About IBD

People with IBD are more likely to live with anxiety, depression, or other mood disorders than people who don't live with one of these conditions. For that reason, caring for mental health is as important as caring for physical health. But it doesn't always work out that way, as patients may not know how important their mental health is to their physical health, or may not have access to a mental health professional. Abri Bernstein shares her personal journey with ulcerative colitis (UC) and how somatic psychotherapy helped her cope with living with the disease. Abri explains somatic psychotherapy as a holistic approach to healing that focuses on the body and nervous system regulation. She describes various modalities, such as somatic experiencing, sensorimotor psychotherapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), emphasizing the importance of addressing trauma stored in the body for healing to occur. Resources and information discussed in this episode: What Is Somatic Therapy? Trauma and the Nervous System: A Polyvagal Perspective Polyvagal Institute The Trauma Foundation Bonaz B, Sinniger V, Pellissier S. Therapeutic Potential of Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Front Neurosci. 2021;15:650971. Published 2021 Mar 22. doi:10.3389/fnins.2021.650971. Polyvagal Theory: A Science of Safety Find Abri Bernstein at: Web: Healing With Abri LinkedIn: Abri Berstein Email: abribern@gmail.com Find Amber J Tresca at: AboutIBD.com: About IBD Verywell: Verywell Health Facebook: @aboutIBD Twitter: @aboutIBD Pinterest: @aboutibd Instagram: @about_IBD Find Mac Cooney (mix, sound design, and theme music) at: Facebook: @maccooneycomposer Instagram: @maccooneycomposer Web: Cooney Studio Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from ©Cooney Studio. Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD150 These show notes contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, Mal and Tal Enterprises, LLC may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Diagnosed with attenuated familial adenomatous polyposis (AFAP), retired Navy veteran Dan "Dry Dock" Shockley shares his remarkable journey of service, diagnosis, and advocacy. Following his diagnosis, Shockley became a passionate advocate for early detection and reducing the stigma associated with living with an ostomy. He emphasizes the importance of proactive medical care and maintaining a positive attitude in the face of adversity. Through his advocacy work and personal journey, Shockley serves as an inspiration, demonstrating resilience, determination, and a commitment to making a difference for others.   Find Dan "Dry Dock" Shockley at: Twitter: @Dryshockley Instagram: @DanDryDock LinkedIn: @Dan Dry Dock Shockley   Find Amber J Tresca at: AboutIBD.com: About IBD Verywell: Verywell Health Facebook: @aboutIBD Twitter: @aboutIBD Pinterest: @aboutibd Instagram: @about_IBD Find Mac Cooney (mix, sound design, and theme music) at: Facebook: @maccooneycomposer  Instagram: @maccooneycomposer Web: Cooney Studio Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from ©Cooney Studio. Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD149   These show notes contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, Mal and Tal Enterprises, LLC may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

We can hold two truths: Crohn’s disease is funny. It is also not funny. I speak with Matt Nagin, who has many talents, but we focus on his work as a comedian and actor living with Crohn’s disease. Our discussion focuses on how people need laughter and comedy in their lives. Yet, living with an illness like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), it can be challenging to find those comedic moments. Especially when most people don’t know what IBD is, and even among those who do, they kind of don’t want to hear about it sometimes. Get tips from Matt on how to form a sense of humor about illness, keep people from getting burned out on you, and think outside the box when it comes to symptoms.   Find Matt Nagin at: Web: mattnagin.com Facebook: @naginplease Twitter: @naginplease Instagram: @naginplease TikTok: @naginplease LinkedIn: Matt Nagin   Find Amber J Tresca at: AboutIBD.com: About IBD Verywell: Verywell Health Facebook: @aboutIBD Twitter: @aboutIBD Pinterest: @aboutibd Instagram: @about_IBD   Find Mac Cooney (mix, sound design, and theme music) at: Facebook: @maccooneycomposer Instagram: @maccooneycomposer Web: Cooney Studio LinkedIn: @macooney Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from ©Cooney Studio.   These show notes may contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, Mal and Tal Enterprises, LLC may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

What did you read over the past year? If you made a reading goal: did you hit it? The books I read in 2023 included biographies, fantasy, fiction, and romance. Plus, I had several authors who live with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis on the show this year, so I read their books as well. Hear more about some of the books I enjoyed in 2023, how you can hear more from authors with IBD, and ways that you can hit those reading goals this year. IBD Author Episodes: The Plant-Based Crohn’s and Colitis Cookbook – About IBD Podcast Episode 127 Up and Adam: A Patient’s Experience on Winning with IBD — About IBD Podcast Episode 130 I Pooped My Pants With April Michelle Harris – About IBD Podcast Episode 133 Positivity Beats IBD With Josef Miller – About IBD Podcast Episode 143 Books mentioned in this episode: Why Not Me? - Mindy Kaling Yes Please - Amy Poehler Bossypants - Tina Fey Orange Is the New Black - Piper Kerman Spare - Prince Harry Born With Teeth - Kate Mulgrew Where the Deer and the Antelope Play - Nick Offerman Fan Fiction - Brent Spiner, Jeanne Darst Wrong Place Wrong Time - Gillian McAllister Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow - Gabrielle Zevin The Dead Romantics - Ashley Poston Where the Crawdads Sing - Delia Owens The House in the Pines - Ana Reyes The Testaments - Margaret Atwood The Heart Goes Last - Margaret Atwood Maid - Stephanie Land Class - Stephanie Land  Under the Whispering Door - TJ Klune  In the Lives of Puppets - TJ Klune Long Way Down - Jason Reynolds  Red at the Bone - Jackeline Woodson Hatchet - Gary Paulsen The Plant-Based Crohn’s and Colitis Cookbook - Helena Rose Murphy The Purple Rose - Josef Alexander Miller I Pooped My Pants - April Michelle Harris Up and Adam: A Patient's Experience on Winning with IBD - Adam Finkelstein Find Amber J Tresca at: AboutIBD.com: About IBD Verywell: Verywell Health Facebook: @aboutIBD Twitter: @aboutIBD Pinterest: @aboutibd Instagram: @about_IBD Find Mac Cooney (mix, sound design, and theme music) at: Facebook: @maccooneycomposer Instagram: @maccooneycomposer Web: Cooney Studio LinkedIn: @macooney Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from ©Cooney Studio.   These show notes may contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, Mal and Tal Enterprises, LLC may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

A diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, IBD) affects the entire family. When it’s a child that’s diagnosed, it changes so many things and brings a host of challenges. Families experience many unmet needs related to IBD. My guest is Lisa Fournier of IBD Connect. Lisa is the mother of two children who live with IBD. Her experiences in helping them manage IBD at different stages in life compelled her to be a support for others. She worked with her local hospital to start a support group and eventually founded IBD Connect. Learn about the programs IBD Connect offers and how the community can support their important mission.   Concepts on this episode:   Very Early Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease (VEO-IBD)  UMass Chan Medical School Center for Applied Nutrition Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)   Find IBD Connect at: Instagram: @ibdconnectinc Facebook: @IBDConnectInc Web: IBD Connect, Inc.   Find Amber J Tresca at: AboutIBD.com: About IBD Verywell: Verywell Health Facebook: @aboutIBD Twitter: @aboutIBD Pinterest: @aboutibd Instagram: @about_IBD   Find Mac Cooney (mix, sound design, and theme music) at: Facebook: @maccooneycomposer  Instagram: @maccooneycomposer Web: Cooney Studio Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from ©Cooney Studio.   Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD146   These show notes contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, Mal and Tal Enterprises, LLC may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

My guest is Stephanie Brenner of Chronic Illness Psychotherapy. Stephanie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has experience in working with clients with chronic illnesses. She has also taken on a variety of roles in GI space, including previously serving on both the advisory team for the Pediatric Crohn’s Guidebook and the recruitment committee for the Rome Foundation’s GastroPsych organization. Stephanie lives with Crohn’s disease and a permanent ileostomy and is also a cancer survivor. I asked her to help us better understand PTSD and PTS as they relate to having a chronic illness like IBD. She defines PTSD and why it can happen with IBD, what some of the signs and symptoms might look like, and what patients can do to address their mental health. Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD145 Find Stephanie Brenner, LCSW, MSW at: Web: https://chronicillnesspsychotherapy.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chronicillnesspsych Concepts discussed: An Overview of Rectovaginal Fistula: https://www.verywellhealth.com/rectovaginal-fistula-overview-4587356 An Overview of Anal or Rectal Abscess: https://www.verywellhealth.com/perirectal-abscess-2328821 Proctectomy Surgery for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: https://www.verywellhealth.com/proctectomy-surgery-for-inflammatory-bowel-disease-4122490 Sacha McBain, PhD: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sachamcbain/ What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?: https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-ptsd-5084527 The Psychology of the Sickbed: https://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Sickbed-J-H-Berg/dp/B004NMY0RK Taft TH, Quinton S, Jedel S, Simons M, Mutlu EA, Hanauer SB. Posttraumatic Stress in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Prevalence and Relationships to Patient-Reported Outcomes. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2022;28(5):710-719. doi:10.1093/ibd/izab152 What Is EMDR Therapy?: https://www.verywellhealth.com/emdr-therapy-5212839 Understanding Diaphragmatic Breathing: https://www.verywellhealth.com/diaphragmatic-breathing-how-to-benefits-and-exercises-5219974 All About Grounding: Techniques to Connect to Nature: https://www.verywellhealth.com/grounding-7494652 Self-Report PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5): https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/assessment/documents/PCL5_Standard_form.pdf (other checklists https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/assessment/adult-sr/ptsd-checklist.asp#obtain) Rome Foundation: https://romegipsych.org/ Samantha Irby: https://www.samanthairby.com/ Tig Notoro: https://tignation.com/ Hannah Gatsby: https://hannahgadsby.com.au/ Cameron Esposito: https://www.instagram.com/cameronesposito/ Find Amber J Tresca at: AboutIBD.com: About IBD Verywell: Verywell Health Facebook: @aboutIBD Twitter: @aboutIBD Pinterest: @aboutibd Instagram: @about_IBD Find Mac Cooney (mix, sound design, and theme music) at: Facebook: @maccooneycomposer Instagram: @maccooneycomposer Web: Cooney Studio LinkedIn: @macooney Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from ©Cooney Studio.   These show notes may contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, Mal and Tal Enterprises, LLC may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

As an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and the Director of Translational Studies for the Crohn’s and Colitis Center, Dr. Damas sheds light on the misconception that IBD only affects certain ethnicities. Her extensive research explores the connection between of environment and genetics in the development of IBD, with a special focus on its impact on immigrants from Latin America. Dr. Damas shares insights into the challenges of studying the role of diet in IBD, revealing key findings from her research and explaining how her work is reshaping our understanding of these diseases. Find Oriana Damas, MD at: University of Miami: Oriana Mazorra Damas, M.D. Twitter: @oridamas Dr Damas' Research: The Current State of Care for Black and Hispanic Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Social barriers influence inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) outcomes and disproportionally affect Hispanics and non-Hispanic Blacks with IBD Low-Fat, High-Fiber Diet Reduces Markers of Inflammation and Dysbiosis and Improves Quality of Life in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis Ethnicity influences risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-associated colon cancer: a cross-sectional analysis of dysplasia prevalence and risk factors in Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites with IBD Find Amber J Tresca at: AboutIBD.com: About IBD Verywell: Verywell Health Facebook: @aboutIBD Twitter: @aboutIBD Pinterest: @aboutibd Instagram: @about_IBD Find Mac Cooney (mix, sound design, and theme music) at: Facebook: @maccooneycomposer Instagram: @maccooneycomposer Web: Cooney Studio Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from ©Cooney Studio. Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD143 These show notes contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, Mal and Tal Enterprises, LLC may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

What is it like to be a teen living with Crohn’s disease? If you’re like Josef Miller, you channel the challenges of the diagnosis and management of IBD into action. Josef has written a book about his experiences, entitled "The Purple Rose," and created an initiative called "Positivity Beats IBD," which creates inspirational cards for people living with IBD and other conditions. Learn about Josef's journey with Crohn's, his multicultural background, and how and why he decided to write a book. Find Josef Miller at: Instagram — Positivity Beats IBD: @positivity_beats_ibd Instagram — Josef Miller: @josefjm13 Book: The Purple Rose Book: The Axolotl That Lost Himself Connecting to Cure Find Amber J Tresca at: AboutIBD.com: About IBD Verywell: Verywell Health Facebook: @aboutIBD Twitter: @aboutIBD Pinterest: @aboutibd Instagram: @about_IBD Find Mac Cooney (mix, sound design, and theme music) at: Facebook: @maccooneycomposer Instagram: @maccooneycomposer Web: Cooney Studio Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from ©Cooney Studio. Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD143 These show notes contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, Mal and Tal Enterprises, LLC may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

What options are you wiling to try to manage your ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease? How about putting someone else’s stool into your own colon? Fecal microbiota transplants (FMTs) — using stool from a donor to repopulate bacteria in the colon — are being studied for use in treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Filmmaker Saffron Cassady decided to try do-it-yourself FMT to treat her ulcerative colitis, using stool from the healthiest person she could find: her husband. The journey is captured in her film, Designer $hit, which explores both the science and potential behind FMT. Learn about why she decided to take a chance on FMT, how it has impacted her life, and where you can see Designer $hit.   Learn where you can attend a screening: https://designershit.eventive.org/schedule   Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD142   Find Saffron Cassaday and Designer $hit at: Web: Designer $hit Twitter: @Designer_Shit_ TikTok:  @designershitdocumentary YouTube: Designer $hit Facebook: @Designer Shit Instagram: @designershtdocumentary Find Amber J Tresca at: AboutIBD.com: About IBD Verywell: Verywell Health Facebook: @aboutIBD Twitter: @aboutIBD Pinterest: @aboutibd Instagram: @about_IBD   Find Mac Cooney (mix, sound design, and theme music) at: Facebook: @maccooneycomposer Instagram: @maccooneycomposer Web: Cooney Studio LinkedIn: @macooney Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from ©Cooney Studio.   These show notes may contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, Mal and Tal Enterprises, LLC may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

What do all the new oral drugs available for treating IBD have to do with military service? Being diagnosed with IBD might mean leaving the military for some service members. Part of the reason is that it’s not possible to be deployed while receiving a drug that’s an injection or an infusion. But when a medication works well and happens to be in pill form: that’s a game-changer. Dr Anish Patel, the Medical Director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Brooke Army Medical Center gives an update on how IBD is treated in the military, what he sees on the horizon for IBD, and his best advice for every patient living with a chronic illness.     Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD141     Find Anish Patel, DO, LTC, FACG, FAGA at: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anish.patel.31392/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089635157883 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anishpa81/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FocusGI2022 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anishpa-armyibd/ Web: https://www.focusgi.org/ Resources: Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, Veterans with IBD: https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/veterans Facebook Support Group for Veterans with IBD: https://www.facebook.com/groups/525843515658644 VA Podcast Network: https://news.va.gov/va-podcast-network/ My HealtheVet: https://www.myhealth.va.gov/mhv-portal-web/home Veterans Crisis Line: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ Research: Fragmented care and IBD: Outcomes in U.S. veterans: https://ihpi.umich.edu/news/fragmented-care-and-ibd-outcomes-us-veterans Irritable Bowel Syndrome in U.S. Veterans: https://www.verywellhealth.com/ibs-in-veterans-1944720 Kent KG. Prevalence of gastrointestinal disease in US Military Veterans under outpatient care at the Veterans Health Administration. SAGE Open Med. 2021;9:20503121211049112.  doi:10.1177/20503121211049112 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34646564/ Bookwalter DB, Roenfeldt KA, LeardMann CA, Kong SY, Riddle MS, Rull RP. Posttraumatic stress disorder and risk of selected autoimmune diseases among US military personnel. BMC Psychiatry. 2020;20(1):23. doi:10.1186/s12888-020-2432-9 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31941473/ Find Amber J Tresca at: Verywell: https://www.verywell.com/ibd-crohns-colitis-4014703 Blog: http://aboutibd.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aboutIBD/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/aboutIBD Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/aboutibd/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/about_IBD/   Credits: Sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maccooneycomposer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maccooneycomposer/ "IBD Dance Party" Single: https://maccooney.bandcamp.com/track/ibd-dance-party-single ©Cooney Studio: http://cooneystudio.com/

Being diagnosed with a chronic condition is a major adjustment. Digestive conditions like IBD (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) wind up affecting every part of our lives. Learning to accept the ways in which the disease affects life can be helpful. But it’s important to make the distinction between acceptance and complacency. Maalvika Bhuvansunder, a young adult patient living with Crohn’s disease, uses her experiences to help bring the concept of acceptance into focus for other people who are living with a chronic condition.   Concepts discussed on this episode: What Is a Bowel Obstruction?: https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-a-bowel-obstruction-1943010 Bowel Obstruction Surgery: Everything You Need to Know: https://www.verywellhealth.com/surgery-for-a-bowel-obstruction-796815 6 Types of Colectomy Surgery: https://www.verywellhealth.com/types-of-colectomy-surgery-1943059 Parasites - Amebiasis - Entamoeba histolytica Infection: https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/amebiasis/general-info.html Gargallo-Puyuelo CJ, Alfambra E, García-Erce JA, Gomollon F. Iron Treatment May Be Difficult in Inflammatory Diseases: Inflammatory Bowel Disease as a Paradigm. Nutrients. 2018;10(12):1959. Published 2018 Dec 11. doi:10.3390/nu10121959 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6316243/   Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD140   Find Maalvika Bhuvansunder at: Adventure and Travel with Chronic Illness: https://youtu.be/yw1KNhSyVLg LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/maalvika-bhuvansunder Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maalvika_bhuvansunder Web: https://www.ccyanetwork.org/fellow-projects Find Amber J Tresca: Verywell: https://www.verywell.com/ibd-crohns-colitis-4014703 Blog: http://aboutibd.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aboutIBD/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/aboutIBD Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/aboutibd/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/about_IBD/   Credits: Sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney: https://www.facebook.com/maccooneycomposer "IBD Dance Party" Single: https://maccooney.bandcamp.com/track/ibd-dance-party-single ©Cooney Studio: http://cooneystudio.com/   These show notes contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, Mal and Tal Enterprises, LLC may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Menopause is a topic that's not well understood in general and there's even less information when it comes to menopause and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis). October is World menopause Awareness Month. World Menopause Day is on October 18 every year. The purpose of the day is to raise awareness of menopause and the support options available for improving health and well being. Learn more about how IBD may affect perimenopause and menopause, as well as the reverse.   Concepts discussed on this episode: World Menopause Day: https://www.imsociety.org/education/world-menopause-day/ The North American Menopause Society: https://www.menopause.org/home Menopause and IBD: What a Gastroenterologist Wants You to Know: https://gastrogirl.com/menopause-and-ibd/ Living Well with IBD: Women's Health and IBD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWcQsiQDvKk Can You Treat Menopause Symptoms With Over-the-Counter Medications: https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/menopause/over-the-counter-relief-options Maya Minding Menopause: A 4-Part Series: https://mayafellernutrition.com/maya-minding-menopause/ Find Amber J Tresca at: AboutIBD.com: About IBD Verywell: Verywell Health Facebook: @aboutIBD Twitter: @aboutIBD Pinterest: @aboutibd Instagram: @about_IBD Find Mac Cooney (mix, sound design, and theme music) at: Facebook: @maccooneycomposer Instagram: @maccooneycomposer Web: Cooney Studio LinkedIn: @macooney Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from ©Cooney Studio. Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD139   Sources: 1. Rolston VS, Boroujerdi L, Long MD, et al. The influence of hormonal fluctuation on inflammatory bowel disease symptom severity—a cross-sectional cohort study. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2018;24:387–393. doi:10.1093/ibd/izx004 2. Lichtarowicz A, Norman C, Calcraft B, Morris JS, Rhodes J, Mayberry J. A study of the menopause, smoking, and contraception in women with Crohn's disease. Quarterly Journal of Medicine. 1989;72:623–631. 3. Kane SV, Reddy D. Hormonal replacement therapy after menopause is protective of disease activity in women with inflammatory bowel disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 2008;103:1193–1196. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2007.01700.x 4. “The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society” Advisory Panel. The 2022 hormone therapy position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause. 2022;29(7):767-794. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000002028 5. Lungaro L, Costanzini A, Manza F, et al. Impact of Female Gender in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Narrative Review. J Pers Med. 2023;13(2):165. Published 2023 Jan 17. doi:10.3390/jpm13020165 6. Lewandowski K, Kaniewska M, Więcek M, et al. Risk Factors for Osteoporosis among Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Do We Already Know Everything?. Nutrients. 2023;15(5):1151. Published 2023 Feb 24. doi:10.3390/nu15051151 7. Schüle S, Rossel JB, Frey D, et al. Widely differing screening and treatment practice for osteoporosis in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases in the Swiss IBD cohort study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2017;96(22):e6788. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000006788 8. Hidalgo DF, Boonpheng B, Phemister J, Hidalgo J, Young M. Inflammatory bowel disease and risk of osteoporotic fractures: A meta-analysis. Cureus. 2019;11:e5810. doi:10.7759/cureus.5810 9. Palomba S, Manguso F, Orio F Jr, et al. Effectiveness of risedronate in osteoporotic postmenopausal women with inflammatory bowel disease: a prospective, parallel, open-label, two-year extension study. Menopause. 2008;15(4 Pt 1):730-736. doi:10.1097/gme.0b013e318159f190 Additional Sources: Gold EB. The timing of the age at which natural menopause occurs. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2011;38:425–440. doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2011.05.002 Sheth T, Pitchumoni CS, Das KM. Musculoskeletal manifestations in inflammatory bowel disease: a revisit in search of immunopathophysiological mechanisms. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2014;48:308–317. doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000000067 Harbord M, Annese V, Vavricka SR, et al. The first European evidence-based consensus on extra-intestinal manifestations in inflammatory bowel disease. J Crohns Colitis. 2016;10:239–254. doi:10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjv213

Colon cancer is being diagnosed more frequently in younger people. It’s now recommended that most people get a screening colonoscopy at the age of 45. For people who  have a family history of colon cancer, the first screening should be when they are 10 years younger than the family member was when they were diagnosed.   My guest is my husband, Michael Tresca, who recently had a screening colonoscopy after turning 50. He details his experiences in using a newer prep and how he managed the process.    If there is a person in your life that is due for their screening, I hope you’ll share this with them. And if you’re someone who is involved in administering screening colonoscopies, I hope you’ll listen to get an unfiltered perspective.   Find Michael Tresca at World of Welstar: Twitter: @WorldofWelstar Instagram: @world_of_welstar Facebook: @worldofwelstar Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/talien   Find Amber J Tresca at: AboutIBD.com: About IBD Verywell: Verywell Health Facebook: @aboutIBD Twitter: @aboutIBD Pinterest: @aboutibd Instagram: @about_IBD Find Mac Cooney (mix, sound design, and theme music) at: Facebook: @maccooneycomposer Instagram: @maccooneycomposer Web: Cooney Studio LinkedIn: @macooney Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from ©Cooney Studio. Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD138   These show notes contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, Mal and Tal Enterprises, LLC may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Diet does matter in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Not only in how it affects the digestive system, but also in overall health. Adults with IBD have greater incidences of heart disease, lung disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, kidney disease, liver disease, and ulcers than do people without IBD.   For those reasons and more: thinking about diet and how it affects all these other body systems, as well as the IBD, is important.   To discuss how diet relates to IBD, Amber talks to Clemmie Oliver, IBD Specialist Registered Associate Nutritionist and Nutritional Therapist (MSc, ANutr, Dip ION, mBANT, CNHC). Clemmie shares her personal journey of living with ulcerative colitis from the age of 9, undergoing surgery, and ultimately receiving a j-pouch.   She covers the impact of her condition on her family, particularly her parents and siblings. Clemmie also emphasizes the importance of nutrition in maintaining health and how dietary choices can influence j-pouch function. She provides practical advice for navigating social situations, such as parties and work dinners, where dietary restrictions may apply. She encourages open communication with healthcare professionals and offers thoughts on adapting food textures to better suit those with stomas or internal pouches.   Find Clemmie Oliver and the Lifestyle Medicine Clinic Ltd at: Facebook: @nalmclinic Instagram: @clemmieolivernutrition Web: nalmclinic.com Find Amber J Tresca at: AboutIBD.com: About IBD Verywell: Verywell Health Facebook: @aboutIBD Twitter: @aboutIBD Pinterest: @aboutibd Instagram: @about_IBD Find Mac Cooney (mix, sound design, and theme music) at: Facebook: @maccooneycomposer Instagram: @maccooneycomposer Web: Cooney Studio LinkedIn: @macooney Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from ©Cooney Studio. Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD137   These show notes contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, Mal and Tal Enterprises, LLC may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.      

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects people from all ethnic and cultural groups. In this limited series, we'll explore how inequalities in the healthcare system affect people from diverse backgrounds. One of the barriers to addressing disparities is money. It's an unfortunate fact that the healthcare system in the United States is intertwined with money. In some cases, access to care and other equity issues might be solved by putting some funding towards the problems. That's why I asked my guests a really broad question: If you received grant money, where would you allocate it in order to address disparities? You'll hear from Dr Aline Charabaty, Melodie Narain-Blackwell, Dr Cedric Pulliam, Dr Fasika Shimeles Teferra, and Brooke Abbott to find out what this panel says about where we should be focusing our efforts in combating healthcare disparities in the IBD space. Find Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com, Verywell, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Credits: Healthcare Disparities in IBD is written, produced, and directed by Amber Tresca. Theme music, mix, and sound design is by Cooney Studio.

Healthcare is political. That's why it's important to push legislators to ensure care is available and accessible to all patients, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Brooke Abbott, of the Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles and co-founder of IBDMoms helps illustrate the aspects of public policy that are important in achieving equity in healthcare. In this discussion you'll learn how lack of access to educational opportunities affects the healthcare space, how some provisions in the Affordable Care Act help reduce disparities, and why access to technology is an important part of healthcare. Find Brooke Abbott on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Find Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com, Verywell, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Credits: Healthcare Disparities in IBD is written, produced, and directed by Amber Tresca. Theme music, mix, and sound design is by Cooney Studio.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects people from all ethnic and cultural groups. In this limited series, we'll explore how inequalities in the healthcare system affect people from diverse backgrounds. IBD is still considered rare in some parts of the world, but incidence is increasing. Fasika Shimeles Teferra, MD of Ethiopia describes her journey to a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease. Being a medical doctor, she has been able to make connections in order to help other IBD patients in her country. Patients face stigma, less than optimal care, and a lack of educational resources for themselves and their friends and family members. Dr Teferra was helping patients as best she could but discovered she needed a bigger platform. She founded a nonprofit, Crohn’s and Colitis Ethiopia, in order to better support Ethiopian patients with IBD. Find Dr Teferra on LinkedIn and Twitter and Crohn’s and Colitis Ethiopia on Facebook and their web site. More about Dr Teferra and IBD in Ethiopia: Interview with Dr Teferra on Lights, Camera, Crohn's Inflammatory bowel disease: an emergent disease among Ethiopian Jews migrating to Israel Inflammatory bowel disease in Africa: what is the current state of knowledge? Find Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com, Verywell, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Credits: Healthcare Disparities in IBD is written, produced, and directed by Amber Tresca. Theme music, mix, and sound design is by Cooney Studio.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects people from all ethnic and cultural groups. In this limited series, we'll explore how inequalities in the healthcare system affect people from diverse backgrounds. What is it like to not have anyone on your medical team that looks like you or understands your concerns? The diversity of the human experience is often not reflected in the healthcare system. In fact, there's little research into some areas of IBD, including the experience of LGBTQIA+ patients. Dr Cedric Pulliam, Senior Public Health Advisor at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, had a long journey to a diagnosis of Crohn's disease, punctuated by less than helpful advice from specialists. His experiences as a public health advocate, a patient, and a gay male have brought him to be an open advocate for those in the LGBTQ community. Dr Pulliam has advice on how the IBD community can learn from other disease states in how to truly meet the needs of patients. Find Dr Pulliam on LinkedIn and Twitter. Find Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com, Verywell, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Credits: Healthcare Disparities in IBD is written, produced, and directed by Amber Tresca. Theme music, mix, and sound design is by Cooney Studio.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects people from all ethnic and cultural groups. In this limited series, we'll explore how inequalities in the healthcare system affect people from diverse backgrounds. Nutrition is a major component of managing digestive disease. Yet people living with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or indeterminate colitis may not be offered access to help managing their diet. Dr Selvi Vasudevan, founder of Dr Selvi's Keys to Ease Crohn's, discusses her Crohn's disease journey and how it led her to pursue the role diet and nutrition play in wellness as well as the cultural influence on our food choices. A child of immigrants from southern India to the United States, she is discovering how best to integrate family life, her culture, and her needs as a person with IBD. Find Dr Selvi on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on DrSelvi.com. Find Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com, Verywell, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Credits: Healthcare Disparities in IBD is written, produced, and directed by Amber Tresca. Theme music, mix, and sound design is by Cooney Studio.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects people from all ethnic and cultural groups. In this limited series, we'll explore how inequalities in the healthcare system affect people from diverse backgrounds. Why do women of color encounter so many barriers when accessing care? Where are the spaces for black and brown patients to share their knowledge, experiences, and support around Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and other immune-mediated and autoimmune conditions? Melodie Narain-Blackwell, founder of Color of Crohn's and Chronic Illness, discusses her Crohn's disease journey and how it led her to become a voice for the IBD community. She tells us why outreach to minority groups sometimes fails, how she approaches patient education, her ideas on giving patients improved access to care, and how motherhood affects her disease journey. Find Color of Crohn's and Chronic Illness at COCCI.org, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Find Melodie Narain-Blackwell at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Find Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com, Verywell, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Credits: Healthcare Disparities in IBD is written, produced, and directed by Amber Tresca. Theme music, mix, and sound design is by Cooney Studio.