About IBD

While I take some time off, I’m sharing another podcast with you called PSC Mami. PSC stands for primary sclerosing cholangitis, and it’s a liver condition that is related to IBD, and ulcerative colitis in particular. PSC Mami brings you stories at the intersection of PSC and parenthood. The host of PSC Mami is Monika Aldarondo, who talks to parents about their perspective on life with IBD and PSC. Subscribe to PSC Mami in your favorite podcast app.

I 'm taking some time off from producing new episodes of About IBD. But I don 't want to leave you without great Crohn 's disease and ulcerative colitis content for your ears. That 's why I'm sharing a new IBD podcast with you, called Crohn 's Veteran. You can find Crohn 's Veteran in any podcast app as well as on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter. Credits: Mix and sound design for About IBD is by Mac Cooney. Theme music, "IBD Dance Party,” is from ©Cooney Studio.

Kids with chronic illness face special issues when going back to school because they’re at risk of their accommodations becoming eroded. In particular, kids who live with IBD might be in danger of not being granted appropriate bathroom access. I speak with Dr Brad Jerson, a Pediatric Psychologist at Connecticut Children’s. We discuss the worrying behaviors that parents should watch out for in their kids and how we can help kids who feel scared to go back to school.

Back to school will be quite different for families across the world. I speak with Dr Brad Jerson, a Pediatric Psychologist in the Division of Digestive Diseases, Hepatology, and Nutrition at Connecticut Children’s about how we can prepare our kids, and ourselves, for the school year. We discuss the behaviors we can model for our children, how we can talk to young kids about mask wearing, and engaging kids of all ages in conversation about their fears and anxieties.

While everyone who lives with inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, has their own story, there are major themes. Finding someone whose story is similar to yours is both validating and empowering. This is why Amber Tresca, who lives with ulcerative colitis and a j-pouch, developed the About IBD Podcast. Amber wants to give people touched by IBD the information they need to live a better life, as well as feel less alone while navigating the ups and downs of the patient journey.

What’s in your microbiome and how does it interact with your IBD? Arielle Radin, Director of Clinical Research for Gali Health, tells me about the Footprints Program. The Footprints Program is an ambitious research project that is going to sequence poop and saliva from IBD patients. It’s being used in conjunction with the Gali Health app, which is made especially for IBD patients to track their symptoms and connect with other people who live with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

The Sherman Prize is an award created by Bruce and Cynthia Sherman to recognize those who are making great contributions to the field of research and care in IBD. Dr Dermot McGovern, Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles and the 2020 Committee Chair for the Sherman Prize talks about the value of the Prize to the IBD community, who can make a nomination, and how to nominate a great candidate.

Being diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can upend your life. Then being diagnosed with a rare liver disease? It could truly leave you feeling hopeless. But that’s not what happened to Jenna Ziegler of The Comical Colon. Her doctor was concerned about her liver test levels. With more testing and a lot of patient empowerment, Jenna now has a presumed diagnosis of primary sclerosing cholangitis, or PSC. She tells how she has fought to get the treatment that can help PSC.

Do you have a sense of humor about your IBD? Jenna Ziegler of The Comical Colon found that keeping her sense of humor has helped her through the challenges she faced after being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in college. After fighting her way back to health, Jenna received another stunning diagnosis: primary sclerosing cholangitis, or PSC. Over the years she has done the hard work to learn how to be an empowered patient and she shares her 5 tips on how you can learn to advocate for yourself.

When Amber Wallace Ogle of The Ostomy Diaries was faced with ileostomy surgery to treat her Crohn’s disease, she was reminded of the negative experiences of family members. However, it didn’t take long after her surgery before she was embracing life and working to show others that life with an ostomy can be fulfilling and beautiful. Amber tells her Crohn’s disease story, gives 5 tips for advocating online, and shares a message she received from a family that has been touched by her advocacy.