How IBS Made Me a Better PersonI remember the first few years of living with IBS being extremely hard. I felt so alone because hardly anyone in my life, at that time, understood what I was...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Tips For Talking To Your Doctor About Your IBSTalking to anyone about your IBS can be confronting, because bowel habits are still a taboo subject. And while it may seem like it should be easier when talking to...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
The [Low-Fodmap] Apple WatchApples, as in the fruit, are high in FODMAPs, which can wreak havoc on the IBS sufferer’s gut. For example, whenever I drink a pre-made juice and forget to read...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The Power of EmbarrassmentHow often are you feeling embarrassed about having IBS? IBS is, I think, one of the more ‘embarrassing’ afflictions out there, due to the nature of the thing. While being...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Dealing With The Crappiness of IBSNo matter how well your IBS is usually managed, there will be days when it overwhelms you. Sometimes that overwhelm is to the point where the ability to function normally...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
IBS MEANS... Knowing Your ExitsIt’s 3:00 in the afternoon. It’s a beautiful day, the sun is shining, a cool breeze flows through my hair. I’m sitting at a small, wrought iron bistro set just...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
IBS-Friendly Matcha LatteIf you are looking for a warm and cozy hug in a mug, then try a Matcha Latte! Unlike regular green tea leaves that are infused in water and then...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Stages of Change: Planning and PreparationThis is the third part in a series of articles describing the ‘Stages of Change’ model of behavior modification. In the previous two articles, we discussed the ‘Pre-Contemplation’ and ‘Contemplation’...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Why I Don’t Take Prescription DrugsBefore I go into this article, I want to apologize to anyone that I might offend. These are simply my opinions and I don’t intend to discourage anyone from their...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Our Wellness Needs to Become HabitI don’t mind sharing my struggles with IBS. I think we all need to know that others struggle to ‘do the right thing.’ I just can’t help feeling as though...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Finding the Lesser Evil: When Mental and Physical Health CollideWe all want to give up sometimes. Give up on dietary restrictions. Give up on staying sober. Give up on life. And sometimes we need a little help to get...Reactions0reactionsComments7 comments
Skills I’ve Developed Because of My IBSHey IBS community! Let’s have a positive, light-hearted conversation about IBS. Turn that frown upside down! Although I’m suffering from tremendous pain right now–my back hurts, my bottom hurts, and...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Food Chemicals or FODMAPs, What's Your IBS Trigger?So you have just been just been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and you’ve been told that to manage your symptoms you need to change your diet. Not everyone...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
IBS-Friendly PizzaHey fellow IBS sufferers! I want to share with you guys an IBS-friendly pizza recipe. I’ll be honest, this is one of those recipes that probably won’t work for ALL...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
The Benefits and Consequences of Hosting a PartyOnce every summer for the past few years, my wife, in-laws, and I decide to throw a huge backyard party just to gather all of our friends and family together...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Traveling with IBSTraveling can pick up during the summer, which can be stressful for the IBS sufferer. Whether you're stressed about the car or plane ride, where the closest bathroom is going...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
ResilienceResilience is a word that is tossed around a lot when recovery from an illness is discussed. Resilience is a wonderful quality to have and depending on what your life...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
“How Are You?” – Do You Really Want To Know?“How are you, Hess?” “How ya doin’, Hess?” “How was your weekend, Hess?” Have you ever been asked these questions by co-workers, friends, relatives, or maybe even by a random...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Fear of FailureThe fear of failure is one of the most common obstacles to success. I think the idea of ‘fear of failure’ is most easily summarized by saying that someone wants...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Powering Through Your IBSThe hardest part of a chronic condition is that it never goes away. You certainly can manage IBS, but you can never fully control it or cure it. It’s here...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments