Positivity Beats IBD With Josef Miller

People living with IBD who have suppressed immune systems because of medication are understandably concerned about their risks surrounding the novel coronavirus and COVID-19. Jamie Horrigan, a medical student and founder of "Sweetened By Nature," lives with Crohn’s disease and gastroparesis and was diagnosed with COVID-19. She describes her experiences with symptoms, diagnosis, isolation, and recovery. She also gives some insight on why a common complication of coronaviruses, called a cytokine storm, may be an important factor of COVID-19 for people with IBD. Concepts discussed on this episode: Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing: What you should know (UC Davis Health) Mount Sinai COVID-19 Plasma Donation National COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Project IOIBD Update on COVID19 for Patients with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis The Coronavirus Patients Betrayed by Their Own Immune Systems (Cytokine Storm) Coronavirus and IBD Reporting Database IBD-AID Diet (Anti-Inflammatory Diet for IBD) The Specific Carbohydrate Diet for IBD Find Jamie Horrigan on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and on her web site Sweetened by Nature. Find Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com, Verywell, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Credits: Sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney. "About IBD With Amber Tresca" ©Cooney Studio.

13 Huhti 202031min

We’re living through an usual time and people living with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis have many questions about how the pandemic may affect them. IBD experts agree that it’s important to continue receiving medications during this time to avoid a flare-up. That might mean traveling to an infusion center, hospital, or doctor’s office for treatment. Julie Kennedy of The Semicolon Girl recounts her experience in receiving her infusion of her Crohn’s disease medication in the era of COVID-19, including how the procedure was different, and gives her tips on how to make the process go as smoothly as possible. People with IBD are not at a greater risk of being infected with the novel coronavirus Having IBD does not mean a person is immunosuppressed People who have had a colectomy and who live with an ostomy or a j-pouch are also not considered immunosuppressed Experts are advising that people with IBD should stay on their medications Find Julie Kennedy on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on her web site, The Sick Adventures of a Semi Colon Girl. Read her blog post about her infusion, Adventures in Pandemics. Find Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com, Verywell, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Credits: Sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney. "IBD Dance Party" ©Cooney Studio.

1 Huhti 202020min

This is the second episode of my series talking to people who live with a permanent ostomy and exploring why they share their stories publicly and what it means to the ostomy community. I connected with Austin Powers on Twitter where he goes by Ostomy Guy. He has a podcast of the same name where he interviews people who live with an ostomy or who have other serious medical conditions. His path to becoming public about his ostomy started unexpectedly when he sat down to write about his disease journey. What started as a vague idea about writing a blog turned into a book, The Ostomy Guy Story: Memoirs of a Bagman, which is available on Amazon. Listen all the way to end to hear one of the many letters Austin receives from his readers, who are inspired by his story. Find the Ostomy Guy on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on his site, theostomyguy.com. You can also buy his book, The Ostomy Guy Story: Memoirs of a Bagman, on Amazon. Find Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com, Verywell, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Credits: Sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney. "IBD Dance Party" ©Cooney Studio.

24 Maalis 202029min

Ostomy surgery is a life-saving procedure that can improve quality of life, but that doesn’t mean it is always easy to accept. Stephanie Hughes founded The Stolen Colon after having surgery to place an ileostomy to treat her Crohn’s disease. She’s an ostomate, but she’s also a writer, a woman, a wife, a mother, and a resource for people in the IBD and the ostomy community. She shares her journey through Crohn’s disease and acceptance of her ostomy with me, including what her kids think of her stoma, how she manages issues around privacy, and what happened when a person who didn’t know she had an ileostomy told her that ostomies were smelly. Listen all the way to the end to hear how Stephanie's advocacy in the ostomy community touched one family and gave them hope. Information for topics discussed in this episode includes protectomy surgery, colectomy surgery, ileostomy surgery, changing an ostomy appliance, Enterostomal Therapy (ET) nurses, ostomy tips, and what’s normal with a stoma. Find Stephanie Hughes on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and on her blog, The Stolen Colon. Find Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com, Verywell, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Credits: Sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney. "IBD Dance Party" ©Cooney Studio.

17 Maalis 202024min

Finding meaning in an illness journey can be a catalyst for purpose and hope. Dr Selvi Vasudevan endured severe Crohn’s disease that resulted in several surgeries and a relentless series of complications. She was on her chosen path when the disease stole her aspirations and left her without direction. A recommitment to herself and her own healing journey helped her find her purpose again as a healer and prompted her to found Cooking With Crohn’s in order to share what she’s learned with the IBD community. Information discussed in this episode includes erythrocyte sedimentation rate (sed rate), normal white blood cell (WBC) count, bowel perforation, wound closing by secondary intention, and ileostomy surgery. Find Dr Selvi on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on her web site, DrSelvi.com. Find Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com, Verywell, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Credits: Sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney. "IBD Dance Party" ©Cooney Studio.

25 Helmi 202030min

People who live with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis have more to consider when it comes to the workplace. The cost of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) means that a comprehensive insurance plan is a must, which may limit job choices. A flare-up or complication that results in absences can lead to poor performance reviews or difficulties with supervisors or co-workers. How can people with IBD cope? Three women who live with IBD, Megan Starshak, Mary Elizabeth Ulliman, and Tina Aswani Omprakash, tell their stories about missing work, being underinsured, and changing jobs while managing IBD. Information discussed in this episode includes Clostridium difficile (C diff), pouchitis, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation Help Center, IBD and the Americans With Disabilities Act, The Family and Medical Leave Act, and Financial Help for People with IBD. Select pharmaceutical company assistance programs: Cimzia (certolizumab Entyvio (vedolizumab Humira (adalimumab Inflectra (infliximab biosimilar Remicade (infliximab) Renflexis (Infliximab biosimilar Simponi (goliumumab Stelara (ustekinumab Tysabri (natalizumab Xeljanz (tofacitinib Find Megan Starshak on MeganStarshak.com, Twitter, and Instagram. Find Tina Aswani Omprakash on Own Your Crohn’s, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Find Mary Elizabeth Ulliman on Instagram. Find The Great Bowel Movement on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Find Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com, Verywell, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Credits: Sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney. "IBD Dance Party" ©Cooney Studio.

11 Helmi 202028min

How does having Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis have an impact on your career? The symptoms of IBD, as well as the cost, can affect the ability to work in the same way as healthy people. Three women who live with IBD, Megan Starshak, Mary Elizabeth Ulliman, and Tina Aswani Omprakash, tell their stories about coping with college, first jobs, and career derailment as a result of their disease. Information discussed in this episode includes Clostridium difficile (C diff) Infection, Short-Term Disability Insurance, Colectomy Surgery, J-pouch Surgery, and  IBD and the Americans With Disabilities Act. Find Megan Starshak on MeganStarshak.com, Twitter, and Instagram. Find Tina Aswani Omprakash on Own Your Crohn’s, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Find Mary Elizabeth (Emmy) Ulliman on Instagram. Find The Great Bowel Movement on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Find Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com, Verywell, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Credits: Sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney. "IBD Dance Party" ©Cooney Studio.

27 Tammi 202022min

In December 2019 I went to Advances in IBD, which is a medical meeting that's focused entirely on Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The understanding that IBD is more than a "bathroom disease" has finally hit home, and attendees (which include healthcare professionals such as nurses, dietitians, gastroenterologists, GI psychologists, and colorectal surgeons) were educated on a variety of topics. In this episode I provide some of the highlights of the meeting including sessions on diet, medication risks, and pregnancy. Articles and information discussed in this episode include a discussion of absolute risk, "Don't Forget that 5-ASAs Also Have Side Effects: Recognizing Complications", "Diet, the Microbiome, and IBD: 'Doctor, what should I eat for my IBD?'," "Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Pregnancy Clinical Care Pathway: A Report From the American Gastroenterological Association IBD Parenthood Project Working Group," and "Episode 48: Summer of Activism - Getting Kids Involved in Activism." Find Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com, Verywell, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Credits: Sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney. "IBD Dance Party" ©Cooney Studio.

14 Tammi 202015min