Pediatric GI Nurse Practitioner Morgan Check shares her journey living with Crohn’s disease, navigating a diagnosis change, emergency surgery, and motherhood. She uncovers the challenges facing women with IBD, from bone density and fertility to dismissal in clinical settings, and gives actionable tips for effective self-advocacy.
Adam Sikes was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at 18 and later with stage 1 colon cancer. Along with his son Brandon, Adam shares how his family supported him through decades of illness, surgery, and recovery with a J-pouch. Adam and Brandon highlight how IBD affects families, the importance of screening, and the power of community support through groups such as Connecting to Cure.
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The pain from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and especially Crohn’s disease, can be severe and last for days or longer. After being diagnosed with a form of IBD, abdominal pain might be thought of as part of the disease.
However, IBD is not the only reason for abdominal pain. Appendicitis is another common reason for abdominal pain. Knowing the difference between IBD pain and appendicitis pain is helpful because an inflamed appendix is a medical emergency.
Here’s how you can tell the difference.
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Whether you’re an avid user or avoid it as much as possible, artificial intelligence (AI) is here to stay.
When the telephone was new, some people resisted its use. They thought it had no practical use, that a telegraph was a better way of sending messages, and that it was dangerous and would intrude on privacy. [1]
It’s almost funny and quaint to think about these concerns now. The telephone changed the world. It brought opportunities for business growth and made people safer and more connected. Yet people sabotaged phone lines and refused to install them. [1]
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Kinsey Beagley, a pediatric medical assistant diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at 15, shares about her experiences with IBD, including struggling with symptoms, multiple medication failures, and eventually having J-pouch surgery. Kinsey shares how reframing difficult experiences and adopting a positive mindset—her mantra is “I can do hard things”—has helped her cope.
Katryna Loewen, a registered nurse diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2020, shares her journey through severe flare-ups, incontinence, and her decision to have a colectomy and ileostomy in 2024. She discusses the emotional and physical challenges of living with IBD, the stigma of ostomies, and how these experiences shaped her life, relationships, and career. Katryna also describes managing her mental health, planning her wedding, and preparing for motherhood, offering hope and practical advice to others with IBD.
Living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a journey. Every person has their own path, but there are some common themes, including physical pain, emotional challenge, and a sense of isolation or loneliness. We often need ways to cope with all of these things, which can include more formal techniques but also things that we can do by ourselves to find an outlet for difficult emotions and experiences.
I talked with Daniel Leighton—painter, augmented reality artist, filmmaker, technologist, and long-time Crohn’s disease patient—to explore why art is a powerful tool for processing trauma, expressing emotions, and finding hope in the setting of chronic illness.
Drawing on Daniel’s tips and experiences, this post breaks down the main themes and actionable tips for anyone interested in using art for healing and self-understanding, regardless of artistic skill.
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Amber interviews artist Daniel Leighton, who shares his journey living with Crohn’s disease from childhood. Daniel tells us how he didn’t think of himself as an artist, but painting became a vital tool for expressing emotions and coping with complex PTSD related to chronic illness. He offers some advice for those intimidated by starting a journey into creativity and describes how art validates the experiences of people with chronic illness. Daniel’s artwork, inspired by his medical journey, helps others with IBD feel seen and less alone, highlighting the role of art in emotional healing and community connection.
This episode contains a discussion of medical trauma and complex PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), so please take care when listening. Check the show notes for a description and time stamps, in case you want to skip certain sections.
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Community can help people with IBD access disease information and feel less alone. Amber talks with Aaron Blocker about the importance of finding and creating community for those living with IBD. They explore how online groups provide support and counter misinformation, while also discussing the importance of being cautious when sharing personal experiences online. They emphasize the importance of authenticity, learning from mistakes, and prioritizing the well-being of others.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a complex, chronic condition affecting millions of people. Even though IBD is now a worldwide disease, misconceptions and confusion about diagnosis, management, and treatment. In a recent episode of the About IBD podcast, Amber Tresca and Dr. Katie Dunleavy, a Boston-based gastroenterologist and IBD specialist, talked over the basics of IBD.
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