Tag Archives: Crohn’s disease

Amber’s Year in Books 2025 — About IBD Podcast Episode 192

Looking for your next great read? Host of About IBD, Amber Tresca, gives her year-end roundup of books, with brief summaries and reflections on each. The selections cover a mix of genres, from speculative fiction and psychological thrillers to memoir and dark fantasy, often touching on themes of trauma, community, self-acceptance, and chronic illness. Amber shares how the stories resonated with her experience as a GenX mom living with a chronic illness, offering both recommendations and caveats. She also discusses practical tips for accessing books affordably through libraries and apps, and encourages exploring local bookstores or thrift shops to boost your reading journey and sense of community.

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What You Need to Know About IBD and Gastroparesis Featuring Samantha Sauer, BCPA of G-PACT – About IBD Podcast Episode 189

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Samantha Sauer, BCPA, president of Gastroparesis Patient Association for Cures and Treatments (G-PACT) uncovers the challenges of living with gastroparesis and how it can overlap with IBD or other conditions. Sam shares her personal journey with gastroparesis and gives insights on symptoms, diagnosis, misconceptions, and the daily impact on patients’ lives. Topics include the difficulties in getting the right diagnosis, the emotional toll of dietary restriction, and the importance of support communities. Sam also highlights resources offered by G-PACT, including support groups and educational outreach, while encouraging self-advocacy and perseverance for those seeking answers or support for their digestive health.

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The Truth About Stigma and Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy Featuring Mariah Leach, JD, MS

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Amber and Mariah discuss how women with chronic illnesses cope with advice on medication use in pregnancy—especially in light of the confusion around acetaminophen. Mariah shares her experiences with rheumatoid arthritis and pregnancy, focusing on changes in medication safety data. They talk about the pressure, stigma, and lack of support for pregnant women, the need for nuanced guidance, and provide resources.

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How To Stay Active With IBD Featuring Sean Lochran – About IBD Podcast Episode 187

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Sean Lochran, who lives with IBD and an ileostomy, describes his IBD journey, including complications such as blood clots and adrenal insufficiency. Sean shares advice for staying active on difficult days, including the importance of personalization, hydration, and tracking health data. He debunks misconceptions about exercise with IBD or an ostomy and describes his client-centered approach to fitness coaching, grounded in empathy and lived experience.

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How Patient Stories Change Perspectives and Influence Lawmakers Featuring Kelly E. Dwyer – About IBD Podcast Episode 186

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Every person living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can help change public policy by sharing their story and participating in advocacy events, such as visiting legislators in Washington, D.C. Amber talks to Kelly E. Dwyer, who teaches us how to prepare an elevator speech and gives us practical tips for Hill Day logistics, working within teams, staying emotionally resilient, and following up with staffers. Advocacy is for everyone, and persistence and collaboration can lead to real policy changes to benefit the IBD and chronic illness communities. By the end of the episode, you’ll have the real resources you can use to do this work as a patient advocate both locally and nationally.

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How to Use Creativity to Cope with Trauma and Chronic Illness

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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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Powerful Ways Art Can Help Us Heal from Trauma Featuring Daniel Leighton — About IBD Podcast Episode 185

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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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This Is Why People With IBD Need Strong Communities

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Living with a chronic illness like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is isolating. Not only are there stigmatizing physical symptoms, but there’s an emotional toll. It’s challenging for patients to find understanding and support in their everyday lives.

In episode 184 of About IBD, I sat down with Crohn’s patient and advocate Aaron Blocker to talk about the role of online community. Aaron shares his journey in building an online support group for people with IBD, including the successes and the frustrations.

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How to Understand the Basics of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

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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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Unlocking the Secrets to Stress Management – About IBD Podcast Episode 182

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Stress is a huge problem for people who live with immune-mediated conditions like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. The condition causes tension in all the parts of our lives. We can’t get rid of it, so we need to find ways to either minimize it or manage it. I talk to Dr. Jin Lee, neuropsychologist and CEO of IMIdeology, about managing stress while living with chronic inflammatory diseases like IBD and lupus. We discuss the impact of chronic stress on health, the challenges of fragmented care, and the benefits of a multidisciplinary, holistic approach. Dr. Lee shares practical, easy-to-implement stress management tips that you can do even when sitting at a stoplight! Plus, we tell you about the upcoming “Bridging Autoimmunity: Patient Forum” taking place on September 13th in Dobbs Ferry, NY. You’ll come away from this episode understanding how integrated care, community support, and small daily habits can improve quality of life with chronic illness.

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