Chronic Illness with Confidence

IBD Summit for Fellows 2019: Reflections

Living with IBD is a complex journey of ups and downs. Each of us patients seem to have our own set of unique challenges and personal needs to support our care. Many of us also have individual preferences, lifestyle changes that we have to adopt, and short and long-term goals that require consideration when managing a chronic illness that can be so unpredictable and impactful on day-to-day life. For this (and many other) reasons, finding good care from a good doctor is vit

I'm Celebrating #WorldIBDday for You

It's #worldIBDday2019! Over the past decade with IBD, i've come to view this annual recognition of IBD across the globe as a celebration: "HEY! We've made through another year with IBD! We did it!" The fatigue-filled days that felt too long, the nights spent managing pain in bed, all of the discomfort and uncertainty that comes with bowels that aren't functioning properly, joints/eyes/skin inflammation that just wont quit, and all of the pokes, pricks, meds, tests, and all

Why #CCAwarenessWeek Feels Like A Celebration

Happy December! It's the unofficial start to the holidays in my house AND the beginning of Crohns and Colitis Awareness Week... so things are feeling incredibly festive! Over the past two years, though, celebrating this week seems to top even the best of holiday preparations and I can't say that I'm too sad about that fact. Awareness weeks has officially turned into its own holiday for me, as I look to acknowledge my past experience with the disease, celebrate the communit

Defining A Quality Gastroenterologist: One Patient's Perspective

A few months ago, I received a call that would stop me in my tracks: would I like to share my thoughts on what defines a quality gastroenterologist at this year's Digestive Diseases Week (#DDW2018)? I think that I said "YES!" before the question was even finished. I was so excited that I got right to work. In some ways, I knew exactly what I'd want to say, but in a lot of other ways, I struggled to find just the right words. From a patient's perspective - or at least THIS

5 Tips for Breastfeeding on Biologics (Humira, Cimzia, etc.)

In order to get well enough to take on the role of motherhood in the way that I wanted, I would need to take Cimzia (throughout my first pregnancy) and then Humira (started after a rough flare and shortly before my second pregnancy). I was nervous at first, but, armed with evidence-based research, I was able to make my own informed decision to exclusively breastfeed both of my children while effectively treating my Crohn's disease. I'm not one to engage in a mommy-battle of

Bosses with Chronic Illness Rock

Working while managing a disability that doesn't take a break between the typical 9 - 5pm work-day is sometimes nerve-wracking. How will my boss, coworkers, and clients handle situations that require me to put my symptoms first? Will symptoms hold me back from achieving the professional goals that I set for myself? Can I do it all; take care of my kids, the house, my marriage, and my health? These thoughts go through my head as I start applying for jobs, and it makes me s

My PIANO Study Experience

From a young age, I knew that I wanted to be a mother. But, when I began experiencing symptoms of Crohn’s disease at age 21, I became worried about how my future may look. Knowing instinctively that I wanted to be well to have a child, I set out on a mission to heal the angry disease that was taking over my intestines. After struggling on lower-tiered medications, a hospitalization for an obstruction led me to realize that the deep healing that I desired would only come us

The Power in Crohnies

Chronic illness can be tough and lonely. It seems that most people can appreciate that fact and they know what it generally means to be lonely. But “lonely” takes on a new definition that goes deeper and darker with the personalized, persistent, and relentless class of illnesses considered to be chronic, or lifelong. When I was diagnosed, I quickly learned this new definition for lonely. While doctors were considering a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease, and determining a cours

My Unmet New Year’s Resolution Wasn’t a Failure

As the fireworks faded on the first day of 2017, I felt excited and motivated. “This would be the year,” I remember telling my husband, “that I’ll have my strongest body yet.” As an active woman, a busy mom, and a person with Crohn’s disease, it was important to me that I do everything in my power to stay on top of my health. But, could I really do it? Due to my diagnosis, I’d always assumed that I just wouldn’t be able to be as strong and fit as my active friends. What i

Why I was Thankful to be Diagnosed With Crohn's Disease

Visit The Mighty to view a version of this article. It was a beautiful, hazy day in August when I was formally diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. From over the phone, the doctor’s words seemed in such stark contrast to my surroundings that I had trouble digesting them. It was warm, and I was exhausted; all I could mutter was, “OK.” Appreciating the reality of being diagnosed with a lifelong, incurable chronic illness wasn’t on my mind. Instead, assigning a name to the beast taki

Parenting From the Couch

When I’m not feeling well, it can be hard to take care of me AND all of the responsibilities that I take on, including parenting two young boys. Because chronic illness requires a life-long dedication, I don’t always have the option to ask for help when things get a little tough. If I did, I wouldn’t always have someone available when things are REALLY bad. It’s a judgement call. So, I have to get creative in my planning and parenting, to make sure that I can still keep th

My First Friend with a Chronic Illness

My experience managing chronic illness changed forever when I met my first “chronic-friend.” She was beautiful and confident and looked to be about my age. We connected immediately when our paths crossed at my first job out of college. Within hours of meeting, she pulled out an insulin pump (a device worn by some diabetics to administer their insulin) and I quietly gasped. LOOK! Someone who has medical needs! So what if it’s rude to stare; I was excited. She told me ab

My Last Normal Morning

Symptoms can manifest slowly. Or, they can rear their ugly head with a shocking strength that would throw even the most steady-footed individuals into a spiral that feels unending. I remember quite vividly what I’ve dubbed as “the last morning of normalcy” (Or rather, the first day of “Chronically Jess”), when I suddenly ran to the bathroom and wouldn’t emerge unafraid for a few years. On that morning, bags were packed and the car was almost loaded. I was so happy and care

ABOUT ME

For nearly a decade, I've managed life with Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) of the digestive tract. As a young woman, symptoms appeared one day, and they wouldn't be tamed for years. While the disease hasn't stopped me from living my life, its appearance has altered my course; sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. I'm passionate about sharing my experience to support others.