Welcome to UCVlog.com! Here you will find TONS of information about living with inflammatory bowel disease, an ostomy, a J-pouch, and other bowel diseases. Take it from two young people who have been through it all and aren’t afraid to share their stories.
IBD in your words
May 31, 2012Sara collected these stories for World IBD Day last week, and they’re so good I knew I needed to share them with you! Lots of patients just like you sent her videos about their experiences with IBD and something positive that has come of it.
Even though World IBD Day has passed, don’t think that means we can go back to keeping our disease to ourselves: every day is World IBD Day! Take courage and share your story to all who will listen.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
Video Glossary: What is lactose intolerance?
May 29, 2012Question: Are you experiencing or have you experienced an intolerance to dairy? Does removing dairy from your diet help your IBD?
~Nadia
Emptying an ostomy–Laura’s way
May 28, 2012Emptying an ostomy might seem like old hat to some of you, but to others, you might find this video useful. Laura shows several ways she empties her appliance. Everybody is a little bit different, so if you find something that works for you, stick with it!
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
Announcement of the United Colon Foundation
May 26, 2012The United Colon Vlog has seen much growth over the past several years, and with each new growth spurt, a new venture begins. So, it is with EXTREME happiness and pride that we announce the formation of The United Colon Foundation. We have turned our education vlog into a full fledged non-profit organization. As of March 19, 2012, we are official! Waiting to have all our ducks in a row, we felt now was the right time to launch The United Colon Foundation to our online community.
It was time to take our mission to the next level. With the help of an attorney and accountants, I learned how to turn our platform into a non-profit corporation. My mom was very instrumental in helping us make this possible. It was exciting, confusing, and overwhelming at times, but when the official papers came in the mail, I think I squealed in delight! WE DID IT! I immediately called Dennis to celebrate the news!
We held our first official meeting on April 27 when Dennis came to Texas to participate in the Survival Race/Mud Run. Minutes were taken as we discussed business, finances, upcoming events, and plans for the future of the foundation. We have a lot in store as we continue to provide you with the most educational online videos about inflammatory bowel disease. Dennis and I have our work cut out for us but as always, we are up for the challenge!
Where we started, and oh how far we’ve come!
In 2008 Dennis began documenting his struggles, battles, and triumphs with inflammatory bowel disease and began UCVlog. Around that same time, my hellish journey began, and I sought out information on the internet to find answers on how to deal with my illness, surgery, and living with an ostomy. I, too, began vlogging after my first surgery. Our paths crossed, Dennis and mine, and a partnership formed.
I joined UCVlog two and a half years ago and since that point, Dennis and I have made nearly 300 videos between the two of us–instructing and teaching through our own experiences how to cope with, live with, and survive Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. We try to provide as much information and education as we possibly can to aid others who have been struggling for years or those of you who have received your initial diagnosis.
We have also written numerous blogs, published articles in periodicals, and are involved in a variety of events to raise awareness for this debilitating illness. We began our own ongoing donation drive collecting ostomy supplies and additional medical supplies for developing countries. This donation drive is one of our greatest achievements as we have been able to provide ostomy supplies to places that otherwise would not have access. Your help made this possible!
We have worked closely with the CCFA in raising funds through Take Steps. We have rallied runners at the Forney Texas Survival Race which was instrumental in raising awareness for IBD. We have won several awards for our active roles in the online community as well as in our hometowns. Our videos and blogs have been used across the globe in hospitals–training and teaching patients–as well as in the privacy of a peoples’ homes as they cope with their disease.
We appreciate your support
We are continually humbled by those of you that tell us your stories and share with us the most intimate details of your struggles. We feel your pain, and hope we have provided a place for you to open up without shame or embarrassment. You have made us laugh; you have made us cry; and we have shared so much together over these past few years. We genuinely want to thank all of our followers. You have made this day a reality. Today we celebrate this milestone together! We are all unfortunate to have disease, but glad you are along for the ride.
“It is time for us to stand and cheer for the doer, the achiever, the one who recognizes the challenge and does something about it.” ~Vince Lombardi
~Nadia
United Colon Foundation–It’s Official!
C3Life Blog: Take Steps Dallas
May 25, 2012Last weekend was the real Take Steps walk that I was excited about. Take Steps Jacksonville earlier in the month was fun, but Take Steps Dallas was even more so.
My co-host Nadia, our mutual friend Hannah, and I have been organizing our team for months. We set a goal of raising $3,500, which was significantly higher than the previous walk Nadia and I did in which we raised $1,500. As it got closer to the walk, it was looking less and less likely that we’d meet our goal.
But inflammatory bowel disease is never static, and even though all three of us were feeling pretty decent when we started the team, by the time of the walk, all of our health situations had changed.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
Ostomy Outdoors: Spring rock climbing in the canyon
May 24, 2012Heidi proves once again that an ostomy doesn’t have to limit you from anything you do!
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
Colonoscopy video tour: Journey through a healthy colon
May 21, 2012Many of us with IBD have very unhealthy colons (or no colons at all!), which is why I found this video from the American College of Gastroenterology so fascinating. It guides us through the entirety of a healthy colon. If you are curious what your colon is supposed to look like, watch this short video. The bowel preparation was perfect, so all you’ll see is healthy, clean tissue.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
C3Life Blog: Surviving the heat of Take Steps Jacksonville
May 15, 2012Last weekend I took part in the Take Steps for Crohn’s and Colitis walk in Jacksonville, Florida. I’ve never been to Jacksonville before, so what better time to visit than for a CCFA event? The walk was held at the University of North Florida, a very beautiful campus.
For months, I’ve been signed up for a different Take Steps walk, the one in Dallas, Texas. However, in February, I assumed leadership of the CCFA support group in my area. The support group had been in a period of decline, so this year’s goal has been to get the group running again.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
Treating diverticulosis and diverticulitis
May 15, 2012Two videos here explaining the difference between diverticulosis and diverticulitis, and how this condition is treated. The second video has a great animation of laparoscopic surgery to remove an infected portion of the colon.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
Question: Have you had diverticulitis? How was the problem treated? Share your story by responding to this post!
Cookin’ With Nadia: Omelette
May 13, 2012Ingredients:
1 Tbsp Butter
2 eggs
less than 1/3 cup non-lactose milk
pinch of salt
2 pieces provolone cheese
pinch of pepper
Avocado
Let butter melt on fry pan on stove set to medium heat, wisk together eggs and milk, pour into pan, cover, add salt and pepper, cover, let cook, put cheese in center of omelette, trifold and serve with avocado.
“I think one of the things that saved me is that I never put all my eggs in one basket.” ~Rick Schroder
~Nadia
