Do you ever feel stuck?
Of course you do, everyone does from time to time. The difference is that when it happens to someone who lives with a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), it could get complicated quickly.
Continue reading
A few days ago, I was talking to an IBD friend and I said how weird it was for me to consider traveling.
“It feels like something other people do,” I said. “It’s not something that I get to do.”
It’s a mindset I’ve needed to overcome because traveling when I was younger and my ulcerative colitis was at its worst was a nightmare. Now I’ve had surgery to create a j-pouch and my disease is much better controlled.
There’s no reason I can’t go all the places and do all the things!
I still have to do some problem solving, though, so I thought I’d share some of the products I’ve found that made my life easier while bouncing around cities in the UK or heading up to Maine for a camping trip.
Continue reading
Recently, I was put on a medication that I had to take 3 times a day. I was surprised at how much I struggled with this dosing schedule. I’ve been taking regular medications since I was a teen. I don’t usually forget to take medications because I’m so used to it.
Continue reading
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.
Continue reading
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).
Continue reading
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.
Continue reading
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.
Continue reading
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.
Continue reading
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.
Continue reading
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.
Continue reading