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Comedian Ian Goldstein takes us through his journey with Crohn's disease, beginning with his diagnosis at 16 when he was just trying to navigate the already challenging world of high school, SATs, and planning for college. With candid humor, he recounts the moment he realized something was seriously wrong – not just from frequent bathroom trips, but when a coworker pointed out his dramatic weight loss.

What follows is a rollercoaster of medical experiences that many in the IBD community will recognize – from the shock of needing a colonoscopy as a teenager to the trial and error of finding effective medications. Ian vividly describes his first major bowel obstruction during his senior year of college, complete with what he calls the "modern-day torture device" known as an NG tube. Despite his best efforts to manage his condition through diet alone, he eventually required surgery in 2022 to remove seven strictures from his small intestine.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn when Ian shares how he's transformed his medical journey into comedy shows. From "The Autoimmune Saloon" to a celebration party for meeting his healthcare deductible (complete with custom cupcakes and hats), he's found ways to create community while addressing serious issues like medical debt. These creative outlets not only helped him process his experiences but connected him with others who could offer crucial advice about doctors and treatments.

Perhaps most valuable are Ian's insights about navigating the healthcare system with a chronic illness. He speaks honestly about the frustration of insurance denials, the anxiety of unexpected medical bills, and the challenges of having an invisible disability. His experiences highlight the importance of self-advocacy, finding the right medical team, and building a supportive community.

Ready to laugh, cry, and feel a little less alone in your IBD journey? Listen as Ian shares his practical wisdom: record your doctor appointments to remember important information, and seek out community connections that might literally change your life. Whether you're newly diagnosed or a veteran of chronic illness, this conversation reminds us all that finding humor in dark places might be our most powerful medicine.

Links:

• Ian's website
• New York Times article about Ian's party to celebrate meeting his healthcare deductible
• The Squeaky Wheel- satire publication that focuses on the experiences of people living with disabilities.
• Tina's episode with us
• Dr. David Schwartzberg's episode with us
• Nicole's episode with us- Ian mentioned Nicole and how supportive she's been to him but we sadly had to cut that part out for length. But- get to know Nicole!!

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Imagine visiting your gastroenterologist and feeling comfortable enough to discuss every aspect of how IBD affects your life—including your sexual health and practices. For many patients, particularly those in the LGBTQI+ community, this remains an elusive dream rather than reality.

Dr. Victor Chedid, gastroenterologist and director of Mayo Clinic's Pride Clinic, joins Bowel Moments to tackle this crucial gap in IBD care. With disarming honesty and clinical expertise, he reveals why addressing sexuality isn't just about inclusivity—it's about providing complete medical care. When 95% of providers believe discussing sexual health is important but only 27% actually do it, patients suffer in silence with questions that directly impact their quality of life.

The conversation dives deep into practical approaches for both patients and providers. Dr. Chedid shares his framework for discussing sexual practices with patients, from the straightforward question "What do you do for sex?" to navigating complex conversations around surgical interventions like J-pouch formation. For transgender patients, he unpacks recent research on gender-affirming hormones and IBD, emphasizing that life-saving gender-affirming care should never be withheld due to IBD concerns.

Perhaps most compelling is Dr. Chedid's perspective on cultural humility and intersectionality. Each patient's experience is shaped by multiple overlapping identities—their sexuality, gender, race, nationality, and more. Rather than making assumptions, he advocates for providers to "leave their biases at the door" and approach each person's unique situation with curiosity and respect.

"People living with IBD are the experts of their own bodies," Dr. Chedid reminds us in his powerful closing thoughts. "When they say something feels off, it's not a guess—it's lived experience." This principle forms the foundation of truly inclusive care—care that sees patients as whole people deserving of dignity, understanding, and comprehensive treatment.

Ready to advocate for more inclusive IBD care? Share this episode with your healthcare team and join the conversation about creating safe spaces for everyone in our community.

Links:

• AGA's Pride Month Provider Spotlight on Dr. Chedid
• Dr. Chedid talking about forming the IBD Pride Clinic
• "Your Top 6 Questions Answered by Dr. Victor Chedid" -A Program Dedicated to IBD Patients from the LGBTQIA+ Community- Crohn's & Colitis Foundation- USA

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For two decades, Rachel Gebhardt has navigated the complex terrain of Crohn's disease with a refreshing perspective shaped by her father's experience with the same condition. Where her father let illness define him, Rachel chose a different path—one filled with humor, openness, and resilience—despite her case being more medically severe.

Rachel's journey encompasses four bowel surgeries and fourteen hospital admissions since 2020 alone, including a colostomy she affectionately named "Whoopie." With disarming candor, she shares the moment her surgeon showed her a photo of a woman in an American flag bikini with a matching ostomy bag cover as encouragement—a moment that eventually inspired her own celebratory beachside photo years later. Through skin infections, bowel obstructions, and dietary restrictions, Rachel maintains her commitment to living fully and modeling positive coping for her children.

The military healthcare system presented unique challenges, but also connected Rachel with Dr. Anish Patel at Brook Army Medical Center, who became not just her gastroenterologist but her advocate and ally. Their relationship exemplifies the profound difference compassionate, specialized care makes for patients with complex conditions. Rachel details her experience with hyperbaric treatments, medication complications, and the surprising remission she experienced only during pregnancy and breastfeeding—highlighting the understudied connection between hormones and IBD.

What resonates most deeply is Rachel's transformation from initially viewing her ostomy as "the end of the world" to embracing it as a source of freedom. Now training for a half marathon and hiking mountains previously inaccessible when bathroom urgency controlled her life, she's become an outspoken advocate for ostomy awareness. Her message is clear and powerful: life with an ostomy can be not just manageable, but genuinely good—a perspective desperately needed by those facing similar paths. For anyone navigating IBD or supporting someone who is, Rachel's story offers both practical wisdom and heartening hope.

Links:

• United Ostomy Association
• Our episode with Dr. Anish Patel
• Pregnancy and Crohn's - video from Brigham & Women's IBD Center
• Pregnancy & Breastfeeding info- Crohn's Colitis UK

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What happens when your body declares war on multiple organs? Julie Davis knows this reality all too well. Her medical journey began with a celiac disease diagnosis at 18, followed by ulcerative colitis in college, but it was the sudden onset of autoimmune pancreatitis in 2011 that turned her world upside down.

Julie's story is remarkable not just for the rare combination of conditions she manages, but for the extraordinary resilience she's shown throughout her journey. As a dietitian who became a physician's assistant while battling debilitating pancreatitis flares, Julie brings unique perspective from both sides of healthcare. She takes us through the harrowing experience of multiple hospitalizations, specialists puzzling over her case at Mayo Clinic, and ultimately, the life-altering decision to have her pancreas completely removed in 2023.

The procedure—called total pancreatectomy with islet cell autotransplantation—is so rare that Julie couldn't find a single podcast about it. Her pancreatic cells were extracted and transplanted into her liver, turning her into what she describes as "essentially a type 1 diabetic" overnight. Despite this dramatic medical intervention and the insulin pump she now relies on, Julie's perspective remains incredibly positive.

Perhaps most inspiring is how Julie has refused to let her health conditions define her limitations. She completed PA school despite having an endoscopy and nerve block the same morning as important exams. She had three children through IVF while managing multiple autoimmune conditions. And today, she's passing on her hard-won wisdom to her daughter, who has inherited celiac disease.

Julie's message to fellow chronic illness warriors rings clear: "It doesn't define you. You can still do things that you love." Her extraordinary journey demonstrates that even the most complex medical challenges can't stand in the way of a determined spirit pursuing a fulfilling career, family life, and future.

Links:

• The Juicebox Podcast
• Mission Cure: Nonprofit working in improve quality of life and bring more treatments to chronic pancreatitis

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** Warning that this episode talks very candidly and descriptively about surgery and more.**
Few IBD stories contain as many twists, complications, and near-death experiences as Bryan Schulze's journey with ulcerative colitis. What began with occasional bleeding during his military deployment escalated into a life-threatening medical emergency when doctors discovered he had been hemorrhaging internally for months. With severe anemia and barely conscious, Bryan's introduction to IBD came with a stark realization — he had been slowly dying without knowing it.

Bryan's candid account takes us through the harrowing reality of military service with undiagnosed IBD, the struggle to maintain dignity while bleeding profusely, and the complex surgeries that followed. After medication failures and complications that defy belief, Bryan underwent a full colectomy and J-pouch surgery that led to severe complications including a massive abdominal infection, wound vacuum treatments, and catastrophic surgical errors.

Beyond the physical trauma, Bryan shares the emotional and professional toll of IBD. From workplace discrimination to failed career dreams, steroid-induced diabetes to heart failure, and battles with depression and anxiety — his story encompasses the full spectrum of challenges IBD patients may face. Yet through it all, Bryan found his way back through support from his family, reconnection with his faith, and an indomitable will to live.

Now serving as a police officer with a permanent ostomy bag, Bryan offers powerful wisdom to fellow IBD warriors: "Take a deep breath. It's not a life ender. It is a life changer. Be willing to adapt with it so that you can overcome it and still live the life that you were given to live." His message of resilience serves as a beacon for anyone facing seemingly insurmountable health challenges.

Have you been struggling with IBD? Share your story or questions with us, and remember that no matter how difficult your journey, you're never alone in this fight.

Links:

• Our episode with Dr. Anish Patel
• Our episode with Matty Bowels!
• Veterans with IBD Support Group- Cron's & Colitis Foundation USA
• About IBD Podcast episode with Dr. Anish Patel
• John's story of serving in the Royal Marines in the UK- Crohn's & Colitis UIK

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Kimberly LaRose's journey from a nine-year diagnostic odyssey to creating an award-winning vodka demonstrates the remarkable resilience found in the IBD community. After struggling with unexplained symptoms that doctors repeatedly misdiagnosed, Kimberly finally received her Crohn's disease diagnosis and discovered that gluten and corn were major inflammation triggers for her body.

Rather than seeing her dietary restrictions as limitations, Kimberly embraced a philosophy of "replacing, not removing." This positive mindset would prove transformative when she attended an event where she couldn't eat or drink anything due to her restrictions. What began as a half-joking call to a friend about creating their own vodka evolved into Wisher Vodka – a sugar beet-based spirit that's gluten-free, grain-free, and vegan.

The path from concept to award-winning product wasn't simple. Kimberly and her co-founder Emily researched 300 distillers, visited 60 personally, and developed a unique production process that includes lab testing every batch to ensure purity. Their commitment to quality and transparency has earned them multiple prestigious awards, including Grand Vodka of the Year with a remarkable 98-point taste rating from the Bartender Spirits Award.

Beyond the business success, Kimberly's story highlights how health challenges can unexpectedly open new doors. "I wouldn't have created Wisher had I not been diagnosed with Crohn's," she reflects. Her work supporting the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation further demonstrates her commitment to the IBD community that sparked her entrepreneurial journey.

Whether you're navigating dietary restrictions, seeking inspiration for managing chronic illness, or simply appreciate the story behind your spirits, Kimberly's journey reminds us that sometimes our greatest struggles lead to our most meaningful creations.

Links:

• Sip with Confidence! - Wisher Vodka's website
• Cocktail recipes

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When you're battling inflammatory bowel disease, the wounds aren't always visible. Beyond the physical symptoms lies a reality many patients face but few discuss openly – the psychological impact of medical trauma.

Dr. Christina Jagielski, clinical health psychologist at Michigan Medicine, brings her expertise to this powerful conversation about trauma-informed care in the IBD community. With surprising candor, she reveals how she discovered that approximately half of gastroenterologists avoid screening for trauma history – not because they don't care, but because they feel unprepared to respond appropriately to what patients might share.

Through Robin's emotional personal story of emergency room panic attacks and medical gaslighting, we witness firsthand how past medical experiences shape current healthcare interactions. The conversation dives deep into practical strategies for both patients and providers: how to communicate triggers without reliving trauma, why certain medical settings feel unsafe, and what small changes can make enormous differences in patient comfort.

Dr. Jagielski challenges the longstanding approach of selective trauma screening based on gender or diagnosis, advocating instead for universal trauma-informed care. "People living with IBD are so much more than their labs and test results," she reminds us, emphasizing that acknowledging patients' lived experiences is just as crucial as treating their physical symptoms.

Whether you're a patient who's experienced medical trauma, a healthcare provider seeking to create safer spaces, or someone supporting a loved one with IBD, this episode offers transformative insights into healing the hidden psychological wounds of chronic illness. Listen now to start breaking down the barriers between physical and psychological care in the IBD journey.

Links:

• Dr. Christina Jagielski
• "Had a Traumatic Medical Experience? Don't Ignore it"- article in Psychology Today by Dr. Tiffany Taft
• Journal Article on Medical Gaslighting- Dr. Jagielski, Dr. Taft, and Dr. Fuss

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