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What Causes Crohn’s Disease
What causes Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis? You just got diagnosed with IBD. It can be scary, overwhelming, and confusing. You aren’t sure what to do or what causes Crohn’s disease or Ulcerative Colitis to even develop? Where did it come from? This question isn’t easily answered. The true cause of any form of IBD is still unknown. There are many factors that can contribute to these diseases developing. But, some of those factors can be explained and will hopefully ease your mind. I know when I was first diagnosed, I wanted to learn as much as I could…and now I want to help others learn! Most common factors contributing…
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Anxiety & IBD
Anxiety…anyone else struggle with this? I have struggled with some form of anxiety my whole life, but since having IBD it has only gotten worse. Not only is anxiety a horrible problem on its own, it can exacerbate symptoms making life unbearable sometimes. Mental health is tightly wound within your IBD journey be it anxiety, depression, stress or guilt. Today we’ll focus on anxiety and how to manage it, but don’t worry, we’ll touch other areas of mental health soon! The reason I want to touch on anxiety is because mine has been really bad lately! (And I’m currently writing this on an airplane which is like the most anxious…
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IBD Emergency Kit
Originally posted Aug 2019. Updated July 2021 This little handy dandy IBD emergency kit that I randomly created throughout the years has gotten me out of some deep shit ( 🙂 ), literally! I almost always have it with me, especially if I am traveling or attending events and I add and remove things as I see fit and you can too! This is something that has been ever evolving for me throughout my IBD journey. While we are always trying to heal and not have to worry about emergencies, they happen. You may not always feel great. There may be events you need to attend when your in a…
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Crohn’s Disease Treatment
The latest news and updates! What is going on in terms of Crohn’s disease treatment? I’ve been doing some research into this and want to share it with all of you. In 2020, there have been some advancements in IBD treatment options and research done. Things are beginning to look better in regards to the future of IBD. There is no need to feel major anxiety if newly diagnosed. That feeling of “life as you know it being over” are starting to subside with these new options. Crohn’s disease medication updates First, there are new medications being studied giving us more treatment options for Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis. IBD patients…
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I Am Not A Pre-Existing Condition
I am not a pre-existing condition. I happen to just be a woman who has one. And here are my thoughts about what’s happening in my world. Tuesday is a big day for us in America. I’m not going to be political here, but I hope that big changes are on the way for us and I surely do hope that you all exercised your right to vote or will be on Tuesday! I personally give zero cares (I would use another word here but I’m trying to be appropriate) about how you feel politically, but I do care about health care and about what that means for people like…
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Colonoscopy Prep and Day Tips
Colonoscopy prep here we go! I am writing this for you as I am currently starting my colonoscopy prep for my first colonoscopy in 2.5 years! As much as I’ve liked the time away from the procedure, the reality for me is that they will be becoming more frequent. I’m approaching 10 years with IBD which increases my risk of colon cancer which therefore, increases my colonoscopies. To date, I’ve probably had around 10 colonoscopies or other kind of scope. I had them quite often in the early days of my diagnosis of IBD. And I feel like I have come to master the prep and day of procedure steps which…
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Gathering Your Medical Team
Get ready to gather your medical team! Finding the right doctors can be tough. And when you move and are forced to leave doctors you love, it is even harder. Maybe you are newly diagnosed and have NO IDEA where to start when it comes to doctors. Or maybe you just aren’t happy with your current team. Either way, making sure you have the right people on your side is important! Do they listen to what you are saying? Are they helping you down the path that is right for you, not for just any random person? If they aren’t working for you, do yourself a favor and gather a…
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How to Handle Guilt while Battling IBD
Dealing with guilt with your IBD diagnosis isn’t uncommon. I want to talk with you all about guilt and how to navigate it, since I have dealt with it for a long time during my IBD journey. Feeling guilty about your IBD or feeling as though you are a burden is nothing to be ashamed of. Learning how to channel this guilt into something more positive is so important along with being open about how you are feeling. The fact of the matter here is that IBD brings about a lot of negative connotation and emotion into our lives. What people don’t talk about when you get diagnosed is the…
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The Importance of Sharing Your Story
I wrote this article for Autoimmune Sisters back in March during autoimmune awareness month. I think sharing your story and being your own advocate are two of the most beneficial things you can do for yourself and your journey with autoimmune disease. You can view the original article here. Below, see why I think it is so important to share your story. I encourage you during this time of isolation to speak up and share about your journey. It helps others more than you know! Spreading awareness is so, so important for all of us in this community. It is an opportunity to express ourselves, our triumphs and defeats, and…
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Reflecting on Awareness Week 2019
Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week 2019 has come to an end. I feel like I get different emotions each year as it comes and so quickly passes by. Each year this disease has brought me challenges beyond measure, but each year I have grown and adapted to what IBD has thrown at me. For this year, I had this whole vision of taking awareness week to the next level with the blog starting. Unfortunately, I didn’t plan accordingly, the holiday came, and now I am sick with fluid build up in my ears (we can never win!). But, I figured why not reflect on this past year of my IBD…
