Having a chronic illness is hard. But navigating a post-pandemic world with a chronic illness is ten times harder. For people with IBD or IBS, the pandemic was actually a blessing in disguise because it allowed us to be comfortable in our own homes and use our own bathrooms. The shutdown was an excuse for… Continue reading Navigating a Post-Pandemic World with IBD
Tag: chronic illness
Be Your Own Advocate
One thing I have learned from seeing multiple doctors over the years was to be my own advocate. At my age, it is really easy for doctors to discount what I tell them and just shove medication down my throat. On my first trip to the GI doctor, I was worried they wouldn't believe me… Continue reading Be Your Own Advocate
The Low-FODMAP Diet for IBD
Recently, I have gotten a few questions from friends about the low-FODMAP diet and how it helps in controlling IBD or IBS symptoms, such as diarrhea, bloating, constipation and stomach pain. When I was first diagnosed with IBD, I was given a list of foods that I should be eating and a list of foods… Continue reading The Low-FODMAP Diet for IBD
The Importance of Essential Oils
Essential oils are a huge part of my bedtime routine. In addition to my white noise machine that I mentioned in my previous blog post about getting a good night's sleep, I have an essential oil diffuser I turn on about thirty minutes before I go to sleep. Essential oils have become very popular in… Continue reading The Importance of Essential Oils
A Book Review: What Doesn’t Kill You
I recently read Tessa Miller's book titled What Doesn't Kill You which has proved to be a big hit in the chronic illness community. A member of my support group recommended the book to me and without hesitation, I bought it. Through every word, I felt connected. By the end, I just hoped that even… Continue reading A Book Review: What Doesn’t Kill You
A Mother’s Day Tribute: The Caregiver’s Perspective
This past weekend was Mother's Day and as a tribute to my mom I wanted to talk about the caregiver's perspective of life with IBD. Not only did the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis change my life, it changed my family's life. Not many people talk about how a chronic illness diagnosis affects those around them… Continue reading A Mother’s Day Tribute: The Caregiver’s Perspective
Lessons I’ve Learned Living on My Own
It has been one month since I moved out of the comfort of my parent's house. While this month has been the toughest month of my life, I have learned a lot along the way. Living on your own is definitely not easy. It requires a lot of extra effort, which sometimes I do not… Continue reading Lessons I’ve Learned Living on My Own
The Enneagram Personality Test
Recently, a friend mentioned the Enneagram personality test to me which I had never heard of before. Apparently, this test has been gaining traction in recent years and is a great way to learn more about yourself including the patterns in how you interpret the world and manage your emotions. The Enneagram test describes nine… Continue reading The Enneagram Personality Test
Balancing Your Health and Career Goals
Those of us with chronic illness are warriors. That's why we like to push ourselves to our limits because we want to show everyone that we can do whatever we set our minds to. We often push ourselves so much so that we end up compromising on our health. This is not a healthy habit.… Continue reading Balancing Your Health and Career Goals
Planning for Travel with a Chronic Illness
Planning for travel can be a daunting process when you have extra needs. When I studied abroad in Chile during the summer of 2019, my diagnosis was still pretty new for me. At the time, my symptoms were under control, but I still carried the fear of "what if I start to flare-up while traveling?"… Continue reading Planning for Travel with a Chronic Illness
Trust Your Gut (But I Can't!) 