Wrestling the Octopus IBD

Send us Fan Mail Living with pain is a common and debilitating aspect of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. In this episode of Wrestling the Octopus IBD, we are joined by Dr Jessica Sheehan, IBD specialist at the University of Michigan Health in Ann Arbor. She gives us excellent advice on how IBD patients can manage pain. Dr Sheehan explains that abdominal pain does not always mean your IBD is flaring. While active inflammation can certainly ca...

Send us Fan Mail n this episode of Wrestling the Octopus: The IBD Patient Podcast, Nigel and I speak with Dr Sue Blackwell, whose journey with ulcerative colitis began in 2002 and eventually led her into the world of colorectal research. Sue shares her experiences of severe disease, life-changing surgery, living with a stoma and multiple parastomal hernia repairs, and explains how those experiences inspired her to pursue a PhD and help shape future research for patients. Sue discusses the rea...

Send us Fan Mail SURVEY LINK What topics should our Wrestling the Octopus IBD podcast cover next? In this episode, we review the feedback from our recent podcast survey and discuss how your suggestions will help shape future episodes of this podcast - a show we absolutely love recording! Along the way, I share an update on my treatment with ustekinumab, while Nigel discusses his return to blogging following his recovery from a cystolitholapaxy procedure. Most importantly, this epi...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a future mental health nurse spends 17 years searching for answers before finally being diagnosed with Crohn's disease? In Episode 42 of Wrestling the Octopus IBD, Rachel and Nigel speak with Hakeem, a London-based mental health nurse living with Crohn's disease, about his long and difficult journey to diagnosis, major surgery, life with a temporary stoma, and the lasting psychological impact of living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Hakeem shar...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Episode 41 of Wrestling the Octopus IBD. This time, we're talking primary care and inflammatory bowel disease - how to get the best from your GP when treating your IBD and how we as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients can help too. Our guest is north London GP, Dr Lindsay Samaan. She tells us how GPs can help IBD patients with everything from flare symptoms and investigations ,to vaccinations and bone health,. Our discussion highlights the importance of...