In this episode, I take you through my process, how I recruit guests, record, produce, and market about IBD. If you are curious to learn how About IBD is produced, or if you’re interested in being a guest or a sponsor, this episode should answer many of your questions.
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Did you know that being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease is a disqualifying condition to serve in the United States military? However, it seems that it’s not always an automatic reason for discharge. Lt Colonel Joshua Nelson was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and needed to have ileostomy surgery. It cast into question his future as a pilot in the Air Force Reserve. Learn his story of how he worked with his medical team in order to keep doing the job he loves, his advice for others like him, and tips on flying that any ostomate can use.
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Did an IBD diagnosis change the direction of your life? For Danielle Golden and Joe Teeters, being diagnosed as a young adult had a profound influence on their lives. The plans they had for their lives were derailed, but they only met, formed a strong friendship, and founded Double Baggin’ It because of their IBD. Learn more about their disease journeys, how they met, and how they use humor to raise awareness of IBD and ostomy life both inside and outside the IBD community.
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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects more than the digestive system. Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis can also affect the eyes, joints, and skin. Jordan Ditty was diagnosed with IBD as a child, though her diagnosis floated between Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis and she had j-pouch surgery due to a colonic perforation. Recently, she had her j-pouch removed and a permanent ileostomy placed. Surgery gave her with a better quality of life but also a new diagnosis of a skin condition related to IBD, called pyoderma gangrenosum. Learn how Jordan remains hopeful through her long journey with IBD and a host of complications.
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Ostomy Awareness Day is an important observation that helps eliminate the stigma surrounding ostomies and ostomates. Ostomy surgery is lifesaving and many people who have an ileostomy or colostomy surgery due to ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease experience improved quality of life.
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What has been your experience with ostomy surgery? If you know someone who lives with an ileostomy or a colostomy, you’ll likely get your impression about having a stoma from them. But what if that person struggles to accept their stoma? When Amber Wallace Ogle of The Ostomy Diaries was faced with ileostomy surgery to treat her Crohn’s disease, she was reminded of the negative experiences of her family members who lived with an ostomy. However, it didn’t take long after her surgery before she was embracing life again and working to show others that life with an ostomy can be fulfilling and beautiful. Amber tells her Crohn’s disease story, gives 5 tips for advocating online, and shares a message she received from a family that has been touched by her advocacy.
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Ostomy surgery can improve quality of life for people with IBD but it is still not discussed often enough, or early enough, in the disease process. This leaves patients to cope with the surgery and the acceptance of an ostomy during a time when they are already critically ill. For Austin Powers, who goes by The Ostomy Guy, he exhausted all his possibilities to treat complications from Crohn’s disease before having surgery to place an ostomy. It was several more years before a quick encounter with another ostomate set him on the journey of acceptance. Today, Austin runs a podcast and has written a book about his experiences, The Ostomy Guy Story: Memoirs of a Bagman, which is available on Amazon. Listen all the way to end to hear one of the many letters Austin receives from his readers, who are inspired by his story.
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Finding meaning in an illness journey can be a catalyst for purpose and hope. Dr Selvi Vasudevan endured severe Crohn’s disease that resulted in several surgeries and a relentless series of complications. She was on her chosen path when the disease stole her aspirations and left her without direction. A recommitment to herself and her own healing journey helped her find her purpose again as a healer and prompted her to found Cooking With Crohn’s in order to share what she’s learned with the IBD community.
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People with IBD are often faced with unexpected challenges that are outside of those being experienced by their peer group. Jen McGregor of Crohnie Clothing found herself grappling with questions about her fertility while still in her early 20s. She had to act quickly in order to preserve her ability to have a biological child. Jen tells her personal story of working through the emotional, physical, financial, and even legal aspects of planning for her future fertility.
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“Who wants an Oreo?”
A man sits near me in the road, offering Oreo cookies to the bike riders pedaling past him up a massive hill. Another man walks over and asks, “Did you give out cookies last year, too?”
“Probably,” says the man in the road.
“Well, if it was you, it was a highlight for me, getting that cookie. I really appreciated it.”
I am on the sidelines of the IRONMAN Wisconsin race: a feat of endurance for athletes who will swim 2.4 miles (3.86 kms), bike 112 miles (180.25 kms), and run 26.22 miles (42.20 km) in one day. Many of the spectators are previous racers themselves: they sport hats, shirts, backpacks, and even tattoos with the IRONMAN logo.