First Post- My Personal Journey

Hi there!

You may have come across this blog because you were recently diagnosed with colitis/ Crohn's disease/ IBS or someone you care about has been diagnosed. The onset for Crohn's and colitis is usually between 15-30 years of age. Before I was diagnosed, I was "perfectly healthy" and living without a care at university. Since then, I've had to make some minor changes and in all honesty, I am so glad for them.

I am writing this blog to share recipes and experiences with others affected by colitis or similar illnesses (Crohn's, IBS, celiac).

This is my disclaimer: I AM NOT A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL NOR AM I AN EXPERT ON IBD. Every person is different and the way every person experiences a disease is different. I'm just a 20-something, Chinese- Canadian, female graduate student who has been living with colitis for about 5 years. I struggle with this disease every day of my life and I have seen my family and friends struggle to help me. However, having IBD isn't the end of the world. I remind myself of this every day and try to live my life with creativity and care (hence the name of this blog).

I treat my colitis with the help of a GI and a naturopath. I take prescription medications and naturopathic remedies. My naturopath (who I have only recently started working with), has put me on a gluten-free, dairy-free diet. Since I am not Celiac, I am not 100% strict with this diet but try to adhere as best as possible. I am also highly sensitive to onion, garlic, and spicy food and can only tolerate very little alcohol.

Please stay tuned for more posts. I promise to be as honest as possible in sharing my experiences in colitis. I also hope to post budget-friendly, adaptable recipes so that anyone living with dietary concerns can still enjoy a lovely meal.

take care,
JP