Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are diseases of young people. Women are often diagnosed during their childbearing years, which means that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) enters into the equation when considering becoming pregnant. I talk with Beth Kiernan, a Teratogen Information Specialist at MotherToBaby about how women can learn more about how to manage IBD medications before conception, during pregnancy, and while breastfeeding.

Get in touch with the experts at Mother to Baby via email, phone (866-626-6847), or text (855-999-3525). Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube, 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.

Being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis as a child and undergoing j-pouch surgery in high school hasn’t slowed Sneha Dave down at all. In fact, it spurred her to found two groups that are focused on bringing young people into the patient advocacy space: the Crohn's and Colitis Young Adults Network (CCYA) and the Health Advocacy Summit (HAS). Learn how Sneha grew the CCYA from its humble start as a newsletter, the opportunities that CCYA and HAS offer to young patients, and Sneha's secret to managing a work/life balance.

Find the Health Advocacy Summit at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.   Find the Crohn's and Colitis Young Adults Network at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.   Find Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com, Verywell, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.   Credits: Sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney. "IBD Dance Party" ©Cooney Studio.

Living with a permanent ileostomy as a result of Crohn’s disease hasn’t stopped Ryan Stevens from participating in the sport he loves. He worked his way back from crushing IBD flare-ups and multiple surgeries in order to train for the ultimate triathlon: the IRONMAN. In this second part of Ryan's story, hear what happened to him while on the bike route, why the ostomy may actually provide an advantage, and Amber’s unfiltered thoughts on the competitiveness of the triathlon community.

Find Ryan Stevens of IBD Swimming & Me at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Find Amber J Tresca of About IBD at Verywell Health, AboutIBD.com, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Credits:

• Additional sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney
• "About IBD with Amber Tresca" ©Cooney Studio 

A diagnosis of Crohn’s disease and an ileostomy hasn’t stopped Ryan Stevens from competing in triathlon races. He swam through high school and college and was sidelined by Crohn’s just after falling in love with triathlon. He’s worked his way back twice from devastating flare-ups to get back to swim, bike, run, and now to the ultimate race: the IRONMAN. Come with us as we relive the IRONMAN Triathlon in Madison, Wisconsin and discuss how Ryan prepared and competed while living with IBD and a permanent ostomy.

Find Ryan Stevens of IBD Swimming & Me, at:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IBDSwimmer/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/tumbledgray
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rp_stevens/

Find Amber J Tresca of About IBD at:

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

• Additional sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney, https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney
• "About IBD with Amber Tresca" ©Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/

Being diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) at any time or at any age is challenging. However, the pre-biologic era was especially difficult because of the lack of treatment options and the absence of some of the legal protections that are in place today. Danielle O’Connor tells her story of being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at a young age and how she managed her career as a special education teacher through many hospitalizations and surgeries.

Concepts discussed in this episode:

• Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA): https://www.verywellfamily.com/understanding-family-medical-leave-act-4628330
• Affordable Care Act (ACA): https://www.verywellhealth.com/affordable-care-act-what-you-should-know-1738904
• Rectovaginal Fistula: https://www.verywellhealth.com/rectovaginal-fistula-overview-4587356
• J-Pouch Surgery: https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-j-pouch-surgery-1942967

Find Danielle O'Connor at:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/d_mvoc
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Youcantmakethi4

Find Amber J Tresca of About IBD at:

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

• Additional sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney, https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney
• "About IBD with Amber Tresca" ©Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/

People with IBD are often faced with unexpected challenges that are outside of those being experienced by their peer group. Jen Mcgregor of Crohnie Clothing found herself grappling with questions about her fertility while still in her early 20s. She had to act quickly in order to preserve her ability to have a biological child. Jen tells her personal story of working through the emotional, physical, financial, and even legal aspects of planning for her future fertility.

Find Jen Mcgregor of Crohnie Clothing at:

• Blog: https://crohnieclothing.com/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHJBsqBLOFD0zDx9euyhLHQ
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrohnieClothing/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crohnieclothing/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/crohnieclothing

Find Amber J Tresca of About IBD at:

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

• Additional sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney, https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney
• "About IBD with Amber Tresca" ©Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/

 

Caregivers play an important role in the disease journey. For Rebecca Kaplan, whose husband, Dan, lives with Crohn’s disease, caregiving has been a large part of her life at times. When she went looking for support for herself as a caregiver, what she found was a need for more resources. She went on to not only create a support space for caregivers but also to take a leadership role in the inflammatory bowel disease community that benefits everyone who is touched by these diseases.

For more information:

• Sitz Bath
• Live Vaccines (Measles)
• Ally Bain and the Restroom Access Act
• Affordable Care Act on Rebecca’s Blog
• Pop Sockets at the Foundation

Find Rebecca Kaplan at:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/RebeccaHKaplan

Find the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation at:

• Website: http://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ccfafb/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CrohnsColitisFn
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crohnscolitisfoundation/
• Need Help With Your IBD? Call Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Help Line at 888-694-8872 or email [email protected]

Find Amber J Tresca of About IBD at:

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

• Additional sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney, https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney
• "About IBD with Amber Tresca" ©Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/

In the final episode of my Summer of Activism Series, I asked Brooke Abbott of The Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles to help us better understand Congressional Briefings. During Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week, she spoke at a briefing about IBD and minority health. It was an opportunity to bring awareness to this little-discussed factor of IBD and it presented some challenges and opportunities. Learn more about Congressional Briefings, how they are an important tool for advocacy groups, and how they have an impact on public policy.  

• See video of the Congressional Briefing on IBD & Population Health: https://www.facebook.com/ccfafb/videos/452493261950841/

 

Find Brooke Abbott of The Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles at:

• Blog: https://crazycreolemommy.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrazyCreoleMama
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CrzyCreoleMommy/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazycreolemama/

  Find Amber J Tresca of About IBD at:

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

• Additional sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney, https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney
• "About IBD with Amber Tresca" ©Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/

If you have the chance to speak on behalf of the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) community: would you take it? At first, volunteer and Crohn’s disease advocate Keri Flaccomio wondered if she had a right to attend a day on the hill event with the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation and lobby in Washington DC on behalf of the IBD community. Her experiences while she was on the hill helped her to understand that not only did she have the right, but she also had a responsibility to tell her story — and the stories of others living with IBD. Learn how Keri made her hill meetings more effective and how they helped her to become empowered as an activist.   Find Keri Ann Flaccomio at:

• Tumblr: https://mygutfeelings.tumblr.com/
• Website: http://www.keriannflaccomio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keriannecdotes
• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/keriannecdotes
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keriannflaccomio/

  Find Amber J Tresca of About IBD at:

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

• Additional sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney, https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney
• "About IBD with Amber Tresca" ©Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/

The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) can make people feel powerless and isolated. Participating in day on the Hill events in Washington DC with patient advocacy groups are one way to take back control and have your voice heard by those who can help affect change. Hear from Jaime Holland of Pretty Rotten Guts, who describes her experiences in lobbying on Capital Hill including why it’s important to her, how she navigates the day with mobility issues, and why the experience is empowering.

Download your FREE copy of the new single, "IBD Dance Party," by signing up for the About IBD newsletter here: http://aibdnewsletter.aboutibd.com/music

Find Jaime Holland of Pretty Rotten Guts at:

• Blog: http://prettyrottenguts.tumblr.com/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaimeEditor
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slightlyjaided/
• YouTube: http://po.st/prKAKf

Find Amber J Tresca of About IBD at:

• Verywell: https://www.verywell.com/ibd-crohns-colitis-4014703
• Blog: http://aboutibd.com/
• 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: Additional sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney, https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney "About IBD with Amber Tresca" ©Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/