocks in the way when it comes to going to school, having a career, and participating in sports. For Lauren Thibodeau, a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis led to a complication of medical catatonia, which derailed her life and her career as a college golfer. However, with her family, her medical team, and her teammates around her, she made her way back to the golf course and in fact, wound up playing better than ever. Lauren shares what kept her motivated during the long and difficult recovery and how it changed her perspective on her golf game as well as her outlook on life.

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Resilience is a Muscle

Resilience is a Muscle

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When I interview someone about their journey with chronic illness, either for a written piece or for About IBD, I’m keenly aware that I’m asking them to tell me about the worst things that have happened to them.

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About IBD Podcast Episode 123 - Understanding Resilience With Mara Shapiro

About IBD Episode Episode 123 – Understanding Resilience With Mara Shapiro

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Does living with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis make a person more resilient? And is resilience something that should be a part of management plan for people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or other chronic illnesses? Mara Shapiro, healthcare journalist and Crohn’s disease patient, has had no other choice but to find a way towards resilience in her life, having lived through grief and loss early in life, followed by the diagnosis of several chronic illnesses. She provides deep insight on coping mechanisms and resilience, including the various ways we can look at these ideas to fit our own needs.

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About IBD Episode 122 - Serving in the Navy With Crohn’s Disease, With Daniel Rausa, DO

About IBD Podcast Episode 122 – Serving in the Navy With Crohn’s Disease, With Daniel Rausa, DO

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When it comes to people with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis serving in the military, the usual policy is that the two things are incompatible. The reason being that people living with an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) need care and treatments that are incompatible with being deployed. However, sometimes there are other considerations, as Dr Daniel Rausa describes. Dr Rausa was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease while serving in the Navy, and he has advice for people who live with an IBD and want to serve or who want to pursue a medical career. He also describes why it’s so important to follow up and stay on top of transition of care when leaving military service.

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Biomarkers: Changing the Course of IBD

Biomarkers: Changing the Course of IBD

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You may not have heard of biomarkers before, but they are a key part of managing your Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or indeterminate colitis (inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD).

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