It's not easy to put into words what daily life is like living with a chronic, autoimmune disease like Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The best way I can describe it is uncertain. I ask myself so many questions each day - questions that do not have a simple answer. "Why me?" "Are these random body… Continue reading Daily Life with IBD
Category: IBD Awareness
3 Common Biologics for IBD
Most people do not know what biologics are, as they are a relatively new treatment for patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). I'm sure you've seen the commercials, but you're probably left wondering how they actually work. Biologics are protein-based antibodies used to stop certain proteins in the body from causing inflammation. Biologics are typically… Continue reading 3 Common Biologics for IBD
3 Common Tests for IBD Patients
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients know a whole lot about getting tests done...almost too much. It isn't always the most fun, but I constantly remind myself that the tests will (hopefully!) provide answers. Since IBD is such a complicated illness, we can't always rely on how we are feeling. Sometimes how we feel on the… Continue reading 3 Common Tests for IBD Patients
Staying Strong with Chronic Illness
I've had a few friends reach out to me lately and ask how I keep going despite having a chronic illness. "How does it not bother you?" "You always have a smile on your face!" I can confirm that it does in fact bother me and yes, I do have a smile on my face… Continue reading Staying Strong with Chronic Illness
When Nothing Hurts
I haven't been writing nearly as much as I used to or want to, and I'm kicking myself for that. Writing is an outlet for me and it was the best discovery I could have ever made during my ulcerative colitis (UC) recovery journey. I am better able to express my thoughts and feelings when… Continue reading When Nothing Hurts
Intentions
A few months ago, I was challenged to set a one-word intention for the year. While it was tough to choose just one word, I settled on strength. I chose this because it embodies grit, perseverance, and resilience in one word. After two years of dealing with a world pandemic, I found it hard to… Continue reading Intentions
World IBD Day: A Lesson in Self-Worth
Today, May 19th, is World IBD Day! Today is a great day to bring awareness to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and those illnesses that fall under this umbrella term - Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation advertises this day each year and when I went to their website to see how… Continue reading World IBD Day: A Lesson in Self-Worth
5 Things IBD Patients Want You To Know
I have always found the hardest part about living with a chronic illness is conveying it to others. There are so many layers to it, and they cannot always be seen by the naked eye. Many of the effects are emotional, internal, and invisible. This blog post is a list of my top five things… Continue reading 5 Things IBD Patients Want You To Know
It Doesn’t End Here
After receiving the news a few months ago that I was officially in endoscopic remission, I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. It felt like I could finally take a deep breath. No more worrying that I had lingering inflammation in my colon. While this news was worth celebrating, I still felt like… Continue reading It Doesn’t End Here
Why Me?
When I was first diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, I asked myself this question many times. As a Catholic, I couldn't quite wrap my mind around the fact that God would let me suffer so much by giving me this disease. Sometimes I scan over every part of my life and wonder what I did to… Continue reading Why Me?
Turning Wellness into a Lifestyle 