About IBD

By Amber J Tresca

Listen to a podcast, please open Podcast Republic app. Available on Google Play Store.


Category: Medicine

Open in Apple Podcasts

Open RSS feed

Open Website
Rate for this podcast
Subscribers: 3
Reviews: 1
Episodes: 137

A Podcast Republic user
 Aug 9, 2018

Description

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease) are about more than diarrhea: they affect the whole person. About IBD focuses on health and lifestyle issues important to people living with Crohn's or colitis. IBD patients, doctors, therapists, and care partners give their tips and advice on topics including diet, nutrition, treatments, mental health, family dynamics, and sexuality as it relates to living with IBD.

Episode Date
Accommodations for IBD in College With Sari Grossman
44:19

What happens when your professional life and your IBD overlap? Sari Grossman is a research scientist, Crohn's disease patient, and advocate for patients with chronic illnesses. She shares her experience with Crohn's disease, including her family history of IBD, diagnosis at a young age, her unusual symptoms, and the impact it had on her life. She speaks candidly about the physical and emotional challenges of living with a chronic illness, and how she has learned to cope with the ups and downs of her condition.

Find Sari Grossman at:

Find Amber J Tresca at:

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

Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD131

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.

 Mar 28, 2023
Up and Adam: A Patient's Experience on Winning with IBD
29:48

Is it possible for kids to look at their touchpoints with medical care as empowering experiences? Adam Finkelstein, a medical student and author, shared his experiences of living with IBD from a young age, and how he coped with surgeries and doctor's appointments as a child. Adam provides tips for helping kids develop positive associations with going to the doctor, which include building trust with healthcare professionals, being honest about what to expect during appointments, and creating a comfortable environment for kids. Adam's book, "Up and Adam," is a resource for children with IBD and their families.

Contact Adam Finkelstein at adamibdstory@gmail.com.

Get "Up and Adam: A Patient's Experience on Winning with IBD" at Barnes and Noble.

Find Amber J Tresca at:

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

Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD130

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.

 Mar 14, 2023
Living with IBD: How Caitlin McGinnis, LCSW Supports Mental Health
28:37

Caitlin McGinnis, LCSW was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at the age of 22 and had her entire colon removed. This experience prompted her to become a social worker and specialize in providing mental health support for patients with various digestive health issues. Through her own experiences and connecting with support groups, Caitlin has learned the importance of creating communities, bringing awareness, and being a source of support for those going through similar struggles. She strives to provide her patients with the support she did not have when she was diagnosed.

Find Caitlin McGinnis, LCSW on:

Concepts discussed on this episode:

Find Amber J Tresca at:

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

Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD129

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.

 Feb 28, 2023
CDPATH: A Prognostic Tool for Crohn's Disease
26:05

Are we getting close to predicting how Crohn's disease might change over time? Dr. Corey Siegel, co-director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, and Jessica Caron, a patient key opinion leader who lives with Crohn's, discuss a prognostic tool called CDPATH. This tool may help patient and healthcare providers understand how the disease may change over the next few years, and better inform a discussion of treatment options.

Find Corey Siegel, MD on:

Find Jessica Caron at:

Find Amber J Tresca at:

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

Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD128

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.

 Feb 14, 2023
The Plant-Based Crohn’s and Colitis Cookbook
37:33

For years we were told that diet doesn’t matter in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We know now that diet is important in IBD. What’s still not clear is how we should be thinking about it in terms of management. Helena Murphy is a photographer, yoga teacher, and Crohn’s disease patient who brought her skills and experience to writing a book entitled, "The Plant-Based Crohn’s and Colitis Cookbook." She shares her secret to publishing her book, as well as how her life has changed since being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease.

Find Helena Murphy at:

Find Amber J Tresca at:

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

Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD127

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.

 Jan 31, 2023
Pelvic Health With Amanda Olson, DPT, PRPC
28:29

Caring for pelvic health is important for people of all genders who live with an inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis). Dr. Amanda Olson, who holds a doctorate in physical therapy and is the President and Chief Clinical Officer for Intimate Rose, has dedicated her professional life to helping people improve their pelvic health. Learn more about pelvic therapy and how she has developed resources and tools to help people living with all types of conditions.

Find Amanda Olson, DPT, PRPC at:

Find Amber J Tresca at:

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

Episode transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD126

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.

 Jan 24, 2023
Amber's Year in Books 2022
25:55

What did you read over the past year? If you made a reading goal: did you hit it? The books I read this year ranged from self-help to true crime to science fiction. Hear more about some of the books I enjoyed in 2022 (and in the year after I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis) and if you’ll want to pick them up for yourself.

Find Amber J Tresca at:

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

Episode transcript and more information at: https:/bit.ly/AIBD125

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.

 Dec 26, 2022
Recovering from Medical Catatonia
37:01

For some people living with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, the disease puts roadblocks in the way when it comes to going to school, having a career, and participating in sports. For Lauren Thibodeau, a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis led to a complication of medical catatonia, which derailed her life and her career as a college golfer. However, with her family, her medical team, and her teammates around her, she made her way back to the golf course and in fact, wound up playing better than ever. Lauren shares what kept her motivated during the long and difficult recovery and how it changed her perspective on her golf game as well as her outlook on life.

Find Lauren Thibodeau at:

Find Amber J Tresca at:

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

Episode transcript and more information at: https:/bit.ly/AIBD124

 Dec 13, 2022
Understanding Resilience With Mara Shapiro
35:27

Does living with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis make a person more resilient? And is resilience something that should be a part of management plan for people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or other chronic illnesses? Mara Shapiro, healthcare journalist and Crohn’s disease patient, has had no other choice but to find a way towards resilience in her life, having lived through grief and loss early in life, followed by the diagnosis of several chronic illnesses. She provides deep insight on coping mechanisms and resilience, including the various ways we can look at these ideas to fit our own needs.

Find Mara Shapiro (and Morty) at:

Find Amber J Tresca at:

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

Episode transcript and more information at: https:/bit.ly/AIBD123

 Nov 21, 2022
Serving in the Navy With Crohn’s Disease, With Daniel Rausa, DO
27:25

When it comes to people with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis serving in the military, the usual policy is that the two things are incompatible. The reason being that people living with an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) need care and treatments that are incompatible with being deployed. However, sometimes there are other considerations, as Dr Daniel Rausa describes. Dr Rausa was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease while serving in the Navy, and he has advice for people who live with an IBD and want to serve or who want to pursue a medical career. He also describes why it’s so important to follow up and stay on top of transition of care when leaving military service.

Find Daniel Rausa, DO at:

Find Amber J Tresca at:

Credits:

Episode transcript and more information at: https:/bit.ly/AIBD122

 Nov 08, 2022
IBD and Biomarkers: What You Need to Know With Andres Hurtado-Lorenzo, PhD
29:17

What if we knew which patients would have severe Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis? And which wouldn’t? How about if we could tell which drug would work best in which patient? Knowing these things would change how inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is diagnosed and treated. Plus, more importantly: it would improve lives. Dr Andres Hurtado-Lorenzo, Vice President of Translational research and IBD Ventures at the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation explains biomarkers and how they may play into the future of how IBD is diagnosed, managed, and treated.

Resources:

Research:

Find Amber J Tresca at:

Credits:

 Jul 11, 2022
Don’t Google Your Symptoms With CJ Papuro
32:55
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:
Find CJ Papuro at:
 
Find Amber J Tresca at
AboutIBD.com: http://aboutibd.com/
 
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
 
 
 Jun 27, 2022
The Restroom Access Act
30:39

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:

Find Amber J Tresca at:

Credits:

 Jun 19, 2022
Cannabis and IBD
48:44

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:

Find Amber J Tresca at:

Credits:

 

 Jun 06, 2022
How Physical Therapy Can Help People With IBD
37:35
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:
 
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
 May 23, 2022
How to Be Happy & Healthy With IBD: The Psychosocial Impact of IBD
34:43

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:

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

 May 16, 2022
How to Be Happy & Healthy With IBD: Reducing the Day-to-Day Burden
35:05

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:

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

 May 02, 2022
How to Be Happy & Healthy With IBD: Common Misconceptions About IBD
39:41

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:

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

 Apr 18, 2022
How to Be Happy & Healthy With IBD: Tips for Navigating Health Insurance
41:39

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:

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

 Apr 04, 2022
How to Be Happy & Healthy With IBD: Discussing IBD With Family and Friends
42:35

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:

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

 Mar 21, 2022
Colitis Conversations: Shared Decision-Making
37:37

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:

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

 Mar 07, 2022
Colitis Conversations: Approaches to Treatment
34:29

After being diagnosed with a form of IBD, it can be a real challenge to understand that treatment is ongoing. Which might mean taking medications for long periods of time. It also means adding in lifestyle changes such as focusing on nutrition and diet, sleep, exercise, stress reduction, and learning about complimentary treatments that might be helpful.

There are a lot of barriers to getting treatment, though, including cost and access. Some people might not realize that not only can their healthcare team can help with accessing and understanding treatment choices, but that complimentary therapies have a valid place in the management of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Dr Badr Al-Bawardy, a gastroenterologist specializing in IBD and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Yale University School of Medicine and Tina Haupert, an ulcerative colitis patient, Certified Nutrition Coach, Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, and founder of Carrots ‘N’ Cake uncover the ways medication and lifestyle changes can meet in the middle to help people with IBD live a better quality of life.

Concepts discussed on this episode include:

Find Badr Al-Bawardy, MD on Twitter, Yale Medicine, and LinkedIn.

Find Tina Haupert, FDN-P at Carrots ’N’ Cake, Instagram, Facebook, and the Carrots ’N’ Cake Podcast.

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/AIBD110

 Feb 21, 2022
Colitis Conversations: Treating to Target
44:35

Setting goals is an important part of managing IBD. But after controlling symptoms: what other goals do patients have? They can be anything from being able to go up and down the stairs, to cooking a meal, to going back to an exercise program.

Treating to target is a concept that helps in goal-setting. But patients might not be using this method with their clinicians. Dr Neilanjan Nandi, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine and IBD specialist at the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine and Jacklyn Green, ulcerative colitis patient, writer, and IBDMom, dig deeper into the idea of treat to target from both sides of the equation.

Concepts discussed on this episode include:

Find Neilanjan Nandi, MD at FITWITMD.com, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Find Jacklyn Green at www.jacklynhopes.com, Instagram, and Twitter.

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/AIBD109

 Feb 07, 2022
Colitis Conversations: The Impact of Ulcerative Colitis
45:43

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:

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

 Jan 24, 2022
Colitis Conversations: Getting an Accurate Diagnosis
44:57

Once people understand that symptoms like ongoing diarrhea and bloody stools are not normal, they need a way to overcome embarrassment and talk their symptoms over with a health care provider. Having an open and honest conversation will help ensure a quicker diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and getting the right treatment.

On this episode, Rasheed Clarke, ulcerative colitis and j-pouch patient and author of Three Tablets Twice Daily and Dr Christina Ha, an IBDologist at the IBD Center at Cedars Sinai, provide support and guidance to patients with IBD symptoms, newly diagnosed patients, and anyone who is looking for a new way to speak with their health care providers about IBD treatments.

Concepts discussed on this episode include:

Find Dr Christina Ha at Cedars-Sinai, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Find Rasheed Clarke at RasheedClarke.com, LinkedIn, and read Three Tablets Twice Daily.

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: https://bit.ly/AIBD107

 Jan 10, 2022
Every Kid We Take Care of, We Become Part of Their Family
18:07

How is IBD different in kids than it is in adults? When should kids be transitioned from pediatric to adult care? What’s next for IBD treatments? My guest is Dr Jeffrey Hyams, the head of the Division of Digestive Diseases, Hepatology and Nutrition at Connecticut Children's, and a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. He provides a historical perspective on the treatment of IBD and is able to highlight how therapies have advanced over the last 30 years. He also gives some ideas about what’s on the horizon for IBD treatments and what gives him hope for the future.

Concepts discussed on this episode include:

Find a transcript and more at: https://bit.ly/AIBD106

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.

 Dec 06, 2021
What Remission Means to a Teen With Ulcerative Colitis
26:35

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and indeterminate colitis) is being diagnosed in young people with greater frequency. Research on how to treat pediatric patients, and indeed how to prevent IBD in the first place, is still lacking. What’s not in short supply is the strength and resilience shown by pediatric IBD patients and their families. Meet Brooke, a pediatric patient at Connecticut Children’s Hospital who credits her dedicated IBD team with her ability to live a life filled with summer camp, dance, and tennis lessons, without the symptoms of ulcerative colitis.

Concepts discussed on this episode include:

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 and more information available at: https://bit.ly/AIBD105

 Nov 21, 2021
Living With Ulcerative Colitis as an Air Force Pilot
28:29

Did you know that being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease is a disqualifying condition to serve in the United States military? However, it seems that it’s not always an automatic reason for discharge. Lt Colonel Joshua Nelson was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and needed to have ileostomy surgery. It cast into question his future as a pilot in the Air Force Reserve. Learn his story of how he worked with his medical team in order to keep doing the job he loves, his advice for others like him, and tips on flying that any ostomate can use.

Concepts discussed on this episode include:

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.

Read the Transcript [PDF]

 Nov 07, 2021
J-Pouch Surgery for Ulcerative Colitis With Vikram B. Reddy, MD, PhD
33:43

Ulcerative colitis surgery is sometimes viewed as the last stop for treatment but it can be a good option to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Dr. Vikram Reddy, Division Chief of Yale Medicine, Colon and Rectal Surgery, answers questions about j-pouch surgery including how patients feel about it, how he manages his patients after surgery, what complications might occur, and why surgery for ulcerative colitis is complicated and nuanced.

Transcript and more information at: https://bit.ly/AIBD103

Concepts discussed on this episode include:

Find Vikram B. Reddy, MD, PhD at Yale Colon and Rectal Surgery.

Find Yale New Haven Hospital at Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and Yale New Haven Hospital.

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.

 Oct 25, 2021
Finding Success with Nutrition Therapy
32:39

IBD is not a condition that is easy to diagnose or treat. People who live with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis have needs that include guidance on nutrition. Diet is notoriously difficult to study but some research is starting to be done. Dannielle Jascot, MS, CNS, CDN, certified nutritionist and IBD patient talks over the recent results of the DINE-CD study, which compared the Specific Carbohydrate Diet and the Mediterranean Diet.

Episode page and transcript: https://bit.ly/2YIaZXk

Concepts discussed on this episode include:

Find Dannielle Jascot on Facebook, Twitter, 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.

 Oct 11, 2021
Every Mom Matters: The MELODY Trial
21:05

What should people who live with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) eat? What diet plans are available? Barbara Olendzki, the Director of the Center for Applied Nutrition and an Associate Professor at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, helped developed the inflammatory bowel disease anti-inflammatory diet (IBD-AID). The IBD-AID is currently being studied in pregnant people in the MELODY Trial. Barbara gives the lowdown on the IBD-AID, the MELODY Trial, and how and why she got started in the nutrition field.

Concepts discussed on this episode include:

Find the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School Center for Applied Nutrition on 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.

 Sep 27, 2021
The Snuggles Are the Thing
35:43

How do your pets help you with your IBD? I speak to Meredith Mangold, "The Bowel Battling Badass,” about the role her dogs have played in her life. She became seriously ill with ulcerative colitis, which progressed into a rare complication called toxic megacolon. As her journey with IBD progressed, she eventually needed colectomy surgery, and has since been diagnosed with other immune-mediated conditions. Her two dogs, however, have become a big part of her advocacy work and they help her manage the pain and loneliness that come with chronic illness.

Concepts discussed on this episode:

Find Meredith Mangold of The Bowel Battling Badass at Instagram, Facebook, 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.

 Sep 13, 2021
Making a Plan for Back to School With Dr Brad Jerson
38:03

The back to school period is already a time of so much change but once again in this pandemic, parents and school systems are also facing difficult choices. The experiences of families during the pandemic has been diverse, which means that individual needs need to be addressed. But how do we manage that? Dr Brad Jerson Pediatric Psychologist in the Division of Digestive Diseases, Hepatology, and Nutrition at Connecticut Children’s, puts some framing around these issues and how we might approach them. Topics discussed include making the decision to go back to school in the building, 504 plans for kids with digestive conditions, and helping kids to transition to school in a difficult atmosphere.

Concepts discussed on this episode:

Find Dr Brad Jerson on Twitter and at Connecticut Children’s.

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.

 Aug 08, 2021
A Wee Spark of Inspiration With Author Kathleen Nicholls
25:34

This is the second part of my conversation with Kathleen Nicholls, author of "Go Your Crohn Way: A Gutsy Guide to Living with Crohn's Disease” and "My Flare Lady: A Handbook for Today's (Diseased) Dame.” Hear the first part in Episode 97, where Kathleen tells us about her Crohn’s disease diagnosis and how blogging became the way she processes her disease journey.

We talk about how to answer when people ask us how we’re doing. Which leads to another topic, and that’s how providers can ask patients about whether or not they want to pursue parenthood. Kathleen also gives blogging tips, including a hard truth, and offers advice to anyone who is newly diagnosed. However, I think her wisdom is important for long-term patients as well.

Buy Kathleen’s Books:

Find Kathleen Nicholls on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and on her web site, KathFantastic.com.

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.

 Jul 26, 2021
Wine, Biscuits, and Drinking Water With Author Kathleen Nicholls
25:41

Life with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) brings challenges and many life changes but it can also sometimes bring unexpected opportunities.

Kathleen Nicholls, author of "Go Your Crohn Way: A Gutsy Guide to Living with Crohn's Disease” and "My Flare Lady: a handbook for today's (diseased) dame” was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in her 20s. She started a blog as a way to process her disease journey. She was stunned when people started reading it and when publishers became interested. Two books later, she shares the lessons she learned along the way.

Buy Kathleen’s Books:

Find Kathleen Nicholls on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and on her web site, KathFantastic.com.

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.

 Jul 12, 2021
Fatherhood and IBD With Jordan McConnell
39:55

The patient advocacy space is lacking the voices of men and especially men of color. The result is that the IBD community is not diverse enough to provide the kind of support that they need.

Jordan McConnell, the founder of Crohn’s Veteran, is looking to change the dynamics of the online IBD space. Jordan served in the military and was eventually discharged due to his Crohn’s disease. It was a shock and changed his career plans unexpectedly. His disease journey showed him that he needed to be the change and he developed his podcast and his brand to support men and the larger IBD community.

Concepts discussed in this episode:

Find Jordan McConnell on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Find Crohn’s Veteran on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, Twitch, and on their web site, Crohn’s Veteran.

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.

 Jun 20, 2021
Kelly Owens: Vagus Nerve Girl
38:39

What is the next innovation in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)? Is it the microbiome? Stem cells? Or, is it the emerging field of bioelectric medicine?

IBD is a complicated disease to treat and can bring complications and other, related conditions. The problem is the immune-mediated nature of the disease and how it affects the entire body. For Kelly Owens, who lives with Crohn’s disease, bioelectric medicine has bumped her into remission and changed her life in several ways. Today she goes by "Vagus Nerve Girl” because she had a device implanted in her chest that stimulates her vagus nerve. For her, this treatment has been a resounding success.

Episode page and transcript can be found at: https://aboutibd.com/?p=1984

Concepts discussed in this episode:

Find Kelly Owens on Twitter, Facebook,  and Instagram and on her blog, Vagus Nerve Girl.

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.

 Jun 14, 2021
Single Motherhood and IBD With Brooke Abbott
31:53

Motherhood comes in all shapes and sizes. The intersection of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and motherhood is often left out of the discussion and single motherhood and IBD is pretty much ignored altogether. That's why I asked my close friend and co-founder of IBDMoms, Brooke Abbott of The Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles, to tell me about her challenges and her successes living with IBD, a j-pouch, and being a single mom of a young son.

Concepts discussed in this episode:

Complete show notes and transcript found at https://aboutibd.com/?p=1965.

Find Brooke Abbott on Twitter, Facebook,  and Instagram and on her blog, The Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles.

Find IBDMoms on 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.

 May 31, 2021
Motherhood Unplugged With Natalie Hayden
41:47

It's one thing to talk to your physicians about becoming pregnant when you live with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. But what about  getting the benefit of experiences from the mothers who have been through a pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding journey? Former news anchor and current blogger and Crohn's patient Natalie Hayden gives her experiences with pregnancy and receiving biologics, as well as how she has participated in research during her pregnancies and the benefits it offers her family.

Concepts discussed in this episode:

Complete show notes and transcript found at https://aboutibd.com/2021/05/16/about-ibd-podcast-episode-93---motherhood-unplugged-with-natalie-hayden/

Find Natalie Hayden, MD on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and at Lights, Camera, Crohn's.

Find IBDMoms on 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.

 May 17, 2021
IBD and Pregnancy With Jill Gaidos, MD
36:15

We used to be told that women with IBD couldn’t have children. We were also told people with IBD shouldn’t have children.

The truth is this: women with IBD get pregnant and have healthy pregnancies and babies. We have more evidence and guidance than ever before. Gastroenterologist Dr Jill Gaidos, Associate Professor of Medicine in the section of Digestive Diseases and the Director of Clinical Research for the Yale Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Program discusses the finer points of pregnancy and IBD. When to seek help for fertility, what medications should be continued in pregnancy, and the risk of passing on IBD to children. 

Concepts discussed in this episode:

Find Jill Gaidos, MD on Twitter and at Yale Health.

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.

 May 03, 2021
Healthcare Disparities in IBD
01:41

Hey, it's Amber. I want to tell you about my limited podcast series, Healthcare Disparities in IBD.

IBD used to be thought of as a Western disease. Something that happened in developed countries like the United States, Canada, the UK, and Australia. IBD was also thought to mainly affect White people and people of Jewish heritage. However, these demographics are changing, and IBD is now considered a global disease.[1]

A harmful and pervasive misconception is that IBD does not affect people of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Minority patients are sometimes told that they can't have an IBD because they are of African, Latinx, Native American, or Asian descent. This leads to a delay in diagnosis and care. In the setting of IBD, which is difficult to treat, this can lead to significant complications that negatively affect every aspect of a person's life.

In this limited series, we explore the ways in which the healthcare system is underserving minority and LGBTQ patients who live with an IBD. We cover the spectrum of this issue including the lack of research in minority populations, how cultural ideas around nutrition affects patients, how patients of color can be better supported, and how legislation can play a role.

As a long-term IBD patient myself, it's my goal to help physicians, industry, and legislators understand how inequalities affect the IBD community and what they should be doing to improve patient care.

Subscribe to Healthcare Disparities in IBD wherever you listen to podcasts.

[1]Molodecky NA, Soon IS, Rabi DM, et al. Increasing incidence and prevalence of the inflammatory bowel diseases with time, based on systematic review. Gastroenterology. 2012;142:46-e30. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2011.10.001

Credits:

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

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

 Apr 05, 2021
Derek Mari of Crohnie: It's Not Impossible
30:11

Have you ever seen a person who lives with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a movie or TV show? If so: was the depiction positive or negative?

My guest is actor, writer, and filmmaker Derek Mari. Derek lives with Crohn's disease and his IBD journey  inspired him to create a story that explores the way people cope with living with a chronic illness. He has already filmed a short film, entitled "Crohnie," which was positively received at several film festivals (before the pandemic shut everything down).

Derek's next project is a full-length feature film with a main character who lives with Crohn's disease. Loosely autobiographical, it will examine the journey to acceptance of life with a chronic illness, and show how that life can be full and filled with success.  Learn more about Derek and his Crohn's story, as well as how you can get involved in the crowdfunding program to get this film made.

Find Crohnie Movie on Vimeo,  Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Find Derek Mari on Vimeo, 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.

 Mar 23, 2021
Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19
20:27

Telling your Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis story is powerful. It can be freeing but it can also come with some unexpected side effects.

Welcome back Rosanne Mottola, who originally intended to talk over receiving her second dose of the Pfizer BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine. She told her ulcerative colitis story and about receiving her first dose on Episode 87, "COVID-19 Vaccination With UC Patient Rosanne Mottola." She gives her experience on her second dose, how it affected her, and what her family's plans are now that she's vaccinated.

Additionally, Rosanne had another part of her journey that she wanted to share. She listened to her first About IBD episode (something a lot of guests don't actually do), as did her family. Reflecting on her ulcerative colitis journey brought things back in a fresh way. She tells me how revisiting some parts of her life in this way was both troubling and healing. It's an important part of the disease journey, especially for those who tell their story publicly, that doesn't often get discussed.

Concepts discussed on this episode:

 

Find Rosanne Mottola on 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.

 Mar 08, 2021
Living With Crohn's Disease and a Rare Disease
37:35

Living with one disease is bad enough, but living with two adds more than two times the complexity. As a young man, Aaron Blocker was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease after years of coping with strange and seemingly disconnected signs and symptoms. He continued to have problems which resulted in two hip replacements that were blamed on prednisone. However, after one of those hip replacements became dislocated, Aaron went looking for more answers and wound up suspecting that he also had an ultra-rare condition called hypophosphatasia.

Concepts discussed on this episode:

Find Aaron Blocker on 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.

 Feb 21, 2021
Leaning Into Pleasure With Passion by Kait
42:51

During times of stress, our personal relationships may suffer. In the pandemic, we are finding ourselves spending a lot of time with those in our households, and for couples, that can start to take a toll. Certified sex educator Kait Scalisi, founder of Passion By Kait, shares her knowledge and experience as a neuroscientist, public health professional, and couples' counselor to help us understand how to better manage our relationships during the pandemic and beyond.

Concepts discussed on this episode:

Find Kait Scalisi, founder of Passion By Kait, on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest.

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

Credits: Theme music, "IBD Dance Party,” is from ©Cooney Studio.

 Feb 08, 2021
COVID-19 Vaccination With UC Patient Rosanne Mottola
35:25

People with IBD and other chronic conditions have questions about receiving the COVID-19 vaccination. Rosanne Mottola works at a hospital and was therefore eligible to receive a vaccination through her employer. Rosanne gives her experiences and takeaways as a "mild to moderate" ulcerative colitis patient and how she made the decision to receive the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. She offers some great advice about how the internet may skew our perception of what IBD life is like, and because of her background, she's a wonderful resource for people living with IBD.

Concepts discussed on this episode:

Find Rosanne Mottola on 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.

 Jan 25, 2021
Double Baggin' It With Joe and Danielle
44:03

Did an IBD diagnosis change the direction of your life? For Danielle Golden and Joe Teeters, being diagnosed as a young adult had a profound influence on their lives. The plans they had for their lives were derailed, but they only met, formed a strong friendship, and founded Double Baggin' It because of their IBD. Learn more about their disease journeys, how they met, and how they use humor to raise awareness of IBD and ostomy life both inside and outside the IBD community.

Further Reading:

Find Double Baggin' It at Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

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.

 Jan 11, 2021
Amber's Reflections on 2020
06:21

What does it mean to act with intention? The pandemic altered the course of our year and divorced us from our intentions. However, there were learnings that we can build on to create a better, more inclusive, and informed IBD community. In this mini-episode, I share my thoughts on how the year affected me and how I plan to move forward in 2021 by getting back to my intentions.

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.

 Dec 29, 2020
Dr David Rubin Answers COVID-19 Vaccine Questions
32:57

From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have had many questions. Now that vaccines against the virus are becoming available, people living with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis need even more information in order to make decisions. I asked Dr David Rubin, Chief of the Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition and the Co-Director of the Digestive Diseases Center at The University of Chicago Medicine to answer some of these initial questions about the first COVID-19 vaccines (manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna). Topics discussed on this episode include:

  • How vaccines work
  • How mRNA works
  • How IBD medications affect the immune system
  • IBD medications and their potential effect on COVID-19 vaccination
  • When we'll have more information about COVID-19 vaccines and IBD
  • Why side effects with vaccines are expected and what they mean

Key Quotes:

  • The first thing is to remember that inflammatory bowel disease itself is a condition where in almost all situations, the immune system is overactive. So having Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis is not a situation where you're immune deficient.
  • So IBD patients in all the analyses during COVID have not actually been found to be at increased risk for getting infected, or at increased risk for developing COVID as having just because they have Crohn's or colitis or have an ostomy or have a j pouch.
  • The messenger RNA is degraded within a couple days it's out of your system doesn't hang around. It doesn't ever enter the nucleus of cells, it doesn't become a permanent part of your genetic material in your body. And therefore that's why it is thought to be extremely safe.
  • But I want to make it clear to everyone that they didn't just decide to do this in February, March. This was something that actually was in development, it just got pushed through because of the critical nature of the pandemic.
  • ... there are no data to say that vaccination triggers IBD. And it's been looked at carefully in many studies. And there's no data to show that getting a vaccine triggers a relapse of your IBD. And the newer vaccines that we're talking about here, will not do that either.
  • ...we don't know for sure yet is whether you'll have impaired ability to mount a protective immunity at the same level as if you weren't on therapy. But that doesn't mean you won't develop any immunity. And in fact, it's possible that you'll develop the same immunities to general population because the messenger RNA vaccine is a completely new mechanism.

Dr Rubin's Tweets and Tweetorials:

Further Reading:

Scholarly Publications:

Find David T. Rubin, MD at The University of Chicago Medicine, Twitter, Rubin Lab, Rubin's Reflections (Blog), and Cornerstones Health.

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.

 Dec 18, 2020
Find the Pony With Justin Baker
35:37

For many of us who live with a form of IBD, being a performer seems like it would be impossible. Some of the problems include needing a job that provides health insurance, the stress of auditions, and being healthy enough to perform onstage. Justin Baker, however, has found a way to make it work for him as he lives with Crohn's disease and ankylosing spondylitis (a form of degenerative arthritis that's associated with IBD). Justin is an actor, a photographer, and a clown. He tells me how he manages stress, how empathy informs his work and his life, and how not having health insurance led to emergency surgery for his Crohn's disease.

Concepts discussed in this episode:

Find Justin Baker, actor, on Acts4Food, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

Find Justin Baker, photographer, on Photo-Baker.com and Instagram.

Find "You Don't Look Sick: A Documentary Series," on Facebook 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.

 Dec 14, 2020
The Streamers From Gaming4Guts
30:11

Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Week is full of events that aim to raise funds and understanding of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). One of these is Gaming4Guts, a gaming marathon to raise funds for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. Participants stream over Twitch during the 72-hour event but they have also formed a community, keeping in contact year-round on the Gaming4Guts Discord server. Kenzie, John, and Mark from Gaming4Guts sat down with me to talk about their personal connections to IBD, the evolution of Gaming4Guts, and what their goals are this year.

Donate to Gaming4Guts on Tiltify.

Concepts discussed in this episode:

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

Find Gaming4Guts on Twitch, Discord, Facebook, and Twitter.

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

 Nov 30, 2020
If I Take Care of Myself, I'm Also Taking Care of You
20:13

After hearing from my 10-year-old daughter, it’s now time to hear from my 13-year-old son. My kids are in hybrid school, and for my 8th grader, this means he goes to school in person  two full days a week, with 3 days of distance learning at home. We are managing it as well as I think we can expect. However, my son brings up a small wrinkle in regards to the "return to normal" to which we are all looking forward. It is going to be challenging for us to go back to our prior pace and there will be new struggles along the way. Be sure to listen to the end to hear my son’s tips for parents on how to talk to their kids.

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

Find IBDMoms on IBDMoms.org, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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

 Nov 26, 2020
How Would You Feel if I Got COVID?
21:49

How often do you check in with your friends and family about how they're doing during the pandemic? Families have had to make difficult choices regarding school, playdates, and extracurricular activities. We are all concerned about how our kids are faring during the pandemic. But are we asking them about their worries and concerns as often as we should? Amber sits down with her 10-year-old daughter to talk about hybrid school, concerns about getting sick with COVID, what kids are missing right now, and what they want to do when the pandemic is over.

Concepts discussed in this episode:

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

Find IBDMoms on IBDMoms.org, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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

 Nov 23, 2020
Am I Forgiven?
33:45

Do you worry that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) will get in the way of finding a romantic partner? Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis can make dating challenging but they can also simplify it. It becomes clear pretty quickly if a potential partner is going to struggle to cope with chronic illness. This episode focuses on communication, as Amber and her husband, Mike, discuss how he reacted to his first introduction to ulcerative colitis and why it's important to check in with your partner before discussing IBD outside of the relationship. After more than 20 years, they finally put an incident of miscommunication to bed, and Mike gives his tips on being a supportive partner.

Concepts discussed in this episode:

Find Michael Tresca on Facebook, Twitter, and Patreon.

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

Find IBDMoms on IBDMoms.org, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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

 Nov 16, 2020
The Girl That Was Missing
31:01

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects more than the digestive system. Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis can also affect the eyes, joints, and skin. Jordan Ditty was diagnosed with IBD as a child, though her diagnosis floated between Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis and she had j-pouch surgery due to a colonic perforation. Recently, she had her j-pouch removed and a permanent ileostomy placed. Surgery gave her with a better quality of life but also a new diagnosis of a skin condition related to IBD, called pyoderma gangrenosum. Learn how Jordan remains hopeful through her long journey with IBD and a host of complications.

Concepts discussed in this episode:

Find Jordan Ditty on 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.

 Oct 26, 2020
Promo: PSC Mami
01:57

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 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. You can find PSC Mami in any podcast app as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 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, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and Soundcloud.

Find PSC Mami on her web site, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 

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

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

 Sep 21, 2020
Promo: Crohn's Veteran
01:47

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. The Crohn's Veteran hosts are Jordan McConnell, CJ Cabrera, and Renika Wood, who give their perspective on life with IBD and interview guests from the IBD community. Subscribe to Crohn's Veteran in your favorite podcast app, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Anchor.

Find Crohn's Veteran on their blog, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Twitch, and their merch store.

Find the Crohn's Veteran hosts on their personal Instagram accounts: Jordan McConnell, CJ Cabrera, and Renika Wood.

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

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

 Sep 07, 2020
Sending Chronically Ill Kids to School, Featuring Dr Brad Jerson
25:55

Kids with chronic illness face special issues when going back to school because they’re at risk of their accommodations becoming eroded. In particular, children who live with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, might be in danger of not being granted appropriate bathroom access. I speak with Dr Brad Jerson, a Pediatric Psychologist in the Division of Digestive Diseases, Hepatology, and Nutrition at Connecticut Children’s and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. 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.

Episode transcript: https://bit.ly/AIBD78

Concepts discussed in this episode:

IBD Patient Advocacy Organizations

IBD Apps

Find Dr Brad Jerson on Twitter and at Connecticut Children’s.

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.

 Aug 17, 2020
Back to School in a Pandemic With Dr Brad Jerson
27:13

Back to school will be quite different for families across the United States and the world this year. There aren’t many answers to be had to our questions, yet we must make decisions with the best information that we have at this time. I speak with Dr Brad Jerson, a Pediatric Psychologist in the Division of Digestive Diseases, Hepatology, and Nutrition at Connecticut Children’s and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine 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 how to engage kids of all ages in conversation about their fears and anxieties during this time.

Concepts discussed in this episode:

Find Dr Brad Jerson on Twitter and at Connecticut Children’s.

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.

 Aug 10, 2020
About IBD Preview - Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
01:39
While everyone who lives with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, indeterminate colitis), 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.
 
IBD is not only isolating but it also affects every aspect of the lives of those who live with these diseases. It touches relationships, finances, and careers. On About IBD, Amber talks to caregivers and people living with IBD to get their stories so that they can share what they’ve learned from their journey.
 
She also talks to healthcare providers and other experts to get their perspective on a wide variety of topics including research about IBD, improving relationships with physicians, becoming a critical thinker, and how to get involved with healthcare activism. 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.
 
Subscribe to About IBD on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.
 
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.
 Aug 09, 2020
The Footprints Program with Arielle Radin of Gali Health
40:49

What’s in your microbiome and how does it interact with your IBD? The bacteria that’s in the gut of someone that lives with IBD is different from the bacteria in the the gut of someone that doesn’t have IBD. This is a major area of study because it may help researchers not only in developing new treatments but also in better understanding IBD. That’s why I asked Arielle Radin, Director of Clinical Research for Gali Health, to talk to 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. Participants in the Footprints Program will get access to some information about their microbiome. They can then look at the changes over time and see if there are any trends with the symptoms that are kept in the Gali app. It sounds pretty amazing, which is why I signed up for the program. Arielle Radin, who answers my questions about Gali Health and the Footprints Program, and on a personal note, tells us about getting married during the pandemic.

Concepts discussed in this episode:

Find Gali Health at GaliHealth.com, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, 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.

 Jul 27, 2020
The Sherman Prize With Dr Dermot McGovern
23:27

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 inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The Sherman family has been touched by IBD and their goal is to create a ripple effect that spreads awareness, fosters innovation, and provides inspiration in the hope that in the future, other families won’t have to contend with IBD in the way that theirs has. 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 more about the value of the Prize to the IBD community, who can make a nomination, and how to nominate a great candidate. He also talks about his research on the genetics of IBD and why it might help in leading to new treatments.

Make your nominations for the 2020 Sherman Prize 2020 by July 17th! You can learn more and do so at ShermanPrize.org.

Find The Sherman Prize at ShermanPrize.org, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Find Dermot P. B. McGovern, MD, PhD, FRCP at Cedars-Sinai and Twitter.

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.

 Jul 03, 2020
Find Those Things That Make You Happy
31:21

Being diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis) can upend your entire 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. Not long after her ulcerative colitis diagnosis, 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 tests she needed to understand her level of risk, and the treatment that can help prevent PSC from progressing and causing more damage to her liver.

Concepts discussed in this episode:

Learn about Gali Health and download the app (affiliate link).

Find Jenna Ziegler at TheComicalColon.com, Facebook, Twitter, 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.

 Jun 29, 2020
You've Got to Find the Humor in Things
28:15

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 after severe flare-ups and carving out the life she wanted for herself, Jenna received another stunning diagnosis: a rare liver condition called 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.

Concepts discussed in this episode:

Learn about Gali Health and download the app (affiliate link).

Find Jenna Ziegler at TheComicalColon.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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

Credits: Sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney. "IBD Dance Party" ©Cooney Studio.

 Jun 22, 2020
I Had Contemplated Keeping It a Secret
31:51

What has been your experience with ostomy surgery? If you know someone who lives with an ileostomy or a colostomy, you'll likely get your impression about having a stoma from them. But what if that person struggles to accept their stoma? 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 her family members who lived with an ostomy. However, it didn't take long after her surgery before she was embracing life again 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.

Concepts discussed in this episode:

Find Amber Wallace Ogle at OstomyDiaries,com, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, 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.

 Jun 01, 2020
I Evaluated What Was Really Important to Me
36:17

How does being diagnosed with a chronic illness affect your path in life? For Mariah Leach, a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis came out of the blue and put her at a crossroads. She decided to take the road towards patient advocacy. What started as a way to process her feelings and keep family and friends updated about her condition through her writing has evolved into a calling. Today, she has become a tireless advocate for people living with rheumatoid arthritis and as a resource for parents with chronic illness. It’s Mariah’s goal to ensure no one feels alone in their parenting journey. To that end, she has developed Mamas Facing Forward to support parents and foster the connections she was missing in her first years as a mom.

Looking for ideas to keep kids occupied this summer? Learn about the Mamas Facing Forward Stay Home Summer Camp!

Find Mariah Leach at From This Point. Forward., Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Find Mamas Facing Forward on Facebook, Twitter, 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.

 May 18, 2020
I'm Not Doing This By Myself
23:31

How would you answer these questions about your inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?

  • What is the best part of having IBD?
  • What is the hardest part of your day?
  • What is your least favorite treatment?
  • If you could choose one dance for your doctor, what would it be and why?
  • What is one thing you wish people knew about your condition?

Amber answers these questions, posed by Shawntel Bethea of Crohn's & Stuff, for fun and also to get the conversation started about how Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis affect our lives.

Find Shawntel Bethea of Crohn’s & Stuff on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Answer the 5 questions, tag her on social media, and use #IBDTag.

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

Credits: Sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney. "IBD Dance Party" ©Cooney Studio.

 May 04, 2020
Tips for Telehealth Appointments During the Pandemic
27:27

Telehealth has become part of our new normal as we practice physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several of the barriers that prevented us from being able to see our doctors for an appointment via a telephone call or a video call have now been managed. However, it’s still a new way to receive healthcare, and both patients and clinicians are adjusting. Learn from Neilanjan Nandi, MD, gastroenterologist and Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and the University of Pennsylvania about what patients can do to be ready for their telehealth appointments and what it’s like from the doctor’s side of the video conference call.

Concepts discussed on this episode:

For more information on telehealth appointments, see Tips for Telehealth and Managing Your IBD Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic from Tina Aswani Omprakash of Own Your Crohn's.

Find Neilanjan Nandi, MD on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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

Credits: Sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney. "IBD Dance Party" ©Cooney Studio.

 Apr 27, 2020
What It's Like to Have IBD and COVID-19
31:25

People living with IBD who have suppressed immune systems because of medication are understandably concerned about their risks surrounding the novel coronavirus and COVID-19. Jamie Horrigan, a medical student and founder of "Sweetened By Nature," lives with Crohn’s disease and gastroparesis and was diagnosed with COVID-19. She describes her experiences with symptoms, diagnosis, isolation, and recovery. She also gives some insight on why a common complication of coronaviruses, called a cytokine storm, may be an important factor of COVID-19 for people with IBD.

Concepts discussed on this episode:

Find Jamie Horrigan on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and on her web site Sweetened by Nature.

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

Credits: Sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney. "About IBD With Amber Tresca" ©Cooney Studio.

 Apr 13, 2020
Tips on Getting An Infusion During the Pandemic
20:35

We’re living through an usual time and people living with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis have many questions about how the pandemic may affect them. IBD experts agree that it’s important to continue receiving medications during this time to avoid a flare-up. That might mean traveling to an infusion center, hospital, or doctor’s office for treatment. Julie Kennedy of The Semicolon Girl recounts her experience in receiving her infusion of her Crohn’s disease medication in the era of COVID-19, including how the procedure was different, and gives her tips on how to make the process go as smoothly as possible.

Find Julie Kennedy on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on her web site, The Sick Adventures of a Semi Colon Girl. Read her blog post about her infusion, Adventures in Pandemics.

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

Credits: Sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney. "IBD Dance Party" ©Cooney Studio.

 Apr 01, 2020
I Just Needed Something to Change
29:27

This is the second episode of my series talking to people who live with a permanent ostomy and exploring why they share their stories publicly and what it means to the ostomy community. I connected with Austin Powers on Twitter where he goes by Ostomy Guy. He has a podcast of the same name where he interviews people who live with an ostomy or who have other serious medical conditions. His path to becoming public about his ostomy started unexpectedly when he sat down to write about his disease journey. What started as a vague idea about writing a blog turned into a book, The Ostomy Guy Story: Memoirs of a Bagman, which is available on Amazon. Listen all the way to end to hear one of the many letters Austin receives from his readers, who are inspired by his story.

Find the Ostomy Guy on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on his site, theostomyguy.com. You can also buy his book, The Ostomy Guy Story: Memoirs of a Bagman, on Amazon.

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

Credits:

Sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney. "IBD Dance Party" ©Cooney Studio.

 Mar 24, 2020
I'm Going to Make the Best of This
24:11

Ostomy surgery is a life-saving procedure that can improve quality of life, but that doesn’t mean it is always easy to accept. Stephanie Hughes founded The Stolen Colon after having surgery to place an ileostomy to treat her Crohn’s disease. She’s an ostomate, but she’s also a writer, a woman, a wife, a mother, and a resource for people in the IBD and the ostomy community. She shares her journey through Crohn’s disease and acceptance of her ostomy with me, including what her kids think of her stoma, how she manages issues around privacy, and what happened when a person who didn’t know she had an ileostomy told her that ostomies were smelly. Listen all the way to the end to hear how Stephanie's advocacy in the ostomy community touched one family and gave them hope.

Information for topics discussed in this episode includes protectomy surgery, colectomy surgery, ileostomy surgery, changing an ostomy appliance, Enterostomal Therapy (ET) nurses, ostomy tips, and what’s normal with a stoma.

Find Stephanie Hughes on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and on her blog, The Stolen Colon.

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

Credits: Sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney. "IBD Dance Party" ©Cooney Studio.

 Mar 17, 2020
My Life Would Never Be the Same
30:33

Finding meaning in an illness journey can be a catalyst for purpose and hope. Dr Selvi Vasudevan endured severe Crohn’s disease that resulted in several surgeries and a relentless series of complications. She was on her chosen path when the disease stole her aspirations and left her without direction. A recommitment to herself and her own healing journey helped her find her purpose again as a healer and prompted her to found Cooking With Crohn’s in order to share what she’s learned with the IBD community.

Information discussed in this episode includes erythrocyte sedimentation rate (sed rate), normal white blood cell (WBC) count, bowel perforation, wound closing by secondary intention, and ileostomy surgery.

Find Dr Selvi on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on her web site, DrSelvi.com.

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

Credits: Sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney. "IBD Dance Party" ©Cooney Studio.

 Feb 25, 2020
Health Insurance, Accommodations, and IBD at Work
28:21

People who live with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis have more to consider when it comes to the workplace. The cost of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) means that a comprehensive insurance plan is a must, which may limit job choices. A flare-up or complication that results in absences can lead to poor performance reviews or difficulties with supervisors or co-workers. How can people with IBD cope? Three women who live with IBD, Megan Starshak, Mary Elizabeth Ulliman, and Tina Aswani Omprakash, tell their stories about missing work, being underinsured, and changing jobs while managing IBD.

Information discussed in this episode includes Clostridium difficile (C diff), pouchitis, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation Help Center, IBD and the Americans With Disabilities Act, The Family and Medical Leave Act, and Financial Help for People with IBD.

Select pharmaceutical company assistance programs:

Find Megan Starshak on MeganStarshak.com, Twitter, and Instagram.

Find Tina Aswani Omprakash on Own Your Crohn’s, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Find Mary Elizabeth Ulliman on Instagram.

Find The Great Bowel Movement on Facebook, Twitter, 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.

 Feb 11, 2020
Managing IBD Alongside a Career
22:01

How does having Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis have an impact on your career? The symptoms of IBD, as well as the cost, can affect the ability to work in the same way as healthy people. Three women who live with IBD, Megan Starshak, Mary Elizabeth Ulliman, and Tina Aswani Omprakash, tell their stories about coping with college, first jobs, and career derailment as a result of their disease.

Information discussed in this episode includes Clostridium difficile (C diff) Infection, Short-Term Disability Insurance, Colectomy Surgery, J-pouch Surgery, and  IBD and the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Find Megan Starshak on MeganStarshak.com, Twitter, and Instagram.

Find Tina Aswani Omprakash on Own Your Crohn’s, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Find Mary Elizabeth (Emmy) Ulliman on Instagram.

Find The Great Bowel Movement on Facebook, Twitter, 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.

 Jan 27, 2020
Reporting from Advances in IBD 2019
15:23

In December 2019 I went to Advances in IBD, which is a medical meeting that's focused entirely on Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The understanding that IBD is more than a "bathroom disease" has finally hit home, and attendees (which include healthcare professionals such as nurses, dietitians, gastroenterologists, GI psychologists, and colorectal surgeons) were educated on a variety of topics. In this episode I provide some of the highlights of the meeting including sessions on diet, medication risks, and pregnancy.

Articles and information discussed in this episode include a discussion of absolute risk, "Don't Forget that 5-ASAs Also Have Side Effects: Recognizing Complications", "Diet, the Microbiome, and IBD: 'Doctor, what should I eat for my IBD?'," "Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Pregnancy Clinical Care Pathway: A Report From the American Gastroenterological Association IBD Parenthood Project Working Group," and "Episode 48: Summer of Activism - Getting Kids Involved in Activism."

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

Credits: Sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney. "IBD Dance Party" ©Cooney Studio.

 Jan 14, 2020
Managing IBD Is a Team Sport With Dr Aline Charabaty
29:45

This episode is sponsored by AbbVie.

How do you think about your connection with your gastroenterologist? The patient/physician relationship is important in managing inflammatory bowel disease. I talk with Dr. Aline Charabaty, Associate Professor of Medicine, Director of the IBD Center at Johns Hopkins Sibley Memorial Hospital, and winner of the 2019 Healio Gastroenterology Social Media Influencer Award, about how patients and doctors can better understand one another and better communicate about managing your disease. Find out how doctors can help patients in addition to finding the appropriate treatment for them, including what kinds of questions both groups should be asking, and how we can all move beyond “how many bowel movements” to discuss other issues important in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Want to get ahead of preparations for your next appointment? Try out the Doctor Discussion Guide at crohnsandcolitis.com/podcast

Find Aline Charabaty, MD on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and at Monday Night IBD.

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

Credits: Sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney. "IBD Dance Party" ©Cooney Studio.

 Dec 02, 2019
Providing the Best Start for Baby With MotherToBaby
27:03

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.
 Nov 19, 2019
Don't Stop the Things That You Love
31:55

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 Amber J Tresca at AboutIBD.com, Verywell, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.
 
Credits:
Sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney. "IBD Dance Party" ©Cooney Studio.
 
 Nov 05, 2019
I Really Don't Think About My Ostomy Anymore
29:28

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:

 Oct 29, 2019
This Is Still Better Than Surgery
28:55

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:

Find Amber J Tresca of About IBD at:

Credits:

 Oct 22, 2019
You Have to Take Care of Yourself
33:03

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:

Find Danielle O'Connor at:

Find Amber J Tresca of About IBD at:

Credits:

 Oct 08, 2019
I Would Have Missed the Window for a Child
24:45

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:


Find Amber J Tresca of About IBD at:

Credits:

 Sep 24, 2019
He Would Do the Same for Me
32:43

 

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:

Find Rebecca Kaplan at:

Find the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation at:

Find Amber J Tresca of About IBD at:

Credits:

 Sep 10, 2019
Summer of Activism: Connecting the Numbers to a Story
16:25
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.
 

 

Find Brooke Abbott of The Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles at:
 
Find Amber J Tresca of About IBD at:
 
Credits:
 Aug 27, 2019
Summer of Activism: It's Now or Never
28:39
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:
 
Find Amber J Tresca of About IBD at:
 
Credits:
 Aug 19, 2019
Summer of Activism: Have Your Voice Heard on the Hill
17:16

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:

Find Amber J Tresca of About IBD at:

 

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

 Aug 13, 2019
Summer of Activism: Attending Day on the Hill
16:38
How does an IBD patient attend Day on the Hill events and meet with the offices of congressional representatives in Washington DC? What is it like to go to these events? In this episode I describe how I got involved in hill day meetings, why I do it, and what the process is like to attend. I also offer you my tips on how to make the best of the time spent in the capital in order to make the biggest impact on the people who can affect change in the lives of IBD patients. 
 
How to Get Involved:
 
Find Amber J Tresca of About IBD at:
 
Credits:
Additional sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney, https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney
"About IBD with Amber Tresca" ©Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/
 Jul 30, 2019
Summer of Activism: Getting Kids Involved in Advocacy
25:07

How young is "too young" to get kids involved in activism? Gastroenterologist and activist Dr Meenakshi Bewtra started her kids on their activism journey at birth and continues by bringing them to marches, voter registration events, and postcard writing parties. Dr Bewtra shares her tips on how you can involve your kids in activism, why you should, and how it might make your life as a parent — and activist — a bit easier.

Find Meenakshi Bewtra, MD, MPH at:

 
Find Amber J Tresca of About IBD at:
 
Credits:
Additional sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney, https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney
"About IBD with Amber Tresca" ©Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/
 Jul 23, 2019
Summer of Activism: Attending a Town Hall
13:31

Working with our local elected officials is important to having our voices heard. But attending local town hall meetings held by state or federal congressional representatives is daunting, especially if you’ve never done it before. Shawntel Bethea of Chronically Strong describes her journey from sending an email to asking for support from her Congresswoman at a meeting in her district. She gives her tips on how you can make an impact in your community for people living with IBD.

Find Shawntel Bethea of Chronically Strong, at:

Find Amber J Tresca of About IBD at:

Credits:

 Jul 16, 2019
Summer of Activism: Going to Medical Meetings
09:47
For this first episode of my limited series, Summer of Activism, I’m answering a question that I hear regularly: how it is that I go to medical meetings such as Digestive Disease Week, Advances in IBD, or Crohn’s and Colitis Congress. I give you the answer as well as tips on how patients, bloggers, podcasters, and vloggers can work towards attending these, and other, scientific meetings. Here’s a spoiler: it takes dedication to improving the lives of people with IBD, commitment to doing the work consistently, and some professional networking.
 
Find Amber J Tresca at:
 
Credit:
 Jul 09, 2019
Where Do We Go From Here?
25:49

What’s new in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatments and what’s next on the horizon? Dr Peter Higgins, a gastroenterologist, IBD specialist, and researcher at the University of Michigan discusses what’s new in IBD from the Crohn’s and Colitis Congress meeting in 2019. We talk fecal transplants, healing strictures in the intestines, and the feasibility of custom ostomy products. It’s a conversation about cutting edge research on Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis mixed with the practicality of using these treatments in the real world.

 
 
Find Amber J Tresca at:
Credits: 
Additional sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney, https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney/
"About IBD with Amber Tresca" ©Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/
 Jun 24, 2019
Princesses Poop Too
38:37
Does having inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) make you feel like a princess? Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are not only painful, serious conditions, but they also carry stigma which leads to patients feeling isolated. Sophia Vicari, the founder of The Princess Promise, is creating a community that challenges the perception society has about digestive disease. Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis while in college, it didn’t take long before Sophia decided she needed to work to help others in the IBD community become more comfortable talking about poop. Hear Sophia’s disease journey, what it was like for her to be Miss Camden County, NJ, while living with ulcerative colitis, and how she plans to help women with IBD find their inner princess.
 
 
Find Sophia Vicari and the Princess Promise at:
 
Find Amber J Tresca at:
 
Additional sound engineering and editing courtesy Mac Cooney, https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney/
"About IBD with Amber Tresca" ©Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/
 Jun 11, 2019
We Still Don't Know What Happened
37:05

Every person that lives with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis in the United States knows the challenges of dealing with health insurance companies. Denials of service are common, particularly when diagnostic tests are ordered or when a new drug is prescribed. A change in insurance carrier, which can come after a life event (such as getting married or changing jobs) or at the start of the calendar year is another time when patients may find themselves in the appeal process in order to get needed tests or medication. For Jaime Holland, a life change, an insurance change, a calendar year change, and a change in gastroenterologist culminated in her being in danger of not receiving her biologic medication on time. Hear Jaime tell the story of how the problem started, why she had to look to someone outside her physicians office and her insurance carrier to get it solved, and her tips to help you avoid similar insurance snafus. This episode is perfect not only for anyone living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) but also anyone who cares for those living with these diseases.

Find Jaime Weinstein at:
 
Find Amber J Tresca at:
 
Additional sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney, https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney/
"About IBD with Amber Tresca" © Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/
 May 21, 2019
I Just Said Yes
35:55
Living with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis may have a significant affect on intimate relationships. The reasons for this are as individual as we are but can include pain, fatigue, medication side effects, and problems with body image. Kait Scalisi, an NYC-based sex educator who founded Passion by Kait, has devoted her professional life to helping women and couples learn to reconnect with themselves and their partner in order to enhance intimacy and reconnect with pleasure. Kait lives with Crohn’s disease and ankylosing spondylitis, and therefore has a deep understanding of how chronic conditions can affect intimate relationships (both with oneself and with a partner). Hear Kait’s Crohn’s disease journey and learn how she helps people find their way back to enjoying their spark, both in the bedroom and outside of it.
 
Find Kait Scalisi at:
 
Find Amber J Tresca at:
 
Additional sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney, https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney/
"About IBD with Amber Tresca" © Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/
 May 07, 2019
You Have to Do What’s Best For You
45:23
Many young people who are undergoing ileostomy surgery to treat Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis have never met another younger person with an ostomy. Gaylyn Henderson, founder of Gutless and Glamorous, wants to make sure that people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) don’t experience the uncertainty and stigma that she encountered before her ostomy surgery. In between running a successful foundation and a support group for people with chronic illness, Gaylyn has also become a spokeswoman for people with an ostomy, proving that her ileostomy is not a barrier to success.
 
Concepts and ideas discussed on this episode:
Find Gaylyn Henderson at:
Find Amber J Tresca at:
 
Additional sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney, https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney/
"About IBD with Amber Tresca" © Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/
 Apr 23, 2019
What Are People Going to Think?
33:21

People who live with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis experience stigma because of their inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The taboo topic of bowel disease can permeate all aspects of a person’s life, especially when there are cultural influences also at play.Tina Aswani Omprakash, who lives with Crohn's disease and a permanent ileostomy, shares her story of personal empowerment and how she is working to help other people with IBD live their lives with confidence. Tina describes how IBD has profoundly affected her family as well as why she decided to become an outspoken advocate for the IBD and ostomy communities and start her blog, Own Your Crohn’s.

Concepts discussed on this episode:

Find Tina Aswani Omprakash at:

Find Amber J Tresca at:

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

 Apr 09, 2019
Help for Parents With Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis
57:57

How does IBD affect your family? Do you know about the tools and resources that are available to help you on your disease journey? On this episode of About IBD, I talk with the Director of Patient Education and Support at the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, Catherine Soto, who outlines the many tools the Foundation provides for anyone with IBD, including those made just for parents, kids, and teens. I also spoke with Dr Rajeev Jain, who tells me about a new, one-of-a-kind resource for women with IBD who want to be mothers, called the IBD Parenthood Project. And finally I called upon Brooke Abbott, co-founder of IBD Moms, to talk about her role as a patient in developing the IBD Parenthood Project, and she entertains me with a small rant about social media.

1:50 - Cathrine Soto, Director, Patient Education & Support at Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, talks about resources available for kids, teens, and parents
24:21 - Dr Rajeev Jain of Texas Digestive Disease Consultants talks about the IBD Parenthood Project
35:35 - Brooke Abbott, the Crazy Creole Mommy and co-founder of IBD Moms, gives the patient perspective on the IBD Parenthood Project

Concepts and ideas discussed in this episode:

Find Dr Rajeev Jain at:

Find IBD Moms at:

Find Brooke Abbott, The Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles, at:

Find Amber J Tresca at:

Additional sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney, https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney

"About IBD with Amber Tresca" © Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/

 Mar 26, 2019
Your Body Is Depending on You to Be Assertive
27:27

It’s common for people with IBD to look online for patients who have a similar disease journey to their own. For men, however, there are fewer places to find such a peer because there are not as many men in the IBD influencer space as there are women. That’s where Rasheed Clarke, author of Three Tablets Twice Daily, blogger, and ulcerative colitis and j-pouch patient steps in. Hear Rasheed contrast how his running career is different before and after j-pouch surgery, his thoughts on being one of the few male voices in the online IBD community, how we can encourage more men to share their journey, and the wild and wonderful thing he did with a toilet for World IBD Day in 2017.

Concepts and ideas discussed in this episode:

Find Rasheed Clarke at:

Find Amber J Tresca at:

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

 Mar 12, 2019
I Felt a Lot of Guilt
23:31

What compels a person to share their personal journey with IBD? For Rasheed Clarke, author of Three Tablets Twice Daily, his writing began as a way to keep track of everything for himself and his healthcare team. It quickly turned into a tool that he used to show those around him the stark realities of a life with IBD: bloody diarrhea and all. His coworkers and friends were shocked to learn how much he was coping with every day but not everyone close to him approved of his honesty. On this episode of About IBD, Rasheed digs into the positives, the negatives, and the responsibilities that come with being an influencer in the IBD space.

 
Find Rasheed Clarke at:
 
Find Amber J Tresca at:
 
Additional sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney, https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney
"About IBD with Amber Tresca" © Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/
 Feb 26, 2019
We Are Only 1% Human With Dr Sarina Pasricha
34:40
What is the microbiome, how might it be connected to IBD and other conditions, and how can it affect health when it's pushed out of balance? Dr Sarina Pasricha of the Christiana Care Health System gives me the scoop on how the microbiome is created when we are young and how it changes with our activities and diet, as well as why we should not try fecal transplants at home, and how a little bit of dirt is good for our kids.
 
Concepts and ideas discussed in this episode:
 
Find Sarina Pasricha, MD, MSCR at:
 
Find Amber J Tresca at:
 
"About IBD with Amber Tresca" © Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/
 
After completing her undergraduate training in biological anthropology and nutrition from Harvard University, Dr. Pasricha attended Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine for medical school. She subsequently completed her residency and fellowship at the University of North Carolina where she also received a Masters of Science in Clinical Research. She has published extensively in the most respected gastroenterology journals and has given more than 30 national presentations. In addition to receiving numerous teaching awards, she has received prestigious awards from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Pasricha’s research background will allow her to best use evidence-based medicine to individually treat her patients.
 
Dr. Pasricha’s clinical interests include, but are not limited to, prevention of colon cancer, evaluation and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease and esophageal cancer, and women’s wellness and health with a focus on integrative gastroenterology. She has completed additional subspecialty training in motility disorders with a focus on esophageal motility, constipation, fecal incontinence, and prevention and non-surgical treatment of hemorrhoids.
 
Dr. Pasricha is a native of Delaware and is an alumnus of Sanford School. She resides in Delaware with her husband and two daughters.
 Feb 12, 2019
It’s a Pain I Invite Into My Life
24:25

A diagnosis of IBD can take away the thing that you feel defines you as a person. This is how it felt for Megan Starshak of The Great Bowel Movement, who describes how her ulcerative colitis diagnosis at age 18 stole her passion for running. The process of losing and then regaining her identity as a runner fueled her desire to help people live well with a diagnosis of IBD. Her foundation seeks to educate those outside the IBD community through the use of a simple conversation prompt: Ask Me About My IBD.

Find The Great Bowel Movement at:
 
Find Amber J Tresca at:
Additional sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney, https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney/
"About IBD with Amber Tresca" © Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/
 Jan 28, 2019
How to Apply Critical Thinking to IBD Research
30:19
The internet runs on advertising, which means that editors and writers are often tasked with getting the most possible eyeballs on their story. That can mean that there’s pressure to write a controversial or sensational headline to get those clicks. In this episode, I invite experienced medical writer and university instructor, Shereen Lehman, to weigh in and tell you how to figure out if a story about IBD is good reporting — or if it’s crap.
 
 
Articles on critical thinking and research:
 
Find Introvert’s Retreat at:
 
Find Amber J Tresca at:
 
 
Additional sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney, https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney/
"About IBD with Amber Tresca" © Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/
 Jan 15, 2019
Wrapping Up About IBD for 2018
05:10
I wanted to let you know what’s happening in the About IBD world and how you can stay in touch and keep up with all the great progress that’s happening!
 
Find IBD Moms at:
 
Find National Ulcerative Colitis Alliance (NUCA) at:
 
Find Amber J Tresca at:
 
"About IBD with Amber Tresca" © Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/
 Dec 04, 2018
It's Important to Share Your Stories
28:01
Why is it important to tell our stories? Every person who has IBD is unique and so is their disease journey. You might not think your experience is relevant to others living with IBD or another chronic condition, but it is, in many ways. A story can provide validation and hope while helping put the reality of life with IBD in perspective. Brooke Abbott of The Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles and IBD Moms and I continue our discussion of how we can support others with IBD through telling our stories and listening to yours.
 
Find Brooke Abbott, The Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles at:
Find Amber J Tresca at:
 
Additional sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney, https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney/
"About IBD with Amber Tresca" © Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/
 Nov 27, 2018
Community Doesn’t Just Create Itself
30:38
What are your traditions around Thanksgiving? What we eat and how we celebrate Thanksgiving depends on where we live, our ethnicity, and our family traditions. What matters is coming together and remembering to be thankful. Brooke Abbott of The Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles and IBD Moms tells me about some of her family’s Thanksgiving traditions and how she talks about being grateful with her son. We discuss some of the ways we try to support the IBD community and what we can do better, especially during the hectic and stressful holiday season. Plus, see the end of the show notes for some of Brooke's recipes!
 
Find Brooke Abbott, The Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles at:
 
Find IBD Moms at:
 
Find Amber J Tresca at:
 
 
Brooke’s Jambalaya Recipe
I cook my rice separately than the meat & broth. Then combine them together. This is the non-spicy version of cajun jambalaya. If you want it spicy you can add crushed red pepper or andouille sausage.
  • Boneless Chicken Breast or Thighs
  • Raw Shrimp w/out the tail
  • Smoke Sausage
  • Ham
  • White Onion
  • Fresh Garlic
  • Bell Pepper
  • Canned Diced Tomatoes
  • Bay Leaf
  • Green Onion
  • Parsley
  • Olive Oil
  • Lemon Pepper
  • Garlic Powder
  • Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • Tony Chachere Creole Seasoning
Directions:
Use a large stewing pot to cook in and another pot for rice. Season the chicken and shrimp separately with lemon pepper, garlic powder, salt, and Tony’s Chachere Creole Seasoning. Dice onion, garlic, and bell pepper together. Cover the bottom of the pot in a layer of olive oil. Place chicken in and brown on all sides. Remove chicken, dice, and set aside. Add the trifecta of garlic, onions, and peppers to the pot and brown. Add diced ham and sliced smoked sausage. Mix in a can of diced tomatoes and a bay leaf. Add salt and black pepper. Add chicken back in. Simmer. Stir in shrimp. Simmer again for 20 minutes. Add cooked rice and mix together. Garnish with sliced green onion and chopped parsley.
 
Brooke’s Christmas Spaghetti
 
You can use any kind of pasta with the sauce.
 
  • Ground Turkey or Beef
  • Smoked Sausage
  • Pete’s Hot Sausage or Andouille Sausage
  • Shrimp
  • Ham
  • Canned Peeled Tomato
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Bell Pepper
  • Tomato Sauce
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Oregano
  • Tony Chachere Creole Seasoning
  • Better than Bouillon Chicken
  • Olive Oil
Directions:
In a large stew pot brown the ground meat. Once cooked through, add the onions, garlic, and bell pepper. Add ham and smoked sausage. *If adding a spicy sausage like Pete’s Sausage or andouille, brown those in separate pan and then add to the mixture* Add canned peeled tomato and mash into large pieces. Mix in the tomato sauce. Add a teaspoon of Better than Bouillon Chicken. Season with Oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix all together and simmer. Pour over your choice of pasta.
 Nov 20, 2018
How Much Information Do You Put Out There?
41:47
Dating can be challenging for anyone at any stage in life, but having IBD and/or other chronic conditions adds another level of difficulty that can be disconcerting. Angela Cohen was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease after her intestine perforated. Her long-term relationship ended not long after and she was thrust into the dating world. What she discovered while going on more than a few "first dates” was illuminating not only about how IBD and other autoimmune conditions are perceived by potential partners but also about herself and what she wants to get out of dating, as well as her life goals.
 
Concepts mentioned in this episode:
 
Find Angela Cohen at:
 
Find Amber J Tresca at:
 
"About IBD with Amber Tresca" © Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/
 Nov 13, 2018
I Just Kept Living With Bad Pain
41:35
Even when you’re knowledgeable about IBD, it can still sneak up on you and skew your perception of how much control the disease has over your life. Angelica Catalano, Director of Media Partnerships at The Mighty, describes how ulcerative colitis has affected her since her diagnosis at the age of 6, and how she was living with symptoms on a daily basis. Emergency surgery shook her world, prompting her to make a change in her treatment program to prevent future IBD-related complications. Through her work at The Mighty, Angelica pursues her passion of helping people with chronic illness improve their quality of life by bringing them together with the nonprofits that provide support and resources. 
 
IBD topic areas on The Mighty:
 
Find The Mighty at:
 
Find Amber J Tresca at:
 
Additional sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney, https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney/
"About IBD with Amber Tresca" © Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/
 Nov 06, 2018
I'm Sick and Nobody Will Help Me
45:41
What have you done when you couldn’t get anyone to take the symptoms of IBD seriously and you found yourself out of options? For Meredith, the road to a Crohn’s disease diagnosis was long and so frustrating that she wound up pleading for help from a specialist she’d never met. Going online to connect with other patients also took Meredith to places both light and dark, and she, Jaime, and I sort through our various experiences with social media as well as how we can work towards creating more hopeful content for new IBD patients in the future.
 
Concepts mentioned on this episode:
 
Find Meredith Smolen at:
Find Jaime Weinstein at:
Find Amber J Tresca at:
 
Additional sound engineering courtesy Mac Cooney, https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney/
"About IBD with Amber Tresca" © Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/
 Oct 30, 2018
I Am Beyond Thankful
45:02
Is it possible to take the diagnosis that turned your world upside down and turn it into a positive force in your life? My guest on About IBD is Lilly Stairs, Head of Patient Advocacy at Clara Health who lives with Crohn’s disease did exactly that. First diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, it was only after Lilly’s symptoms weren’t improving and she was in and out of the hospital that healthcare providers finally discovered a Crohn’s disease flare-up in her small bowel. Lilly found the right mix of treatments to get her Crohn’s under control and now works with her team at Clara to connect patients to clinical trials. 
 
Find Lilly Stairs at
 
Find Clara Health at:
 
"About IBD with Amber Tresca" © Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/
 Oct 16, 2018
Welcome to Camp Oasis
32:17
What is your favorite week of the year? For the kids, counselors, and volunteers at Camp Oasis, their favorite is camp week. Learn more about a summer camp that’s designed especially for kids who have IBD but is also the place where the campers actually feel the most freedom from their disease. Amber visited camp on visitor’s day and talked with campers, leaders in training, and counselors to find out what makes Camp Oasis so special to them. 
Find Amber J Tresca at:
 
"About IBD with Amber Tresca" © Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/
 Sep 11, 2018
Why Didn't I Do This Sooner?
53:44
What happens when a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease stands between you and your chosen career? This is exactly the barrier that veteran journalist and news anchor Natalie Hayden faced in the early days after her IBD diagnosis. Her decision was to gather her support system around her and get camera ready. Find out how she made it as a morning news anchor, found the love of her life, started her family, and founded Lights, Camera, Crohn’s.
 
Find Natalie Hayden at:
 
Concepts, ideas, and advocates discussed on this episode:
 
Find Amber J Tresca at:
 
"About IBD with Amber Tresca" © Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/
 Aug 07, 2018
You're 40 Something Years Old
26:11

How does IBD impact the family? Couples who are thinking about having children when one or both of them have IBD often have questions about how the disease will affect their family. Amber interviews her 8-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son about how IBD does — and doesn’t — affect their lives.

Find Amber J Tresca at:

Find IBD Moms at:

 
"About IBD with Amber Tresca" © Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/
 Jul 24, 2018
You Have to Have Joy With Sara Ringer
45:14

With an invisible illness such as IBD, it can be challenging to protect your quality of life. Patient influencers often push themselves in the service of others and that may seem strange to those that follow along on social media. How can someone be so sick and yet be able to attend a medical conference? Sara Ringer of Inflamed and Untamed explains how what you see online can be misleading and how she manages two difficult digestive diseases, all while striving to live a fulfilling life that includes being a resource for other patients seeking information and support.

Concepts and ideas shared on this episode:

Find Sara Ringer at:

Find Amber J Tresca at:

"About IBD with Amber Tresca" © Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/

 Jun 27, 2018
I Have Power With Megan Johnson
54:49

How can we help new ostomates better adjust to their stoma? Megan Johnson, who you might better know as The Front Butt YouTuber, had a unique journey on the way to becoming a permanent ileostomate due to Crohn’s disease. Her experiences with the abysmal patient education material in the hospital after ostomy surgery sparked her desire to make accessible content that helps people adjust after surgery and “be comfortable in their own skin.” 

This episode was recorded on location at HealtheVoices in Chicago, under challenging conditions, which is why the audio is less than pristine, but the content is extraordinarily compelling. Stick with it, and you’ll be glad you did!

Megan Johnson, The Front Butt YouTuber at: 

Find Amber J Tresca at:

"About IBD with Amber Tresca" © Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/

Additional audio engineering courtesy Mac Cooney https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney/

 Jun 11, 2018
You Have To Do Your Research With Vegan Ostomy
40:20
It’s estimated that half of people who have an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) try complementary and alternative medicine to treat their disease. Eric Polsinelli of Vegan Ostomy describes how he tried dozens of complementary therapies for his Crohn’s disease but never found anything that worked. He did, however, come away with vital insight about how people living with IBD can assess alternative therapies and talk to their physicians about working them into a comprehensive treatment plan. Find Eric Polsinelli, of Vegan Ostomy, at: Blog: https://www.veganostomy.ca/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/veganostomy/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Veganostomy/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/veganostomy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vegan_ostomy/ Ostomeme: https://www.ostomeme.com 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/ "About IBD with Amber Tresca" © Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/
May 20, 2018
You Get Tired With Shawntel Bethea and Brooke Abbott
43:25

The healthcare space isn’t a level playing field. Minority populations face complex challenges when it comes to accessing and receiving care, which is why April is designated as National Minority Health Month. In regards to inflammatory bowel disease, it’s not well known that Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis also affect minorities. Shawntel Bethea of Chronically Strong and Brooke Abbott of The Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles discuss how they’ve been affected by healthcare disparity and offer concrete ideas on what can be done to start addressing healthcare gaps in their communities. Learn more about National Minority Health Month here: https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/NMHM18/ Find Shawntel Bethea, Chronically Strong, at: Blog: https://chronicallystrong.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrklcLJ7FvGtN-fOvJJM-jQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chronicallystrongblog/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/shawnbethea_ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chronicallystrongblog/ Find Brooke Abbott, 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 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/ "About IBD with Amber Tresca" © Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/

 May 08, 2018
This Is Just The Beginning With Michael Tresca
52:03
Take a journey back to 1999, when cellphones were a rarity, dial-up internet access was still used, and Amber had her first surgery of the 2-step j-pouch process. Amber’s husband Mike, a writer and communicator, journaled his thoughts on the day of the surgery. This journal was recently uncovered and Amber reads it to Mike and gets his reactions and further recollections of that challenging day. You can find out more about Amber and Mike in Episode 8, where you’ll hear about being told surgery was needed and find out about their fairytale wedding: https://soundcloud.com/amber-j-tresca/michael-tresca Conditions and procedures mentioned in this episode: Before, During, and After J-Pouch Surgery https://www.verywell.com/before-during-and-after-j-pouch-surgery-4137938 Central Lines: Why Is a Central Line Necessary? https://www.verywell.com/central-lines-why-is-a-central-line-necessary-3156818 What Are Precancerous Cells? https://www.verywell.com/what-are-precancerous-cells-2248796 Pseudopolyps in Inflammatory Bowel Disease https://www.verywell.com/pseudopolyps-in-inflammatory-bowel-disease-1942411 Find Michael Tresca at: Twitter: https://twitter.com/worldofwelstar Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldofwelstar/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/talien Find Amber J Tresca at: Verywell: https://www.verywell.com/ibd-crohns-colitis-4014703 Blog: http://aboutibd.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ibdcrohns/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/aboutIBD Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/aboutibd/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/about_IBD/ "About IBD with Amber Tresca" © Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/
Apr 03, 2018
Amber Answers the IBD Advocacy Tag Questions
32:35
Megan Johnson of The Front Butt YouTuber has presented 5 questions for people with IBD to answer and then tag someone else using #IBDAdvocacyTag. It’s a great way to get to know people in the community better and hear different perspectives. My answer to the form of IBD I have is not going to be what you expect and my socially awkward moment is pretty epic: I remember every detail about it, even though it happened almost two decades ago. And who did I tag? Well, I do that in my own way, too. If you decide to participate, use #IBDAdvocacyTag on social media and answer these questions: What form of IBD do you have? Why is IBD advocacy important? Describe a socially awkward moment with IBD. What is a common stigma you run into? What do you want other people to know about IBD? Related articles: Is Discharge From a Rectal Stump Normal? https://www.verywell.com/discharge-from-a-rectal-stump-1942932 An episode mentioned in this podcast: Episode 17 - When IBD Gets Married With Jaime Weinstein Find Amber J Tresca at: Verywell: https://www.verywell.com/ibd-crohns-colitis-4014703 Blog: http://aboutibd.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ibdcrohns/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/aboutIBD Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/aboutibd/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/about_IBD/ "About IBD with Amber Tresca" © Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/
Mar 20, 2018
You Have To Be Happy Within Yourself
40:44

Pregnancy and birth are different for women with IBD. There are not only challenges that come from the disease itself but the lack of awareness about IBD during pregnancy can lead to less than optimal treatment. Brooke Abbott of The Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles describes how she coped with ulcerative colitis during her pregnancy and a birth that did not go as she’d hoped or as she’d expected. Learn how everything turned out in the end and find out what Brooke and Amber think pregnant women with IBD should do to prepare for birth and for those first few weeks with a new baby.

 

Web sites mentioned in this episode:

Mother to Baby: https://mothertobaby.org/
La Leche League: https://www.llli.org/
Kelly Mom: https://kellymom.com/
Breastmilk Donations: https://www.hmbana.org/

Find Brooke Abbott, 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 at:
Verywell: https://www.verywell.com/ibd-crohns-colitis-4014703
Blog: http://aboutibd.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ibdcrohns/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/aboutIBD
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/aboutibd/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/about_IBD/

"About IBD with Amber Tresca" © Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/

 Mar 06, 2018
When IBD Gets Married With Jaime Weinstein
48:45
Getting married is a joyful time in one’s life. Until you have to bring your IBD and body image difficulties along when you shop for your wedding dress, that is. Learn how Crohn’s disease affected Jaime’s perceptions about body image throughout her life and how it all culminated in a trip to a bridal shop that left her angry and frustrated. Plus, we share our best tips for making the dress shopping, and eventual wedding day attire wearing, go more smoothly if IBD decides to make make an appearance. Ideas and products mentioned in this podcast: The Bridal Buddy, the slip that saves your dress in the bathroom: https://bridalbuddy.net/products/bridal-buddy Find Jaime Weinstein 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 at: Verywell: https://www.verywell.com/ibd-crohns-colitis-4014703 Blog: http://aboutibd.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ibdcrohns/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/aboutIBD Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/aboutibd/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/about_IBD/ "About IBD with Amber Tresca" © Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/
Feb 19, 2018
We Are Not Unique With Christy Stone of Crohnie Bologna
38:16

Are you unique? Do you represent most patients with IBD? Christy Stone of Crohnie Bologna tells the story of her disease journey, how she feels that she’s not unique as an inflammatory bowel disease patient, why she chooses kindness, and why these things make her a better advocate.

Find Christy Stone, Crohnie Bologna, at:

Blog: http://www.crohniebolognaibd.com/
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrohnieBolognaIbd/
 Twitter: https://twitter.com/CrohnieBologna
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crohnie_bologna_ibd/

Find Amber J Tresca at:
Verywell: https://www.verywell.com/ibd-crohns-colitis-4014703
Blog: http://aboutibd.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ibdcrohns/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/aboutIBD
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/aboutibd/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/about_IBD/

Find Mac Cooney at:
Cooney Studio: http://cooneystudio.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelandrewcooney/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/maccooney
Bandcamp: https://michaelandrewcooney.bandcamp.com/ Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/maccooney

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

 Feb 06, 2018
2017 Year End Wrap-Up
33:14

Welcome to the year-end wrap up show! I put together clips from my first 14 shows that drop the heaviest knowledge bombs about how life with IBD affects us, our careers, our relationships, and our stress levels.

Do you have an IBD Elevator Speech? I got you, here’s where you can learn to create yours after you listen to Brooke Abbott give hers: https://www.verywell.com/how-to-create-your-ibd-elevator-speech-1942452

Find Christy Stone, Crohnie Bologna, at:

Find Ryan Stevens, IBD Swimming & Me, at:

Find Jaime Weinstein at:

Find Brooke Abbott, The Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles at:

Find Michael Tresca at:

Find Dr Tiffany Taft, PsyD, licensed clinical psychologist, Oak Park Behavioral Medicine at:

Find Brian Greenberg at:

Find Amber J Tresca at:

Intro Music: Rumble - Bensound.com - www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

Interludes: Love - Bensound.com - www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

Outro Music: Summer - Bensound.com - www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

 Jan 04, 2018
We Are All Capable of More Than We Think With Brian Greenberg
42:14
What are your goals? Are you taking steps each day to move towards those goals? Brian Greenberg, endurance athlete and president of Chronically Better You tells us how he moved from goals after surgery—getting out of bed and making his own lunch—to training for an Ironman in 2018. People with IBD know the value of structure and Brian explains how he has learned to manage his life with Crohn’s disease and an ostomy through careful planning and setting goals.
 
2:35: Why sitting still actually makes Brian feel worse.
3:18: Why a routine is important
4:33: What’s a Half Ironman?
6:41: How to set goals, no matter if they’re big or small
10:20: Why a schedule is important 
13:05: On being a model patient
13:57: What happens when you miss a training day?
18:30: What Brian thinks when he looks at his training schedule or during a race
20:02: A nightly routine that helps reduce stress
24:19: The biggest motivating factor in Brian’s life
27:19: Shout out to our partners for the help
29:49: Why it’s best to do you and to not compare to others
 
Find Brian Greenberg at:
Find Intense Intestines Foundation at:
Find Amber J Tresca at:

Intro Music: The Jazz Piano - Bensound.com - www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

Outro Music: Soul Food - Purple Planet Music - http://www.purple-planet.com

 Dec 03, 2017
Growing Up IBD with Brian Greenberg
31:02

Being diagnosed with IBD as a child presents special challenges for kids and for parents. Learn how Brian Greenberg of Intense Intestines Foundation dealt with a Crohn’s disease diagnosis at a young age and transitioned from being a child reliant on parents to help manage his IBD to learning how to manage it all himself.

2:15: Brian spent a lot of time in detention as a kid!

3:15: The hardest part of going to school with IBD.

5:00: Brian's first resection: at 21.

7:00: Deciding to get an ostomy and what that meant for the future.

9:00: How an ostomy and a Ken butt made life better.

11:00: The misunderstandings that can happen when your peers don’t understand about IBD.

14:00: Why do people not just ask about why a person may appear sick?

16:00: How Brian manages to stay active with Crohn’s disease.

16:30: How being active can help with the mental aspects of coping with IBD.

17:34: Why distractions can actually be beneficial at times.

19:00: One of the things Brian has done that maybe is a little risky. But super fun.

19:40: How Brian managed an aggressive medication schedule in the 90s.

20:20: Brian’s experience in transitioning from parents managing everything IBD to him managing it himself.

Find Brian Greenberg at:

Find Intense Intestines Foundation at:

Find Amber J Tresca at:

Intro Music: Badass - Bensound.com - www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

Outro Music: The Lounge - Bensound.com - www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

 Nov 02, 2017
Don't Let IBD Ruin Your Day
00

Did you know that more than 70% of people with IBD have reported bathroom accidents (fecal incontinence)? Did you also know that only around 20% ask for help from their physicians? It’s a sensitive topic, to be sure, which is why I offer advice on how to cope with this problem and how to avoid it in the first place. If you’re struggling with this issue I have tips that you can use today but the best advice is to talk to your doctor about it (and I discuss that also!).

2:53: IBD is not a pooping disease!

3:34: 8AM classes — everyone else hates them ‘cause they’re hung over. You hate them because IBD.

4:28: Contact the student services office at your university about getting accommodations.

5:19: IBD is covered under the Americans With Disabilities Act, which means that you can ask for reasonable accommodations.

6:23: Yeah, I’m gonna come down on coffee and how it affects your digestive tract.

8:18: Not eating/drinking in the morning: how that can be good or bad depending on circumstances.

10:13: Why a lack of appetite can work against you during an IBD flare-up.

12:00: What should come with you when you leave the house?

16:32: Making your IBD emergency kit.

22:40: Vegan Ostomy coping with a leaking appliance in his car at Canada’s Wonderland (I thought he did a full change but actually he was able to change the bag) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55jpoNZCryw

23:19: The mental aspect of dealing with bathroom accidents is probably the most difficult one to overcome.

Resources:

Find Amber J Tresca at:

Intro Music: Acoustic Breeze - Bensound.com - www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

Outro Music: Sweet - Bensound.com - www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

 Oct 17, 2017
Getting Stress Relief With Dr Tiffany Taft
42:43

How does stress affect IBD? We know that stress does not cause IBD, but it does affect the disease. How does IBD actually cause stress, and what can we do to balance our lives in such a way that it does not affect us in a negative way? I talk with my guest, Dr Taft, about how she advises patients with chronic diseases on relieving stress and the tips and tools that have worked for her and her patients in integrating a comprehensive stress relief program into daily life.

:28 The role of stress as it applies to IBD. (No, it’s not “all in your head!”)

1:40: Easy ways to get started on stress relief, even for people who aren’t interested in it, and a reality check on how effective it is.

4:15: Some of the free apps that Dr Taft recommends for mindfulness and insomnia. 

5:30: What is mindfulness?

7:45: How do I make mindfulness a habit?

11:22: But what does the research show about what stress relief techniques actually work for IBD?

13:52: Are there risks involved with trying stress relief techniques?

16:23: Stress doesn’t cause IBD so why should stress relief factor into my treatment plan?

21:53: When do you need to look for more help when it comes to stress relief for IBD?

25:06: How treatment doesn’t have to be long-term to be effective but could be more focused and short-term. 

31:03: How do you find a therapist? How do you "try one out” to see if you are a fit? What should you look for in a therapist?

34:00: How do you know if you’ve found “Dr Right” or “Dr Wrong”?

Resources:

Does Stress Cause Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

https://www.verywell.com/does-stress-cause-inflammatory-bowel-disease-1942856

Do Most People With IBD Have A Mental Disorder?

https://www.verywell.com/do-people-with-ibd-have-mental-disorders-1943050

Is IBD Associated With Depression?

https://www.verywell.com/is-ibd-associated-with-depression-1942855

Featured Guest:

Dr Tiffany Taft, PsyD, licensed clinical psychologist, Oak Park Behavioral Medicine

Find Amber J Tresca at:

Credits: "About IBD with Amber Tresca" ©Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/

 Sep 26, 2017
Health Advocacy With Brooke Abbott
01:06:58

Are you ready to tell your story? Your legislators in Washington D.C., in your state, and your home town want to hear from you about how IBD has affected your life and the legislation you care about. Brooke Abbott of The Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles and Amber tell you how to get started in health activism and how to make your voice heard in our government!

6:00: What’s an IBD Elevator Speech? Hear Brooke’s and then use the create your own.

7:15: Find out what happens when you meet with the staff in your representatives’ office.

12:27: What should you know—and do—before you meet with someone at your representative’s office?

12:53: What you do say when you call your representative’s office to set up a meeting?

15:34: Do this if your representative will not meet with you.

22:07: What to write on a postcard you send to your representative.

28:50: Do our representatives pay attention to Twitter hashtags?

29:48: How https://www.govtrack.us/ and https://www.congress.gov/ can help you advocate!

35:30: Brooke always does this one thing before she goes into a meeting.

39:70: Learn which senator is also a gastroenterologist.

44:04: We talk about one of my Senators who I coincidentally met with about a week after we recorded this episode! (See my Facebook or Twitter feed for the photos!)

52:35: New segment on the show: Amber’s Unsolicited Parenting Advice!

59:23: Listen to About IBD Episode 5 to learn why Brooke is Amber’s "Alec Baldwin." Want to do more?

*Brooke and Amber attended the Digestive Disease National Coalition Public Policy Forum in 2017. You can find out more about their events and legislative events on their site: http://www.ddnc.org/

*Sign up for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation Advocacy Network to get informed about advocacy goals: http://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/get-involved/be-an-advocate/

*See if your legislator is on the Crohn’s and Colitis Caucus. If not, write them and ask them to join! http://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/assets/pdfs/advocacy/2017-caucus-handout-1.pdf

*Don’t know where to start? Get in touch with us—we’re friendly! Featured Guest:

Brooke Abbott, The Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles

Find Amber J Tresca at:

Intro Music: Retro Soul - Bensound.com - www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

Outro Music: Jazzy Frenchy - Bensound.com - www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

 Aug 30, 2017
Why Are You Grateful for Your IBD?
18:46

If I asked you what about your IBD you were grateful for, what would you say? This is exactly what I asked IBD Advocates, and their answers are as complex, rich, and varied as they are. As you listen to their responses, you will undoubtedly find yourself nodding in agreement with some ideas and seeing your life from a different perspective with others. I hope this episode is as fulfilling for you to listen to as it was for me to produce.

4:45: Hear why Alison Rothbaum of Empowering Patients wouldn't give back these 2 things.

6:25: Brooke Abbott of The Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles explains why IBD turned her life upside down in a positive way.

8:55: Christy Stone of Crohnie Bologna gives you the four-letter word that has defined her journey with IBD.

11:17: Megan Johnson of The Front Butt YouTuber explains why her IBD goes hand-in-hand with her accomplishments.

13:00: Ryan Stevens of Crohn’s Guy tells us what IBD has helped him cut out of his life.

14:00: What’s Your Trust Setting? http://aboutibd.com/2016/04/04/whats-your-trust-setting/

Featured Guests:

Find Amber J Tresca at:

Intro Music: New Dawn - Bensound.com - www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

Outro Music: Slow Motion - Bensound.com - www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

 

 Aug 05, 2017
Michael Tresca, Well Spouse and Amber's Husband
01:01:47

What's it like to watch your partner's ulcerative colitis become life-threatening and not be able to do anything about it? My husband, Mike, tells my story from his perspective, including how we met, what it was like to watch my health degrade, and all about our fairy tale wedding.

Featured Guest:

Michael Tresca

Want to become a Lady or Lord of Glencoe, like Amber? Buy your plot of land here: https://www.highlandtitles.com

No, there are no utensils at Medieval Times. But you can get married there, like we did, or have your 15th anniversary party there, which we also did: http://www.medievaltimes.com

In loving memory of Anastasia, also known as Mary Queen of Scots and the Quiet Scottish Tailor.

Intro Music: Sunny - Bensound.com - www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
Outro Music: Tenderness - Bensound.com - www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

 

 Jul 21, 2017
Clinical Trials With Michael Osso of the Crohns & Colitis Foundation
29:14

On this episode of About IBD, I talk with Michael Osso of Crohn's & Colitis Foundation and learn how important clinical trials are to patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, including how we can do better to ensure trials are completed. This podcast will answer many of your questions about clinical trials, plus we discuss the brand new resource the Foundation has launching later this month!

Featured Guest:

Michael Osso, President and CEO

Need Help With Your IBD? Call Crohn's & Colitis Foundation's Help Line at 888-694-8872 or email info@crohnscolitisfoundation.org

Music:

A New Beginning - Bensound.com - www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
 Acoustic Breeze - Bensound.com - www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

 

 Jul 06, 2017
Traveling With Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis With Jaime Weinstein
01:00:42

When you fly, do you board early? Once you get on the plane, what's the first thing you do? What's the second? Veteran traveler Jaime Weinstein, who lives with Crohn's disease, answers these questions and more based on her personal experiences when flying the friendly skies.

Featured Guest:

Jaime Weinstein

Music:
Buddy - Bensound.com - www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music
 Memories - Bensound.com - www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

 

 Jun 21, 2017
Brooke Abbott of The Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles
33:27

I talk with Brooke Abbott of The Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles about what it's like to be a parent with a chronic illness and how that's affected our relationship with our children. We also try to figure out how to clone ourselves and I'm so tired that I get the name of a well-known celebrity wrong -- several times.

Featured Guest:

Brooke Abbott

Additional Audio Engineering by Mac Cooney http://cooneystudio.com/

Music:

Clear Day - Bensound.com - www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

 May 30, 2017
Ryan Stevens, Competitive Swimmer and Crohn's Patient
36:04

What's it like to be a competitive swimmer and one day develop Crohn's disease? Well, you don't stop swimming! Hear Ryan Stevens, Crohn's Guy, talk about the work he's doing to raise awareness of IBD.

Featured Guest:

Ryan Stevens

Music:

Moose - Bensound.com - www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

 

 May 16, 2017
My J-Pouch Is My BFF
30:09

On this episode of the About IBD Podcast, I discuss j-pouches and bust some of the misconceptions that surround them. I also give my firsthand experience as a j-poucher who gave birth twice and let you in on what it's like for me to have a midline scar from open surgery.

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

Credits:

“About IBD" ©Cooney Studio.

 Apr 26, 2017
Let's Talk About "The Talk" With Your Partner
34:00

The second edition of the About IBD Podcast where I talk with 3 women with IBD about their experiences in telling their partners about their Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

Featured Guests:

Music:
Funky Element - Bensound.com - www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

 Apr 12, 2017
Let's Talk About That Fungus Thing
27:25

The first edition of my About IBD Podcast where I talk about this fungus fracas, how it relates to Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and why I'm not too worked up about IBD research done on mice.

Find Amber J Tresca of About IBD at:

Credits:

"About IBD with Amber Tresca" ©Cooney Studio http://cooneystudio.com/

 

 Mar 26, 2017