About IBD

There aren't as many men who are vocal in the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) space as there are women. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis affect men as often as they do women, but fewer men seem comfortable being public about their disease. That's why Carlos "CJ" Cabrera, who also goes by CJ Papuro, entered the IBD community after his diagnosis of Crohn's. He gives an overview of how difficult it was to be diagnosed as a US veteran using the Veterans Health Administration, his struggles with finding his way with nutrition, the ways in which IBD has affected him as a man, and his advice for other men. Concepts discussed on this episode include:

• Athletic Greens — AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/ibdpod
• Fragmented Care and IBD: Outcomes in U.S. Veterans: https://ihpi.umich.edu/news/fragmented-care-and-ibd-outcomes-us-veterans
• The Incidence and Prevalence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Among U.S. Veterans: A National Cohort Study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3972034/
• Maltodextrin, Modern Stressor of the Intestinal Environment: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6409436/
• How IBD Affects Fertility in Men: https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-ibd-affects-fertility-in-men-4125878
• How to Recognize and Diagnose Crohn's Disease in Men: https://www.verywellhealth.com/crohns-symptoms-male-5215367
• Arthritis and Inflammatory Bowel Disease: https://www.verywellhealth.com/arthritis-and-inflammatory-bowel-disease-1941772
• Should You Exercise If You Have IBD?: https://www.verywellhealth.com/exercising-with-ibd-4582068

Find CJ Papuro at: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/papuro Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/papurosmokes Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chill.ghost YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Papuro Find Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com: http://aboutibd.com/ Verywell: https://www.verywell.com/ibd-crohns-colitis-4014703 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: Mix and sound design is by Mac Cooney: https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from Cooney Studio: https://michaelandrewcooney.bandcamp.com/track/ibd-dance-party-single Episode transcript and more information at: https:/bit.ly/AIBD120

Have you ever been out in public and needed a toilet — but there wasn't one available?

This has happened to everyone who lives with an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis), which is why so many of us have "bathroom accident" stories. Needing to use the bathroom is a basic human need, but it's treated like an afterthought. That's where the Restroom Access Act comes into play: a law passed in several states that allows people to request access to a toilet when they live with certain conditions.

There is no such law currently in California. That's hopefully going to change thanks to the efforts of Ashlyn Saltzburg and Kelly Silk. Ashlyn is a teenager living with IBD and Kelly is her mom. Their effort to get a law passed in California is nothing short of heroic. Learn about how they got started on this journey to have the Restroom Access Act passed in California, and how you can help.

More information and a transcript: https://bit.ly/AIBD119

Concepts discussed on this episode:

• Athletic Greens AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/ibdpod
• How the Restroom Access Act Helps Those With IBD: https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-restroom-access-act-1942432
• California Assembly Bill 1632: https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/AB1632/2021
• Akilah Weber, Assmblymember, District 79: https://a79.asmdc.org/2021-2022-legislation
• Shervin Rabizadeh, MD, MBA: https://bio.cedars-sinai.org/rabizadehsx/index.html

Find Amber J Tresca at:

• AboutIBD.com: http://aboutibd.com/
• Verywell: https://www.verywell.com/ibd-crohns-colitis-4014703
• 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:

• Mix and sound design is by Mac Cooney: https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney
• Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from ©Cooney Studio: https://michaelandrewcooney.bandcamp.com/track/ibd-dance-party-single

There are significant unmet needs for IBD patients that include pain control, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depression. Some patients turn to medical cannabis for these symptoms. But is that a good idea, does it work, and what should patients and their doctors know about medical cannabis? To answer these questions and more, Amber talks to cannabis and IBD expert Dr Jami Kinnucan, who is a Senior Associate Consultant in the Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.

Get lots more information and a transcript at https://bit.ly/AIBD118

Find Jami A. Kinnucan, MD at:

• Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/kinnucan-jami-a-m-d/bio-20527092
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ibdgijami
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ibdgijami

Find Amber J Tresca at:

• AboutIBD.com: http://aboutibd.com
• Verywell: https://www.verywell.com/ibd-crohns-colitis-4014703
• 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:

• Mix and sound design is by Mac Cooney: https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney
• Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from Cooney Studio: https://michaelandrewcooney.bandcamp.com/track/ibd-dance-party-single

When you think of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, you might not think of physical therapy. But physical therapy and pelvic floor therapy can be integral to helping with function, pain, and having better bowel movements. To learn more, I connected with Nancy Cullinane, who is a Board-Certified Women's Health Clinical Specialist at Overlake Hospital and Clinics Outpatient Rehab in Washington State, and Christine Morgan, who is a Board-Certified Sports Clinical Specialist and the Director of Clinical Education at the Florida Southern College School of Physical Therapy. They describe the ways in which a physical therapist can help with some of the issues that crop up with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and how you can find a physical therapist to help you. Concepts discussed on this episode include: Athletic Greens — AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/ibdpod The Sherman Prize: https://shermanprize.org/ Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy: https://aptapelvichealth.org American Physical Therapy Association: https://www.choosept.com/ Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute: https://hermanwallace.com/ Social Media: Nancy Cullinane, PT, MHS, DPT, WCS on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-cullinane-pt-mhs-dpt-wcs-405866b1/ FSC School of Physical Therapy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fsc.dpt/ Overlake Medical Center & Clinics on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/overlakemedicalcenter Find Amber J Tresca at: AboutIBD.com: http://aboutibd.com/ Verywell: https://www.verywell.com/ibd-crohns-colitis-4014703 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: Mix and sound design is by Mac Cooney: https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from Cooney Studio: https://michaelandrewcooney.bandcamp.com/track/ibd-dance-party-single Episode transcript and more information at: https:/bit.ly/AIBD117

There are tools available to address the psychosocial impact of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Learn what's available to you from Dr Jessica Naftaly, a GI behavioral health fellow at the University of Michigan and Amy Bugwadia, higher education coordinator for Generation Patient, Teaching Assistant at Stanford University School of Medicine, ulcerative colitis patient, and key opinion leader in the IBD community.

Concepts discussed on this episode include:

• The Rome Foundation Gastropsych Directory
• Psychology Today Find a Therapist
• Diaphragmatic Breathing [Video] With Megan Riehl, Psy.D.
• National Council of College Leaders
• Crohns & Colitis Foundation's Power of Two Program

Find Jessica Naftaly, PhD on Twitter.

Find Amy Bugwadia on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and at Generation Patient.

Find Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com, Verywell, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Credits: Mix and sound design is by Mac Cooney. Theme music, "IBD Dance Party," is from ©Cooney Studio.

Episode transcript and more information at https:/bit.ly/AIBD116

Whether in remission or not, the day-to-day of life with IBD can be challenging. Living with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, even when feeling well, might mean making lifestyle changes, going to doctor's appointments, and taking medications. Many people are diagnosed young, at a time when their friends aren't going through anything similar. To understand how people might deal effectively with these changes, Amber talks with Dr Sandra Quezada, a gastroenterologist who specializes in IBD at the University of Maryland Medical Center and Varada Srivastava, a Crohn's disease patient and biotechnology major who is also a 2022 Crohn's and Colitis Young Adults Network fellow

Concepts discussed on this episode include:

• Crohn's and Colitis Young Adults Network
• Your Guide to Preparing for College with IBD
• IBD in College: 10 Easy Ways Students Can Manage
• Effects of Drinking Alcohol With IBD

Find Sandra Quezada, MD on Twitter and at University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Find Varada Srivastava on Instagram and at Crohn's and Colitis Young Adults Network (CCYAN).

Find Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com, Verywell, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Credits: Mix and sound design is by Mac Cooney. Theme music, "IBD Dance Party," is from ©Cooney Studio.

Episode transcript and more information at https:/bit.ly/AIBD115

Myths and misconceptions about IBD are common. Even amongst patients, there's things that take time and education to understand because the things that swirl around in the public consciousness are not always true. To help understand why we can't get rid of some of these common misconceptions, Amber Tresca is joined by gastroenterologist and IBDologist Siobhan Proksell, MD, and ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patient advocate Molly Dunham-Friel, MPH of Better Bellies By Molly.

Concepts discussed on this episode include:

• IBD Parenthood Project
• How Gut-Directed Hypnosis Helps IBS, IBD and Other GI Disorders
• What Is Perianal Crohn's Disease?
• Does Stress Cause Inflammatory Bowel Disease?
• Hypnotherapy as an IBS Treatment Option

Find Siobhan Proksell, MD on Twitter, and at University of Miami.

Find Molly Dunham-Friel, MPH at Better Bellies By Molly, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Find Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com, Verywell, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Credits: Mix and sound design is by Mac Cooney. Theme music, "IBD Dance Party," is from ©Cooney Studio.

Episode transcript and more information at https:/bit.ly/AIBD114

People who live with chronic illness don't get training on how to deal with health insurance. Yet it is a major part of living with conditions such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Plus, it not only affects patients living with IBD, but our doctors and other healthcare providers are also frustrated and overburdened with dealing with red tape such as prior authorizations. Dr Shubha Bhat, a gastroenterology clinical pharmacist at the Cleveland Clinic and Jaime Holland, who is a healthcare activist and Crohn's disease patient tell me how they handle health insurance complications and what we can do to change the system.

Concepts discussed on this episode include:

• 13 Million Americans Per Year Skip Medicine Due to High Prescription Cost
• What You Need to Know About Coinsurance
• How Prior Authorization Works
• Tips to Get a Health Insurance Prior Authorization Request Approved
• IBD Insurance Checklist
• Understanding Health Insurance

Find Shubha Bhat, PharmD on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Cleveland Clinic.

Find Jaime Holland at Pretty Rotten Guts, Twitter, and Instagram.

Find Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com, Verywell, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Credits: Mix and sound design is by Mac Cooney. Theme music, "IBD Dance Party," is from ©Cooney Studio.

Episode transcript and more information at https:/bit.ly/AIBD113

People who live with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis don't want to feel like a burden. They may feel guilty about changing or canceling plans. Sometimes, people with IBD may not even want to make plans in the first place. A strong support system can help overcome these issues and help patients manage their new normal. Dr Alexandra Fuss, a clinical health psychologist and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine and Brooke Abbott, ulcerative colitis patient, founder of The Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles, and co-founder of IBDMoms tell me how they have productive conversations with friends and family surrounding IBD.

Concepts discussed on this episode include:

• What to Know Before You Eat Out When You Have IBD
• How to Share a College Dorm Bathroom
• 7 Tips for Keeping IBD at Bay on Big Days
• Navigating Daily Life with IBD

Find Alexandra Fuss, PhD on Instagram, LinkedIn and at Yale School of Medicine.

Find Brooke Abbott at The Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Find Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com, Verywell, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Credits: Mix and sound design is by Mac Cooney. Theme music, "IBD Dance Party," is from ©Cooney Studio.

Episode transcript and more information at https:/bit.ly/AIBD112

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are complicated. There are choices to make along the treatment journey, which means that patients and their healthcare providers need to work together to find the right path. That's where shared decision-making comes into play.

Healthcare providers can help patients learn about their options but patients need to speak up and help their doctors understand what they want from their treatment options, because it's not always obvious. To better understand shared decision-making in IBD, I speak to Dr Rajeev Jain, a gastroenterologist in private practice in Dallas, Texas and Caitlyn Smith, ulcerative colitis patient and editor at The Mighty.

Concepts discussed on this episode include:

• IBD Parenthood Project
• Shared Decision-making in IBD
• IBD Surgery Shared Decision-Making Toolkit
• Shared Decision-Making: Benefits to Care
• Shared Decision-Making: Being Prepared
• American Gastroenterological Association GI Patient Center

Find Rajeev Jain, MD on Twitter, Texas Digestive Disease Consultants.

Find Caitlyn Smith at The Mighty, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Find Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com, Verywell, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Credits: Mix and sound design is by Mac Cooney. Theme music, "IBD Dance Party," is from ©Cooney Studio.

Episode transcript and more information at https:/bit.ly/AIBD111