IBD Awareness Week

Heeeeyyyo, It’s IBD Awareness Week!

This year I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, an inflammatory bowel disease that makes my immune system attack my GI Tract. This week the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation have started a campaign to make #IBDVisibile

This is what IBD looks like to me:

If you have interacted with me any time over the past roughly 2 years, you’ve probably interacted with me while I was experiencing a side effect of Crohn’s.

IBD is invisible to you, but to me, it looks not only like the “typical” symptoms such as diarrhea, urgency, constipation, nausea, & extreme abdominal pain, but also a wide variety of other super fun symptoms including fatigue, joint pain, hair loss, depression & anxiety, insomnia, brain fog, mouth sores & more.

I’ve gotten really good at being sick without looking or acting sick.

Crohn’s impacts every single part of my life. This year I spent $8616.41 to finally get diagnosed and on a medication to help my symptoms after going to the emergency room and I ended up being admitted for 5 days.

Every time I have a stressful day at work, I wonder if it will cause a flare. Every time I plan something with a friend in advance, I wonder how I am going to feel when that day comes. Every time I hear someone cough in public, I wonder if my compromised immune system will be able to fight off the slightest cold. Every night out with friends, every time I hike, every long drive, every tight deadline at work, every meal I eat.

Consider yourself aware, but go learn more about Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis. Thank whatever you believe in that your colon doesn’t hate itself. And be empathetic—there are lots of invisible illnesses out there.