Emily Downward

When you live with a chronic condition, it can affect every area of your life, including your work. In this Living With podcast episode, hear from six Health Union contributors...

It’s that time of year when there’s so much sniffling and sneezing around workplaces and public spaces. I thought I’d been doing a good job of avoiding the sick people...

While every human has the occasional digestive upset, those of us with IBS have come to experience it as a chronic condition, with little to no information on causes or...

I recently recorded this podcast interview for Living With with IrritableBowelSyndrome.net advocate, Hess Polanco. We talked about the stigma of IBS, why it's important to speak about the condition, as...

I recently had the pleasure of speaking to one of our long-time advocates here at IrritableBowelSyndrome.net, Hannah Noonan, in my role as host of the Health Union podcast, Living With...

Oh no, not again. Not NOW. I was having a long-awaited and much-needed afternoon with my girlfriends, laughing and sharing our challenges. As usual, we did a potluck assortment of...

I recently had a hip replacement surgery, and I’ve been using crutches and then a cane to get around as I recover. When I enter a room (or a grocery...

Many of us who have had IBS for years have suffered not only with our ongoing symptoms and lack of effective treatments, but also with doctors who seem uninformed, dismissive...

Each of us who have the diagnosis of IBS have our own unique mix of symptoms and our own triggers. Figuring out what triggers a flare up can be tricky...

How often do we blame ourselves for our symptoms of IBS (or other conditions) that may or may not have anything to do with our actions? I’ve been realizing how...

From all the groans and gurgles going on in my abdomen, it sounds like a major battle is being fought. I’m not sure yet which side is winning, but I...

While most of us associate IBS with the predominant symptoms of either (or both) constipation and diarrhea, nausea can also be a symptom we experience. Nausea is often described as...

Back pain is one of the most common complaints people have, regardless of what other conditions they might also have. The Mayo Clinic estimates that approximately 80 percent of Americans...

Between IBS and fibromyalgia, I have some amount of pain every day. Most days, it’s at a low level, and I can mostly ignore it. But sometimes, pain refuses to...

Looking for ways to tame your stress (and your IBS)? Contributor Emily Downward shares how she reduces stress by spending time in nature. Learn more about the benefits nature can...

I love to travel, to explore new places, try new foods, and learn about different cultures. I think travel expands our perspective on life as it expands our horizons. But...

A friend of mine just had a routine colonoscopy and got me thinking about how much I dread having one again. I had a colonoscopy (my first and so-far only)...

Have you ever noticed that when you’re feeling sick (or when you experience a flare of IBS), your mind doesn’t work as well as it usually does? It’s more difficult...

I’ve had IBS for several years and have learned, for the most part through trial and error, what works for me and also what I need to avoid to keep...