About Ibd

What did you read over the past year? If you made a reading goal: did you hit it? The books I read this year ranged from self-help to true crime to science fiction. Hear more about some of the books I enjoyed in 2022 (and in the year after I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis) and if you’ll want to pick them up for yourself. Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide The Comfort Book Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood It’s Trevor Noah: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood (Adapted for Young Readers) The House in the Cerulean Sea Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI The Case of the Murderous Dr. Cream: The Hunt for a Victorian Era Serial Killer Dune The Scarlet Letter Slapstick or Lonesome No More!: A Novel Hocus Pocus Turtles All the Way Down Project Hail Mary: A Novel Artemis: A Novel Feed Find Amber J Tresca at: AboutIBD.com: About IBD Verywell: Verywell Health Facebook: @aboutIBD Twitter: @aboutIBD Pinterest: @aboutibd Instagram: @about_

For some people living with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, the disease puts roadblocks in the way when it comes to going to school, having a career, and participating in sports. For Lauren Thibodeau, a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis led to a complication of medical catatonia, which derailed her life and her career as a college golfer. However, with her family, her medical team, and her teammates around her, she made her way back to the golf course and in fact, wound up playing better than ever. Lauren shares what kept her motivated during the long and difficult recovery and how it changed her perspective on her golf game as well as her outlook on life. Find Lauren Thibodeau at: Instagram: @lauren_t_99 Twitter: @LTgolf247 LinkedIn: Lauren Thibodeau Awards: Lauren Thibodeau Named Class of 2022 Honda Inspiration Award Winner, Thibodeau Wins Kim Moore Spirit Award Find Amber J Tresca at: AboutIBD.com: About IBD Verywell: Verywell Health Facebook: @aboutIBD Twitter: @aboutIBD Pinterest: @aboutibd Ins

Does living with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis make a person more resilient? And is resilience something that should be a part of management plan for people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or other chronic illnesses? Mara Shapiro, healthcare journalist and Crohn’s disease patient, has had no other choice but to find a way towards resilience in her life, having lived through grief and loss early in life, followed by the diagnosis of several chronic illnesses. She provides deep insight on coping mechanisms and resilience, including the various ways we can look at these ideas to fit our own needs. Find Mara Shapiro (and Morty) at: Instagram: @marajshapiro and @morty.the.red.corgi Twitter: @marajshapiro Trellus Health: Mara’s Journey Crohn's and Colitis Young Adult Network: Interpretations of "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost Blogspot: A Reflection on 2020 Find Amber J Tresca at: AboutIBD.com: About IBD Verywell: Verywell Health Facebook: @aboutIBD Twitter: @aboutIBD Pinterest: @aboutibd Inst

When it comes to people with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis serving in the military, the usual policy is that the two things are incompatible. The reason being that people living with an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) need care and treatments that are incompatible with being deployed. However, sometimes there are other considerations, as Dr Daniel Rausa describes. Dr Rausa was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease while serving in the Navy, and he has advice for people who live with an IBD and want to serve or who want to pursue a medical career. He also describes why it’s so important to follow up and stay on top of transition of care when leaving military service. Find Daniel Rausa, DO at: Twitter: https://twitter.com/danielrausado Find Amber J Tresca at: AboutIBD.com: http://aboutibd.com/ Verywell: https://www.verywell.com/ibd-crohns-colitis-4014703 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aboutIBD Twitter: https://twitter.com/aboutIBD Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/aboutibd/ Instagram: https://www.in

What if we knew which patients would have severe Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis? And which wouldn’t? How about if we could tell which drug would work best in which patient? Knowing these things would change how inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is diagnosed and treated. Plus, more importantly: it would improve lives. Dr Andres Hurtado-Lorenzo, Vice President of Translational research and IBD Ventures at the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation explains biomarkers and how they may play into the future of how IBD is diagnosed, managed, and treated. Resources: Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation:https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/ IBD Plexus:https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/research/current-research-initiatives/ibd-plexus/about RISK Study:https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/research/current-research-initiatives/pediatric-risk-stratification IBD Ventures:https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/research/grants-fellowships/entrepreneurial-investing/portfolio Olink: https://www.olink.com Foundation for

There aren’t as many men who are vocal in the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) space as there are women. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis affect men as often as they do women, but fewer men seem comfortable being public about their disease.   That’s why Carlos “CJ" Cabrera, who also goes by CJ Papuro, entered the IBD community after his diagnosis of Crohn’s. He gives an overview of how difficult it was to be diagnosed as a US veteran using the Veterans Health Administration, his struggles with finding his way with nutrition, the ways in which IBD has affected him as a man, and his advice for other men.   Concepts discussed on this episode include: Athletic Greens — AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/ibdpod Fragmented Care and IBD: Outcomes in U.S. Veterans: https://ihpi.umich.edu/news/fragmented-care-and-ibd-outcomes-us-veterans The Incidence and Prevalence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Among U.S. Veterans: A National Cohort Study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3972034/ Maltodextrin, Modern

Have you ever been out in public and needed a toilet — but there wasn’t one available? This has happened to everyone who lives with an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), which is why so many of us have “bathroom accident” stories. Needing to use the bathroom is a basic human need, but it’s treated like an afterthought. That’s where the Restroom Access Act comes into play: a law passed in several states that allows people to request access to a toilet when they live with certain conditions. There is no such law currently in California. That’s hopefully going to change thanks to the efforts of Ashlyn Saltzburg and Kelly Silk. Ashlyn is a teenager living with IBD and Kelly is her mom. Their effort to get a law passed in California is nothing short of heroic. Learn about how they got started on this journey to have the Restroom Access Act passed in California, and how you can help. More information and a transcript: https://bit.ly/AIBD119 Concepts discussed on this episode:

There are significant unmet needs for IBD patients that include pain control, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depression. Some patients turn to medical cannabis for these symptoms. But is that a good idea, does it work, and what should patients and their doctors know about medical cannabis? To answer these questions and more, Amber talks to cannabis and IBD expert Dr Jami Kinnucan, who is a Senior Associate Consultant in the Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. Get lots more information and a transcript at https://bit.ly/AIBD118 Find Jami A. Kinnucan, MD at: Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/kinnucan-jami-a-m-d/bio-20527092 Twitter: https://twitter.com/ibdgijami Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ibdgijami Find Amber J Tresca at: AboutIBD.com: http://aboutibd.com Verywell: https://www.verywell.com/ibd-crohns-colitis-4014703 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aboutIBD Twitter: https://twitter.com/aboutIBD Pinterest: https://www.pinterest

When you think of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, you might not think of physical therapy. But physical therapy and pelvic floor therapy can be integral to helping with function, pain, and having better bowel movements. To learn more, I connected with Nancy Cullinane, who is a Board-Certified Women’s Health Clinical Specialist at Overlake Hospital and Clinics Outpatient Rehab in Washington State, and Christine Morgan, who is a Board-Certified Sports Clinical Specialist and the Director of Clinical Education at the Florida Southern College School of Physical Therapy. They describe the ways in which a physical therapist can help with some of the issues that crop up with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and how you can find a physical therapist to help you.   Concepts discussed on this episode include: Athletic Greens — AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/ibdpod The Sherman Prize: https://shermanprize.org/ Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy: https://aptapelvichealth.org American Physical Therapy Associ

There are tools available to address the psychosocial impact of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Learn what’s available to you from Dr Jessica Naftaly, a GI behavioral health fellow at the University of Michigan and Amy Bugwadia, higher education coordinator for Generation Patient, Teaching Assistant at Stanford University School of Medicine, ulcerative colitis patient, and key opinion leader in the IBD community. Concepts discussed on this episode include: The Rome Foundation Gastropsych Directory Psychology Today Find a Therapist Diaphragmatic Breathing [Video] With Megan Riehl, Psy.D. National Council of College Leaders Crohns & Colitis Foundation's Power of Two Program Find Jessica Naftaly, PhD on Twitter. Find Amy Bugwadia on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and at Generation Patient. Find Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com, Verywell, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Credits: Mix and sound design is by Mac Cooney. Theme music, "IBD Dance Party," is from ©Cooney Studio. Episode transcript a

Whether in remission or not, the day-to-day of life with IBD can be challenging. Living with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, even when feeling well, might mean making lifestyle changes, going to doctor’s appointments, and taking medications. Many people are diagnosed young, at a time when their friends aren’t going through anything similar. To understand how people might deal effectively with these changes, Amber talks with Dr Sandra Quezada, a gastroenterologist who specializes in IBD at the University of Maryland Medical Center and Varada Srivastava, a Crohn’s disease patient and biotechnology major who is also a 2022 Crohn’s and Colitis Young Adults Network fellow Concepts discussed on this episode include: Crohn’s and Colitis Young Adults Network Your Guide to Preparing for College with IBD IBD in College: 10 Easy Ways Students Can Manage Effects of Drinking Alcohol With IBD Find Sandra Quezada, MD on Twitter and at University of Maryland School of Medicine. Find Varada Srivastava on Instagram

Myths and misconceptions about IBD are common. Even amongst patients, there’s things that take time and education to understand because the things that swirl around in the public consciousness are not always true. To help understand why we can’t get rid of some of these common misconceptions, Amber Tresca is joined by gastroenterologist and IBDologist Siobhan Proksell, MD, and ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patient advocate Molly Dunham-Friel, MPH of Better Bellies By Molly. Concepts discussed on this episode include: IBD Parenthood Project How Gut-Directed Hypnosis Helps IBS, IBD and Other GI Disorders What Is Perianal Crohn’s Disease? Does Stress Cause Inflammatory Bowel Disease? Hypnotherapy as an IBS Treatment Option Find Siobhan Proksell, MD on Twitter, and at University of Miami. Find Molly Dunham-Friel, MPH at Better Bellies By Molly, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Find Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com, Verywell, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Cred

People who live with chronic illness don’t get training on how to deal with health insurance. Yet it is a major part of living with conditions such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Plus, it not only affects patients living with IBD, but our doctors and other healthcare providers are also frustrated and overburdened with dealing with red tape such as prior authorizations. Dr Shubha Bhat, a gastroenterology clinical pharmacist at the Cleveland Clinic and Jaime Holland, who is a healthcare activist and Crohn’s disease patient tell me how they handle health insurance complications and what we can do to change the system. Concepts discussed on this episode include: 13 Million Americans Per Year Skip Medicine Due to High Prescription Cost What You Need to Know About Coinsurance How Prior Authorization Works Tips to Get a Health Insurance Prior Authorization Request Approved IBD Insurance Checklist Understanding Health Insurance Find Shubha Bhat, PharmD on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Cleveland Clinic. Fin

People who live with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis don’t want to feel like a burden. They may feel guilty about changing or canceling plans. Sometimes, people with IBD may not even want to make plans in the first place. A strong support system can help overcome these issues and help patients manage their new normal. Dr Alexandra Fuss, a clinical health psychologist and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine and Brooke Abbott, ulcerative colitis patient, founder of The Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles, and co-founder of IBDMoms tell me how they have productive conversations with friends and family surrounding IBD. Concepts discussed on this episode include: What to Know Before You Eat Out When You Have IBD How to Share a College Dorm Bathroom 7 Tips for Keeping IBD at Bay on Big Days Navigating Daily Life with IBD Find Alexandra Fuss, PhD on Instagram, LinkedIn and at Yale School of Medicine. Find Brooke Abbott at The Crazy Creole Mommy Chron

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are complicated. There are choices to make along the treatment journey, which means that patients and their healthcare providers need to work together to find the right path. That’s where shared decision-making comes into play. Healthcare providers can help patients learn about their options but patients need to speak up and help their doctors understand what they want from their treatment options, because it's not always obvious. To better understand shared decision-making in IBD, I speak to Dr Rajeev Jain, a gastroenterologist in private practice in Dallas, Texas and Caitlyn Smith, ulcerative colitis patient and editor at The Mighty. Concepts discussed on this episode include: IBD Parenthood Project Shared Decision-making in IBD IBD Surgery Shared Decision-Making Toolkit Shared Decision-Making: Benefits to Care Shared Decision-Making: Being Prepared American Gastroenterological Association GI Patient Center Find Rajeev Jain, MD on Twitter, Texas Digestive Disease Co

After being diagnosed with a form of IBD, it can be a real challenge to understand that treatment is ongoing. Which might mean taking medications for long periods of time. It also means adding in lifestyle changes such as focusing on nutrition and diet, sleep, exercise, stress reduction, and learning about complimentary treatments that might be helpful. There are a lot of barriers to getting treatment, though, including cost and access. Some people might not realize that not only can their healthcare team can help with accessing and understanding treatment choices, but that complimentary therapies have a valid place in the management of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Dr Badr Al-Bawardy, a gastroenterologist specializing in IBD and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Yale University School of Medicine and Tina Haupert, an ulcerative colitis patient, Certified Nutrition Coach, Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, and founder of Carrots ‘N’ Cake uncover the ways medication and lifestyle changes

Setting goals is an important part of managing IBD. But after controlling symptoms: what other goals do patients have? They can be anything from being able to go up and down the stairs, to cooking a meal, to going back to an exercise program. Treating to target is a concept that helps in goal-setting. But patients might not be using this method with their clinicians. Dr Neilanjan Nandi, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine and IBD specialist at the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine and Jacklyn Green, ulcerative colitis patient, writer, and IBDMom, dig deeper into the idea of treat to target from both sides of the equation. Concepts discussed on this episode include: How the Fecal Calprotectin Test Is Used in IBD What Is a C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Test? Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (Sed Rate) Overview The Effect of Nicotine on IBD A Gutsy Feeling Find Neilanjan Nandi, MD at FITWITMD.com, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Find Jacklyn Green at www.jacklynhopes.com, Instagram, an

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects our quality of life. What that means, however, is going to be different for each person. It may depend on many factors including disease severity, access to care, and support structure. The symptoms of ulcerative colitis such as diarrhea can prevent people from taking part in activities that aren’t near a bathroom. Bleeding can cause anemia, leaving people feeling tired and unable to go about regular activities. Not to mention the effects on mental health, relationships, and finances. Danielle Gulden, ulcerative patient, ileostomate, and co-founder of Double Baggin’ It and Dr Nana Bernasko, IBD Nurse Practitioner and Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Penn State Health, discuss how to manage the effects of IBD on everyday life. Concepts discussed on this episode include: Rectal Bleeding and Inflammatory Bowel Disease The Impact of UC: Quality of Life The Impact of UC: Complications Types of Ulcerative Colitis (UC) W

Once people understand that symptoms like ongoing diarrhea and bloody stools are not normal, they need a way to overcome embarrassment and talk their symptoms over with a health care provider. Having an open and honest conversation will help ensure a quicker diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and getting the right treatment. On this episode, Rasheed Clarke, ulcerative colitis and j-pouch patient and author of Three Tablets Twice Daily and Dr Christina Ha, an IBDologist at the IBD Center at Cedars Sinai, provide support and guidance to patients with IBD symptoms, newly diagnosed patients, and anyone who is looking for a new way to speak with their health care providers about IBD treatments. Concepts discussed on this episode include: Jimmy Kimmel Gets a Colonoscopy with Katie Couric (and Dr Ha) The Impact of UC: Quality of Life How to Find the Best Doctor for Ulcerative Colitis Types of Ulcerative Colitis (UC) Signs and Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis Comparing 6 Biologic Drugs Used to Treat IBD Find Dr Chri

How is IBD different in kids than it is in adults? When should kids be transitioned from pediatric to adult care? What’s next for IBD treatments? My guest is Dr Jeffrey Hyams, the head of the Division of Digestive Diseases, Hepatology and Nutrition at Connecticut Children's, and a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. He provides a historical perspective on the treatment of IBD and is able to highlight how therapies have advanced over the last 30 years. He also gives some ideas about what’s on the horizon for IBD treatments and what gives him hope for the future. Concepts discussed on this episode include: How IBD Affects Growth in Kids and Teens Managing Ulcerative Colitis in Children Bradley S. Jerson, PhD, Pediatric Psychologist, who appeared on Episode 77, Episode 78, and Episode 99 Comparing 6 Biologic Drugs Used to Treat IBD Find a transcript and more at: https://bit.ly/AIBD106 Find Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com, Verywell, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, an