Year: 2026

Tests & Treatments

Ostomy Surgery Explained: What Life Really Looks Like After the Procedure

For many people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ostomy surgery represents a significant turning point. Whether performed as an emergency measure or as a planned step after other treatments have failed, the decision often comes with uncertainty about what daily life will look like afterwards. Understanding the practical realities can help patients and families feel […]

Tests & Treatments

Understanding Your IBD Blood Test Results: A Plain-English Guide

Blood tests are routine in managing inflammatory bowel disease, yet the abbreviations and numbers can feel like a foreign language. Understanding these markers can help you make sense of what is happening inside your body and guide conversations about your treatment. What blood tests measure in IBD Blood tests in IBD assess inflammation levels, check […]

Living Well & Support

Your Gut on Holiday: How to Protect Your Digestion When You Travel

Travel can trigger flares, disrupt bowel patterns, and leave you navigating unfamiliar bathrooms in unfamiliar places. For people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the combination of routine disruption, dietary changes, and stress can place additional pressure on an already sensitive digestive system. Understanding what happens in your gut when you travel, and how to plan […]

Living Well & Support

How Exercise Benefits Your Gut, Even When You Have IBD

Many people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) worry that exercise might trigger symptoms or worsen inflammation. Concerns about needing the toilet during activity, feeling fatigued, or aggravating an already sensitive gut can make physical activity feel risky. However, emerging evidence suggests that regular, appropriately dosed exercise may actually support gut health and help modulate inflammatory […]

Living Well & Support

Living With an Invisible Illness: When You Look Fine but Feel Awful

One of the most isolating aspects of inflammatory bowel disease is how little the outside world can see. You might be managing debilitating fatigue, pain, or constant fear of needing a toilet, yet to colleagues, friends, or even family, you look perfectly healthy. This disconnect between how you feel and how you appear creates unique […]

Living Well & Support

Flare Days: A Realistic Self-Care Plan for When You’re Struggling

When a flare hits, even small decisions can feel overwhelming. Fatigue, pain, and frequent trips to the toilet disrupt your routine, and the frustration of losing control over your body adds to the physical discomfort. This article outlines a practical approach to managing flare days when symptoms are high and energy is low, focusing on […]

Living Well & Support

Finding Your IBD Community: Support Groups, Podcasts, and Advocates Worth Following

Living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can feel isolating, particularly when symptoms are unpredictable or when those around you struggle to understand the condition. Connecting with others who share similar experiences can provide reassurance, practical advice, and a sense of belonging that complements medical care. This article explores the types of IBD communities available, what […]

Health News

Prior Biologic Use May Influence Upadacitinib Response in IBD

A systematic review of randomised controlled trials has examined whether previous biologic therapy affects the efficacy of upadacitinib in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), addressing a key question for clinicians positioning newer oral agents within treatment pathways. The analysis, published in Cureus, sought to clarify how prior exposure to biologic therapies influences outcomes with the Janus […]

Living Well & Support

What I Wish I’d Known at Diagnosis: Lessons From People With IBD

Receiving a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can feel overwhelming. The period immediately following diagnosis is often marked by uncertainty, confusion about treatment options, and questions about what daily life will look like. While every person’s experience with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis is unique, certain lessons emerge repeatedly from those who have lived […]

Tests & Treatments

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and IBS: An Overlooked Connection

Many people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) experience bloating, unpredictable bowel habits, and abdominal discomfort. What fewer realise is that some symptoms may originate not in the gut itself, but in the pelvic floor muscles. Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is surprisingly common in people with IBS, yet often goes unrecognised and untreated. What is pelvic […]

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