UC Can Take My Colon, But I Won’t Quit – Heather’s Story

INTRODUCTION: This week, I’d like to introduce you to Colitis Mama, Heather Bernard. I absolutely love reading diagnosis stories. They help me to feel less alone and make me realize just how strong people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease are. Through it all, Heather managed to get married and have a beautiful son. The judges have awarded her as the 1st Place Winner in the…

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The False Sense of Security in Diagnosis

This past week on the 16th, I hit a milestone. I have officially been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis for five years now. It’s hard to believe that much time has gone by since then. A lot has changed in my life. I have changed. I went through my Facebook posts of life post-diagnosis. I was very naive. Being told that…

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The Dangers of Miracle Cures

“I drank coconut juice for two weeks and cured my Crohn’s Disease!” “My cousin cured his colitis by taking slippery elm!” “When I cut out dairy, it cured my IBD!!!” How many of you have heard phrases similar to these? If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a dozen times. Have you tried…? It will CURE you! All these “cures” and home…

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Patient-Driven Research. What!?

If you’re like me, when you think about research, you think of doctors and scientists that are higher up in the hierarchy of life who come up with the areas of research, conduct the studies and then come back and inform us of the results. Very disconnected. Oftentimes I feel like an outsider looking in. At least there’s research…

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