Living on a Boat with Crohn’s Disease: My Health Update

It’s been six months since my last episode, and I have a lot to catch you up on! From selling our house and moving aboard a boat full-time to navigating new health diagnoses, managing medications, and finding ways to stay fit while living with Crohn’s disease, life has been a little wild lately.

In this personal update, I’m sharing my experience with shingles, including the lingering symptoms that lasted for months, and opening up about some additional health challenges I’m now managing, including IgA nephropathy, Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, cough-variant asthma, silent reflux, and postnasal drip.

I’ll also share how I’m figuring out the logistics of managing Crohn’s disease while traveling full-time, including coordinating doctor appointments, getting medications through the VA without a permanent home address, and keeping refrigerated medication safe on the road—or, in my case, on the water!

And because this is Crohn’s Fitness Food, we’re talking fitness, too! With limited space aboard our boat and no room for my old workout equipment, I’ve had to rethink my exercise routine. I’ll explain how I’m incorporating bodyweight exercises, yoga, stretching, and rope-free jump rope workouts into my days to rebuild stamina and stay active.

I’m still working on the food part of the equation and searching for easy, healthy Instant Pot meals that don’t require a lot of prep or time in the kitchen. I’ll share more about that in a future episode!

If you’re living with Crohn’s disease or another chronic illness and wondering how to keep up with your health while navigating major life changes, I hope my experiences remind you that you’re not alone. Sometimes, managing chronic illness means adapting, figuring things out as you go, and finding a new path that works for you.

Plus, stay tuned for an upcoming interview with another amazing Crohn’s warrior!

Thanks for listening and being part of the Crohn’s Fitness Food community. I’m looking forward to sharing more stories, experiences, and encouragement with you soon.