About IBD

What is it like to be a teen living with Crohn's disease? If you're like Josef Miller, you channel the challenges of the diagnosis and management of IBD into action. Josef has written a book about his experiences, entitled "The Purple Rose," and created an initiative called "Positivity Beats IBD," which creates inspirational cards for people living with IBD and other conditions. Learn about Josef's journey with Crohn's, his multicultural background, and how and why he decided to write a book.

Find Josef Miller at:

• Instagram — Positivity Beats IBD: @positivity_beats_ibd
• Instagram — Josef Miller: @josefjm13
• Book: The Purple Rose
• Book: The Axolotl That Lost Himself
• Connecting to Cure

Find Amber J Tresca at:

• AboutIBD.com: About IBD
• Verywell: Verywell Health
• Facebook: @aboutIBD
• Twitter: @aboutIBD
• Pinterest: @aboutibd
• Instagram: @about_IBD

Find Mac Cooney (mix, sound design, and theme music) at:

• Facebook: @maccooneycomposer
• Instagram: @maccooneycomposer
• Web: Cooney Studio
• Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from ©Cooney Studio.

Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD143

These show notes contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, Mal and Tal Enterprises, LLC may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

What options are you wiling to try to manage your ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease? How about putting someone else's stool into your own colon? Fecal microbiota transplants (FMTs) — using stool from a donor to repopulate bacteria in the colon — are being studied for use in treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Filmmaker Saffron Cassady decided to try do-it-yourself FMT to treat her ulcerative colitis, using stool from the healthiest person she could find: her husband. The journey is captured in her film, Designer $hit, which explores both the science and potential behind FMT. Learn about why she decided to take a chance on FMT, how it has impacted her life, and where you can see Designer $hit. Learn where you can attend a screening: https://designershit.eventive.org/schedule Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD142 Find Saffron Cassaday and Designer $hit at:

• Web: Designer $hit
• Twitter: @Designer_Shit_
• TikTok: @designershitdocumentary
• YouTube: Designer $hit
• Facebook: @Designer Shit
• Instagram: @designershtdocumentary

Find Amber J Tresca at:

• AboutIBD.com: About IBD
• Verywell: Verywell Health
• Facebook: @aboutIBD
• Twitter: @aboutIBD
• Pinterest: @aboutibd
• Instagram: @about_IBD

Find Mac Cooney (mix, sound design, and theme music) at:

• Facebook: @maccooneycomposer
• Instagram: @maccooneycomposer
• Web: Cooney Studio
• LinkedIn: @macooney
• Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from ©Cooney Studio.

These show notes may contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, Mal and Tal Enterprises, LLC may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

What do all the new oral drugs available for treating IBD have to do with military service? Being diagnosed with IBD might mean leaving the military for some service members. Part of the reason is that it's not possible to be deployed while receiving a drug that's an injection or an infusion. But when a medication works well and happens to be in pill form: that's a game-changer. Dr Anish Patel, the Medical Director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Brooke Army Medical Center gives an update on how IBD is treated in the military, what he sees on the horizon for IBD, and his best advice for every patient living with a chronic illness. Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD141 Find Anish Patel, DO, LTC, FACG, FAGA at:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anish.patel.31392/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089635157883
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anishpa81/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/FocusGI2022
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anishpa-armyibd/
• Web: https://www.focusgi.org/

Resources:

• Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, Veterans with IBD: https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/veterans
• Facebook Support Group for Veterans with IBD: https://www.facebook.com/groups/525843515658644
• VA Podcast Network: https://news.va.gov/va-podcast-network/
• My HealtheVet: https://www.myhealth.va.gov/mhv-portal-web/home
• Veterans Crisis Line: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/

Research:

• Fragmented care and IBD: Outcomes in U.S. veterans: https://ihpi.umich.edu/news/fragmented-care-and-ibd-outcomes-us-veterans
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome in U.S. Veterans: https://www.verywellhealth.com/ibs-in-veterans-1944720
• Kent KG. Prevalence of gastrointestinal disease in US Military Veterans under outpatient care at the Veterans Health Administration. SAGE Open Med. 2021;9:20503121211049112. doi:10.1177/20503121211049112 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34646564/
• Bookwalter DB, Roenfeldt KA, LeardMann CA, Kong SY, Riddle MS, Rull RP. Posttraumatic stress disorder and risk of selected autoimmune diseases among US military personnel. BMC Psychiatry. 2020;20(1):23. doi:10.1186/s12888-020-2432-9 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31941473/

Find Amber J Tresca 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:

Sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maccooneycomposer
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maccooneycomposer/
• "IBD Dance Party" Single: https://maccooney.bandcamp.com/track/ibd-dance-party-single
• ©Cooney Studio: http://cooneystudio.com/

Being diagnosed with a chronic condition is a major adjustment. Digestive conditions like IBD (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) wind up affecting every part of our lives. Learning to accept the ways in which the disease affects life can be helpful. But it's important to make the distinction between acceptance and complacency. Maalvika Bhuvansunder, a young adult patient living with Crohn's disease, uses her experiences to help bring the concept of acceptance into focus for other people who are living with a chronic condition. Concepts discussed on this episode:

• What Is a Bowel Obstruction?: https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-a-bowel-obstruction-1943010
• Bowel Obstruction Surgery: Everything You Need to Know: https://www.verywellhealth.com/surgery-for-a-bowel-obstruction-796815
• 6 Types of Colectomy Surgery: https://www.verywellhealth.com/types-of-colectomy-surgery-1943059
• Parasites - Amebiasis - Entamoeba histolytica Infection: https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/amebiasis/general-info.html
• Gargallo-Puyuelo CJ, Alfambra E, García-Erce JA, Gomollon F. Iron Treatment May Be Difficult in Inflammatory Diseases: Inflammatory Bowel Disease as a Paradigm. Nutrients. 2018;10(12):1959. Published 2018 Dec 11. doi:10.3390/nu10121959 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6316243/

Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD140 Find Maalvika Bhuvansunder at:

• Adventure and Travel with Chronic Illness: https://youtu.be/yw1KNhSyVLg
• LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/maalvika-bhuvansunder
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maalvika_bhuvansunder
• Web: https://www.ccyanetwork.org/fellow-projects

Find Amber J Tresca:

• 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:

• Sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney: https://www.facebook.com/maccooneycomposer
• "IBD Dance Party" Single: https://maccooney.bandcamp.com/track/ibd-dance-party-single
• ©Cooney Studio: http://cooneystudio.com/

These show notes contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, Mal and Tal Enterprises, LLC may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Menopause is a topic that's not well understood in general and there's even less information when it comes to menopause and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis). October is World menopause Awareness Month. World Menopause Day is on October 18 every year. The purpose of the day is to raise awareness of menopause and the support options available for improving health and well being. Learn more about how IBD may affect perimenopause and menopause, as well as the reverse. Concepts discussed on this episode:

• World Menopause Day: https://www.imsociety.org/education/world-menopause-day/
• The North American Menopause Society: https://www.menopause.org/home
• Menopause and IBD: What a Gastroenterologist Wants You to Know: https://gastrogirl.com/menopause-and-ibd/
• Living Well with IBD: Women's Health and IBD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWcQsiQDvKk
• Can You Treat Menopause Symptoms With Over-the-Counter Medications: https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/menopause/over-the-counter-relief-options
• Maya Minding Menopause: A 4-Part Series: https://mayafellernutrition.com/maya-minding-menopause/

Find Amber J Tresca at:

• AboutIBD.com: About IBD
• Verywell: Verywell Health
• Facebook: @aboutIBD
• Twitter: @aboutIBD
• Pinterest: @aboutibd
• Instagram: @about_IBD

Find Mac Cooney (mix, sound design, and theme music) at:

• Facebook: @maccooneycomposer
• Instagram: @maccooneycomposer
• Web: Cooney Studio
• LinkedIn: @macooney
• Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from ©Cooney Studio.

Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD139

Sources:

1. Rolston VS, Boroujerdi L, Long MD, et al. The influence of hormonal fluctuation on inflammatory bowel disease symptom severity—a cross-sectional cohort study. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2018;24:387–393. doi:10.1093/ibd/izx004

2. Lichtarowicz A, Norman C, Calcraft B, Morris JS, Rhodes J, Mayberry J. A study of the menopause, smoking, and contraception in women with Crohn's disease. Quarterly Journal of Medicine. 1989;72:623–631.

3. Kane SV, Reddy D. Hormonal replacement therapy after menopause is protective of disease activity in women with inflammatory bowel disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 2008;103:1193–1196. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2007.01700.x

4. "The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society" Advisory Panel. The 2022 hormone therapy position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause. 2022;29(7):767-794. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000002028

5. Lungaro L, Costanzini A, Manza F, et al. Impact of Female Gender in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Narrative Review. J Pers Med. 2023;13(2):165. Published 2023 Jan 17. doi:10.3390/jpm13020165

6. Lewandowski K, Kaniewska M, Więcek M, et al. Risk Factors for Osteoporosis among Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Do We Already Know Everything?. Nutrients. 2023;15(5):1151. Published 2023 Feb 24. doi:10.3390/nu15051151

7. Schüle S, Rossel JB, Frey D, et al. Widely differing screening and treatment practice for osteoporosis in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases in the Swiss IBD cohort study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2017;96(22):e6788. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000006788

8. Hidalgo DF, Boonpheng B, Phemister J, Hidalgo J, Young M. Inflammatory bowel disease and risk of osteoporotic fractures: A meta-analysis. Cureus. 2019;11:e5810. doi:10.7759/cureus.5810

9. Palomba S, Manguso F, Orio F Jr, et al. Effectiveness of risedronate in osteoporotic postmenopausal women with inflammatory bowel disease: a prospective, parallel, open-label, two-year extension study. Menopause. 2008;15(4 Pt 1):730-736. doi:10.1097/gme.0b013e318159f190

Additional Sources:

• Gold EB. The timing of the age at which natural menopause occurs. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2011;38:425–440. doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2011.05.002
• Sheth T, Pitchumoni CS, Das KM. Musculoskeletal manifestations in inflammatory bowel disease: a revisit in search of immunopathophysiological mechanisms. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2014;48:308–317. doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000000067
• Harbord M, Annese V, Vavricka SR, et al. The first European evidence-based consensus on extra-intestinal manifestations in inflammatory bowel disease. J Crohns Colitis. 2016;10:239–254. doi:10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjv213

Colon cancer is being diagnosed more frequently in younger people. It's now recommended that most people get a screening colonoscopy at the age of 45. For people who have a family history of colon cancer, the first screening should be when they are 10 years younger than the family member was when they were diagnosed. My guest is my husband, Michael Tresca, who recently had a screening colonoscopy after turning 50. He details his experiences in using a newer prep and how he managed the process. If there is a person in your life that is due for their screening, I hope you'll share this with them. And if you're someone who is involved in administering screening colonoscopies, I hope you'll listen to get an unfiltered perspective. Find Michael Tresca at World of Welstar:

• Twitter: @WorldofWelstar
• Instagram: @world_of_welstar
• Facebook: @worldofwelstar
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/talien

Find Amber J Tresca at:

• AboutIBD.com: About IBD
• Verywell: Verywell Health
• Facebook: @aboutIBD
• Twitter: @aboutIBD
• Pinterest: @aboutibd
• Instagram: @about_IBD

Find Mac Cooney (mix, sound design, and theme music) at:

• Facebook: @maccooneycomposer
• Instagram: @maccooneycomposer
• Web: Cooney Studio
• LinkedIn: @macooney
• Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from ©Cooney Studio.

Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD138 These show notes contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, Mal and Tal Enterprises, LLC may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Diet does matter in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Not only in how it affects the digestive system, but also in overall health. Adults with IBD have greater incidences of heart disease, lung disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, kidney disease, liver disease, and ulcers than do people without IBD. For those reasons and more: thinking about diet and how it affects all these other body systems, as well as the IBD, is important. To discuss how diet relates to IBD, Amber talks to Clemmie Oliver, IBD Specialist Registered Associate Nutritionist and Nutritional Therapist (MSc, ANutr, Dip ION, mBANT, CNHC). Clemmie shares her personal journey of living with ulcerative colitis from the age of 9, undergoing surgery, and ultimately receiving a j-pouch. She covers the impact of her condition on her family, particularly her parents and siblings. Clemmie also emphasizes the importance of nutrition in maintaining health and how dietary choices can influence j-pouch function. She provides practical advice for navigating social situations, such as parties and work dinners, where dietary restrictions may apply. She encourages open communication with healthcare professionals and offers thoughts on adapting food textures to better suit those with stomas or internal pouches. Find Clemmie Oliver and the Lifestyle Medicine Clinic Ltd at:

• Facebook: @nalmclinic
• Instagram: @clemmieolivernutrition
• Web: nalmclinic.com

Find Amber J Tresca at:

• AboutIBD.com: About IBD
• Verywell: Verywell Health
• Facebook: @aboutIBD
• Twitter: @aboutIBD
• Pinterest: @aboutibd
• Instagram: @about_IBD

Find Mac Cooney (mix, sound design, and theme music) at:

• Facebook: @maccooneycomposer
• Instagram: @maccooneycomposer
• Web: Cooney Studio
• LinkedIn: @macooney
• Theme music, IBD Dance Party, is from ©Cooney Studio.

Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD137 These show notes contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, Mal and Tal Enterprises, LLC may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects people from all ethnic and cultural groups. In this limited series, we'll explore how inequalities in the healthcare system affect people from diverse backgrounds.

One of the barriers to addressing disparities is money. It's an unfortunate fact that the healthcare system in the United States is intertwined with money. In some cases, access to care and other equity issues might be solved by putting some funding towards the problems. That's why I asked my guests a really broad question: If you received grant money, where would you allocate it in order to address disparities?

You'll hear from Dr Aline Charabaty, Melodie Narain-Blackwell, Dr Cedric Pulliam, Dr Fasika Shimeles Teferra, and Brooke Abbott to find out what this panel says about where we should be focusing our efforts in combating healthcare disparities in the IBD space.

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

Credits:

Healthcare Disparities in IBD is written, produced, and directed by Amber Tresca.

Theme music, mix, and sound design is by Cooney Studio.

Healthcare is political. That's why it's important to push legislators to ensure care is available and accessible to all patients, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Brooke Abbott, of the Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles and co-founder of IBDMoms helps illustrate the aspects of public policy that are important in achieving equity in healthcare. In this discussion you'll learn how lack of access to educational opportunities affects the healthcare space, how some provisions in the Affordable Care Act help reduce disparities, and why access to technology is an important part of healthcare.

Find Brooke Abbott on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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

Credits:

Healthcare Disparities in IBD is written, produced, and directed by Amber Tresca.

Theme music, mix, and sound design is by Cooney Studio.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects people from all ethnic and cultural groups. In this limited series, we'll explore how inequalities in the healthcare system affect people from diverse backgrounds.

IBD is still considered rare in some parts of the world, but incidence is increasing. Fasika Shimeles Teferra, MD of Ethiopia describes her journey to a diagnosis of Crohn's disease. Being a medical doctor, she has been able to make connections in order to help other IBD patients in her country. Patients face stigma, less than optimal care, and a lack of educational resources for themselves and their friends and family members.

Dr Teferra was helping patients as best she could but discovered she needed a bigger platform. She founded a nonprofit, Crohn's and Colitis Ethiopia, in order to better support Ethiopian patients with IBD.

Find Dr Teferra on LinkedIn and Twitter and Crohn's and Colitis Ethiopia on Facebook and their web site.

More about Dr Teferra and IBD in Ethiopia:

• Interview with Dr Teferra on Lights, Camera, Crohn's
• Inflammatory bowel disease: an emergent disease among Ethiopian Jews migrating to Israel
• Inflammatory bowel disease in Africa: what is the current state of knowledge?

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

Credits:

Healthcare Disparities in IBD is written, produced, and directed by Amber Tresca.

Theme music, mix, and sound design is by Cooney Studio.