Tag Archives: community

Having a Screening Colonoscopy – About IBD Podcast Episode 138

Colon cancer is being diagnosed more frequently in younger people. It’s now recommended that most people get a screening colonoscopy at the age of 45. For people who have a family history of colon cancer, the first screening should be when they are 10 years younger than the family member was when they were diagnosed.

My guest is my husband, Michael Tresca, who recently had a screening colonoscopy after turning 50. He details his experiences in using a newer prep and how he managed the process.

If there is a person in your life that is due for their screening, I hope you’ll share this with them. And if you’re someone who is involved in administering screening colonoscopies, I hope you’ll listen to get an unfiltered perspective.

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Is Diarrhea Funny?

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A search of my computer shows that I’ve written on the topic of diarrhea several times already. It’s a recurring theme every few years, usually after a news event.

The latest circumstance, as I write this, is an incident that occurred on a flight between Atlanta and Barcelona in early September 2023. Reportedly, a passenger had diarrhea that was concerning enough to be considered a biohazard. According to CNN and other sources, the flight turned around after a few hours and went back to Atlanta. (CNN)

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What to Do When You’re Stuck

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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.

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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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About IBD Podcast Episode 60 – Managing IBD Is a Team Sport With Dr. Aline Charabaty

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This episode is sponsored by AbbVie.

How do you think about your connection with your gastroenterologist? The patient/physician relationship is important in managing inflammatory bowel disease. I talk with Dr. Aline Charabaty, Associate Professor of Medicine, Director of the IBD Center at Johns Hopkins Sibley Memorial Hospital, and winner of the 2019 Healio Gastroenterology Social Media Influencer Award, about how patients and doctors can better understand one another and better communicate about managing your disease. Find out how doctors can help patients in addition to finding the appropriate treatment for them, including what kinds of questions both groups should be asking, and how we can all move beyond “how many bowel movements” to discuss other issues important in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Want to get ahead of preparations for your next appointment? Try out the Doctor Discussion Guide at crohnsandcolitis.com/podcast.

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Summer of Activism: Navigating Your First Day on the Hill Meeting

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Patient advocacy groups often take part in “Day on the Hill” events. This is when an organization sends a group of people to Washington DC to meet with the offices of federal representatives. I’ve attended several hill day events over the past several years with different patient advocacy groups. At this point, I’m ready to let you know some of my tips and tricks so that when you’re ready to get started and do this work, you’ll be prepared.

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About IBD Podcast Episode 49 – Summer of Activism: Attending Day on the Hill

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How does an IBD patient attend Day on the Hill events and meet with the offices of congressional representatives in Washington DC? What is it like to go to these events? In this episode I describe how I got involved in hill day meetings, why I do it, and what the process is like to attend. I also offer you my tips on how to make the best of the time spent in the capital in order to make the biggest impact on the people who can affect change in the lives of IBD patients.

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Summer of Activism: 10 Ways to Get Your Kids Involved in Advocacy

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We tend to think of politics as being for adults. But how do adults become engaged citizens who take part in their community? They start as children, learning from parents about the importance and benefit of volunteering, voting, and understanding the challenges and opportunities in their community. There’s so much that parents can do to raise children to be active community members. In addition, some of the many skills that are learned along the way, include public speaking, networking, teamwork, strategy, and communication. Continue reading →

About IBD Podcast Episode 48 – Getting Kids Involved in Advocacy

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How young is “too young” to get kids involved in activism? Gastroenterologist and activist Dr Meenakshi Bewtra started her kids on their activism journey at birth and continues by bringing them to marches, voter registration events, and postcard writing parties. Dr Bewtra shares her tips on how you can involve your kids in activism, why you should, and how it might make your life as a parent — and activist — a bit easier.

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About IBD Podcast Episode 46 – Attending Medical Meetings as a Patient

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For this first episode of my limited series, Summer of Activism, I’m answering a question that I hear regularly: how it is that I go to medical meetings such as Digestive Disease Week, Advances in IBD, or Crohn’s and Colitis Congress. I give you the answer as well as tips on how patients, bloggers, podcasters, and vloggers can work towards attending these, and other, scientific meetings. Here’s a spoiler: it takes dedication to improving the lives of people with IBD, commitment to doing the work consistently, and some professional networking.

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