Blog
Why don’t we take mental pain as seriously as we take physical pain?
By Mark D Rego One of the first patients I saw in medical school was an elderly man dying of metastatic colon cancer, which had spread to his bones and was excruciatingly painful. I was shocked and heartbroken when I saw him beg the doctor for more pain medicine than the modest doses he was […]
Research
Vitamin D regulates calcium in intestine differently than previously thought
In a healthy person, the body absorbs calcium to maintain strong bones and perform other important functions like helping muscles move and nerves carry messages between the brain and body parts. Vitamin D is critical for this calcium absorption from the intestine and for the function of the intestine. The study, published in the journal […]
Blog
Things to do when you’re feeling defeated by inflammatory bowel disease
Finding your perfect treatment and lifestyle combination is like putting together a puzzle. Finding a piece that fits is exciting, but sometimes it feels like you try piece after piece that does not fit. A few of these “puzzle pieces” are: finding a treatment plan that works long term figuring out the best diet for […]
Research
A large proportion of IBD patients may experience a form of PTSD
About a third of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients surveyed were found to meet the clinical threshold to warrant a further diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Alexandra F. Vanderwerff, PhD, Counseling Psychology, University of Memphis, conducted a study examining the prevalence of PTSD symptoms among IBD patients. She explained to HCPLive® that her initial hypothesis centered […]
Blog
The microbiome & gut health in the time of COVID
Video here. Leading the way in researching, and educating through their popular course “Clinical Applications of Microbiota,” join Georgetown faculty experts for a discussion examining the dynamic relationship between the microbiota and disease expression, particularly in relation to gut health and the novel coronavirus. This discussion features: Moderator: Douglas Varner, MS, MLS, Assistant Dean for […]
Personal Story
Teen’s Crohn’s treatment helps her keep playing music
For Abigail Tucker, it started with migraines and stomach pains. Then she started losing weight — as much as 50 pounds. She said her condition worsened to the point that, when she was 13, she felt like withdrawing from friends and skipping activities such as playing or teaching piano. Soon she was often missing a […]
News
Helmsley awards $4.7 million for Crohn’s diet therapy research
“Previous studies strongly suggest that dietary interventions may be beneficial in Crohn’s disease, but clear evidence-based recommendations are lacking,” Paul Scholl, program director of the Helmsley Charitable Trust Crohn’s disease program, said in the release. “By directly evaluating the effects of specific dietary regimens in preventing and treating Crohn’s disease, these new studies will provide much needed […]
Personal Story
Why I’m striving to change the healthcare experience for black and brown people with IBD
I was really tired. I thought I could stop the bleeding like I had in the past — eat more kale. Yes, I thought it was that simple. In the past, when I noticed bleeding from my rectum, I would go on a heavily green diet and the bleeding would go away. As a child, […]
Blog
Podcast: Understanding Crohn’s and colitis part one
In part one of this two-part series on Back to Health the panel discussion highlights the main risk factors, the first signs and symptoms, the triggers that can cause flare-ups, and the latest exciting medical advances in the treatment of IBD. Original source here.
Blog
Having a chronic illness helped me prepare for the uncertainty of the pandemic
By Bridget Shirvell. Chortling filled the air as my 1-year-old ran towards the water, only to be scooped up by her uncle on the nearly empty beach in Pacifica, California. It was the day after Christmas, and she’d been running around the beach for at least half an hour with my brother and sister. The […]
