Author Archives: Amber

About IBD Podcast 136 - Pregnancy and IBD: The PIANO Study With Uma Mahadevan, MD

Pregnancy and IBD: The PIANO Study With Uma Mahadevan, MD – About IBD Podcast Episode 136

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Pregnancy while living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) feels scary. But thanks to the groundbreaking Pregnancy Inflammatory bowel disease And Neonatal Outcomes (PIANO) study, there is now so much more data and information to help moms and their doctors make decisions. Dr Mahadevan began the PIANO registry in 2007, which followed women and their babies through pregnancy and after. What was learned from this registry was how IBD medications, and especially biologics, affected pregnancy, birth, and infants. Learn how Dr Mahadevan has grown PIANO over the years, the most important findings so far, and how pregnant women can join the study and help the next generation of moms with IBD and their babies.

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About IBD - Have You Tried Yoga - An IBD Community Poll

Have You Tried Yoga? – An IBD Community Poll

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People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) receive a lot of advice on how to manage their disease. It’s my belief that most people mean well and they really do want to help. However, unless they’ve been with you every step of the way, they may not know all the things you’ve done to try to get a handle on the signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or indeterminate colitis.

It has become a running joke in the chronic illness community and in the IBD community itself, that people often recommend yoga to manage IBD symptoms. This could be partially because of the reputation yoga has as being a type of almost magical practice (a concept that’s beyond the scope of this article).

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Yoga for IBD With Desiree Schmidt - About IBD Podcast Episode 135

Yoga for IBD With Desiree Schmidt – About IBD Podcast Episode 135

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Desiree Schmidt, a 500-hour yoga instructor and owner of a personal training business, shares her passion for helping people with chronic illnesses, which is inspired by her own experience with Crohn’s disease. She discusses how yoga has been key in her journey, both physically and mentally.

Amber and Desiree discuss the benefits of different yoga forms and how to choose the right practice based on whether one is in a flare-up or in remission. Desiree points out how it is important to modify poses when living with a health condition, including IBD, to ensure comfort and safety during classes. She offers insights into providing options for different needs, making the yoga accessible for everyone.

Gain valuable insights into the world of yoga, its benefits for chronic illness, and how to embark on your own yoga practice with confidence and guidance.

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About IBD - What Is a Teaching Kitchen

What Is a Teaching Kitchen?

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I had the opportunity to attend a session at the Yale New Haven Health’s Irving and Alice Brown Teaching Kitchen. While I’m not a chef, I am the one who cooks (and bakes) in my household, so I was curious about what new information I could learn there.

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An Ostomy Is a Beginning - About IBD Podcast Episode 134 - Brad Watson-Davelaar

An Ostomy Is a Beginning – About IBD Podcast Episode 134

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Brad Watson-Davelaar, founder of Gaming for Guts, shares his experiences in living with Crohn’s disease and how he found support and community through his IBD journey. He talks about his ostomy surgery and how for him, it is a beginning rather than an end.

Brad describes the upcoming fundraising event sponsored by Gaming for Guts to celebrate World IBD Day on May 19th. It will feature Canadian-themed activities in support of Crohn’s and Colitis Canada. The IBD and gaming communities are encouraged to get involved with the fun. Brad also shares his thoughts on how the gaming community helps people with IBD connect to form meaningful relationships.

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How Are We Defining a "Healthy Lifestyle"?

How Are We Defining a “Healthy Lifestyle”?

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I keep seeing this term “healthy” being used in research papers and in discussion online. 

“Healthy individual,” “healthy lifestyle,” “healthy diet,” “healthy foods.” I don’t know what these phrases mean. There’s certainly not one definition for these ideas. 

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About IBD Podcast Episode 133 - I Pooped My Pants With April Michelle Harris

I Pooped My Pants With April Michelle Harris – About IBD Podcast Episode 133

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When is the last time you pooped your pants? Amber speaks with April Michelle Harris, who lives with ulcerative colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), for over 13 years. April shares her journey, from her initial diagnosis to her struggles with depression and anxiety, and how she has managed to build a fulfilling life despite the many challenges that come with living with a chronic illness. 

We also dive into April’s new book “I Pooped My Pants”, where she shares her story and those of 20 other IBD warriors who have bravely shared their experiences with living with the disease. April’s book provides a refreshing and honest perspective on what it’s like to live with IBD, and it’s a must-read for anyone who wants to learn more about the disease and how it affects people on a daily basis.

Tune in to hear April’s inspiring story and learn more about living with a chronic illness, and how you can build a fulfilling life despite the challenges that may come your way.

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AIBD Episode 132 - RunPee: The App That Tells You the Best Time to Use the Bathroom During a Movie

RunPee: The App That Tells You the Best Time to Use the Bathroom During a Movie – About IBD Podcast Episode 132

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Going to a movie can be a frustrating experience for anyone with a digestive or urinary condition. Not only are the bathrooms sometimes far from the theaters, it’s difficult to know when to duck out if nature calls. Enter RunPee. The RunPee app is designed to help moviegoers know when the best time is to use the restroom (a peetime) during a movie without missing any important scenes. The creator, Dan Gardner, discusses how he and his team choose the best times to use the restroom while still ensuring that users do not miss any critical moments in the film. Additionally, Gardner talks about the other features of the app, such as movie ratings and reviews, and the importance of understanding the needs of different demographic groups. 

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About IBD - Experiences Are Solitary but Learning Is Communal

Experiences Are Solitary but Learning Is Communal

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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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Accommodations for IBD in College – About IBD Podcast Episode 131

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What happens when your professional life and your IBD overlap? Sari Grossman is a research scientist, Crohn’s disease patient, and advocate for patients with chronic illnesses. She shares her experience with Crohn’s disease, including her family history of IBD, diagnosis at a young age, her unusual symptoms, and the impact it had on her life. She speaks candidly about the physical and emotional challenges of living with a chronic illness, and how she has learned to cope with the ups and downs of her condition.

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