Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects our quality of life. What that means, however, is going to be different for each person. It may depend on many factors including disease severity, access to care, and support structure.

The symptoms of ulcerative colitis such as diarrhea can prevent people from taking part in activities that aren't near a bathroom. Bleeding can cause anemia, leaving people feeling tired and unable to go about regular activities. Not to mention the effects on mental health, relationships, and finances.

Danielle Gulden, ulcerative patient, ileostomate, and co-founder of Double Baggin' It and Dr Nana Bernasko, IBD Nurse Practitioner and Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Penn State Health, discuss how to manage the effects of IBD on everyday life.

Concepts discussed on this episode include:

• Rectal Bleeding and Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• The Impact of UC: Quality of Life
• The Impact of UC: Complications
• Types of Ulcerative Colitis (UC)
• What Inflammatory Bowel Disease Pain Feels Like
• Can a Gastropsychologist Help With Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

Find Dr Nana Bernasko on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Find Danielle Gulden of Double Baggin' It on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and Tik Tok.

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.

Transcript available at: https://bit.ly/AIBD108