This last weekend I was in Dallas, Texas for a working vacation of sorts. My co-host at UCVlog, Nadia, and I periodically meet to make videos, discuss future plans for the website, and have a little fun (if there’s time left in the day). This last year Nadia was extremely busy moving down to Texas, and undergoing two surgeries to make her ostomy permanent, so there was a considerable gap between visits.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
As we know, bowel diseases can be difficult to talk about interpersonally with those around you. We fear that people don’t want to hear about our problems, or that they won’t understand. Fortunately, the internet offers many opportunities to share your story with others who know exactly what you are going through.
While the opportunities to share are numerous, and the barriers to share are fewer than sharing face-to-face, many people do not share their stories. Today I want to encourage you that, no matter what your health condition is, your viewpoint is valuable to others and needs to be shared.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
These last couple weeks we’ve been talking about health literacy; the importance of understanding medical information, and understanding your health well enough to make good medical decisions. We’ll finish the discussion this week talking about a related concept, patient advocacy.
There are such people as professional patient advocates, but that’s not what I’m talking about. Today, we’re talking about being your own advocate for your health.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
Last week we discussed the importance of health literacy, which is the ability to understand medical information and to follow treatment orders. At some point in your medical journey, you won’t simply be doing whatever the doctor tells you to do. You may have to make a decision about your health, about which treatment option is best, and it’s times like these that health literacy is even more crucial.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
Health literacy may be a term you haven’t heard before. It’s something health professionals like to discuss. Health literacy is the ability to read and understand medical information, to follow doctor’s instructions and treatments, and to make informed decisions about your health.
Sounds simple, right? Unfortunately, study after study show that many people, especially low-educated or disadvantaged people, lack basic health literacy, which can lead to misinterpreting treatment plans or inaccurate health beliefs.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
In my health class recently the professor asked, “What does it mean to be healthy?” Everybody had a different idea, but one response caught my attention.
“Being healthy means being free of disease,” one woman said.
Put on the breaks! What? If I have a disease, then I am not healthy?
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
Question: What does it mean, for you, to be healthy? Reply to this post or post your answer on our Facebook fan page.
For those who have been following, last month I moved to Florida to begin my PhD in health communication. The 1,700+ mile drive across the country was uneventful, which I’m happy with.
And so far, Florida has met or exceeded all of my expectations.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
Last week we discussed some things to keep in mind when you go to college for the first time with inflammatory bowel disease. College can be stressful, and it adds new challenges to your health. We’ll continue this week by talking about diet and managing your healthcare.
If you are in college and would like to see another topic addressed, please leave a comment on this post!
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
College is about to start or has already started for many of you, and if you haven’t experienced college yet while having inflammatory bowel disease, pay close attention. College is stressful enough without disease, but by being proactive, hopefully your school year goes a little easier.
IBD can affect your studies in a variety of ways, so this week we’ll discuss talking with your instructors and living on campus.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
I just got back from my third week at Camp Oasis, and it was everything I remembered and more. For those who don’t know, Camp Oasis is a program sponsored by the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. Camps are held across the U.S. for one week during the summer. Kids as young as 7-8 up to 17 are given one spectacular week where everything is focused on them and they don’t have to worry about their disease.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
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