Columns

December 10, 2020December 8, 2020

A Week of Worry: COVID-19 Hits Home

Columns, Intestinal Fortitude - a Column by Emmeline Olson

Before Thanksgiving, I wrote about finding thanks in the chaos of COVID-19. As I submitted my column for publication, the pandemic hit home. Fear and uncertainty quickly replaced gratitude. Since ... Read more

December 3, 2020November 30, 2020

Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week From a Minority’s Perspective

Columns, Intestinal Fortitude - a Column by Emmeline Olson

I’ve been active in my new role as a Color of Crohn’s & Chronic Illness (COCCI) ambassador for a couple of weeks now. This week has been especially busy. In ... Read more

November 19, 2020November 17, 2020

A Coronavirus Cornucopia: Finding Thankfulness in Chaos

Columns, Intestinal Fortitude - a Column by Emmeline Olson

A week from today is Thanksgiving in the United States. Because I’ll be taking a holiday from writing my column, I wanted to count my blessings this week. I’m a ... Read more

November 12, 2020November 11, 2020

Behind the Stall: Fear and Anxiety in Public Restrooms

Columns, Intestinal Fortitude - a Column by Emmeline Olson

I was 5 when the movie “Jaws 2” was released. My parents didn’t take me to it because it was R-rated, but they couldn’t protect me from the television commercials. ... Read more

November 5, 2020November 3, 2020

Finding My Flock: My Involvement With the IBD Community

Columns, Intestinal Fortitude - a Column by Emmeline Olson

When I was diagnosed with Crohn’s, I kept my illness to myself. I rarely discussed my disease with anyone except my doctors and my loved ones. I disclosed my health ... Read more

October 29, 2020October 27, 2020

Overcoming Fecal Calprotectin Test Anxiety

Columns, Intestinal Fortitude - a Column by Emmeline Olson

Having ended the saga with my liver (knock on wood), my gastroenterologist can focus on my faulty colon. Thanks to Remicade (infliximab), I had been in remission from Crohn’s since ... Read more

October 22, 2020October 20, 2020

Vote Like Your Life Depends on It

Columns, Intestinal Fortitude - a Column by Emmeline Olson

Early voting is underway in Texas, where I live. Being immunocompromised, I applied for and received a mail-in ballot. With the validity of mail-in voting in question and with healthcare ... Read more

October 15, 2020October 13, 2020

Heads or Tails: GI Psychology and IBD

Columns, Intestinal Fortitude - a Column by Emmeline Olson

Most of us have had butterflies in our stomachs, followed our gut instincts, made gut-wrenching decisions, or felt our stomachs drop upon hearing bad news. Why do we feel “sick ... Read more

October 8, 2020October 6, 2020

In the Pit of My Stomach: Depression and Anxiety With IBD

Columns, Intestinal Fortitude - a Column by Emmeline Olson

Editor’s note: Please be advised that the topic of suicide is addressed in this column. Resources for help are listed at the end of the column. I was born on ... Read more

October 1, 2020September 29, 2020

It’s Complicated: How a Roux-en-Y Affected My Routine ERCP

Columns, Intestinal Fortitude - a Column by Emmeline Olson

I had almost three years of perfect health following my liver transplant until my liver enzymes tripled in May. An abdominal ultrasound and liver biopsy showed no abnormalities. However, a ... Read more