Hello again! It has been quite awhile since my last post. I started a new job in June and have been enjoying the challenge of learning my new position while balancing my health! I’m still not sure what that balance … Continue reading →

+273

  

Have you ever tried turning the volume down on the radio while you are singing along? If you haven’t, you should go try it. It’s hard to remember all the words right? or stay on beat right? Sure you can … Continue reading →

+363

  

When people ask me how I made it through college, I have a variety of answers. I tell them it was through God’s providence and my amazing support system and that I wouldn’t have made it without my friends.  I … Continue reading →

+357

  

This post is written by Karen Brocker, my mom, about what it is like to have a daughter with a chronic illness. When you live with a chronic disease you sometimes become accustomed to dealing with serious, even scary,  health issues.  This becomes … Continue reading →

+373

  

Another Blog post by Karen Brocker about what it is like to have a daughter with a Chronic Illness. Sarah spends most of her time at school. So when I am with her I am reminded, in a very real … Continue reading →

+363

  

How are you disabled? Someone asked me the other day, “not to be offensive, but how you are considered disabled, I mean I get why someone in a wheelchair is disabled, but I don’t see you as disabled…?” I understand … Continue reading →

+412

  

This post is written by Karen Brocker about what it is like to have a daughter with a chronic illness. I got off the phone with a heavy heart. My daughter is suffering and I don’t know the answers to … Continue reading →

+392

  

This blog post is written by Karen Brocker.  She writes about what it is like to have a daughter with a chronic illness. When I heard that John was retiring I was in explicably saddened.  What would  I do without John?  … Continue reading →

+416

  

Enjoy this post written by Karen Brocker as she writes what it is like to be the mother of a daughter with a not so normal life. If you are a parent of a chronically ill child you know the … Continue reading →

+400

  

Enjoy this post written by Karen Brocker as she writes what it is like to be the mother of a daughter with a not so normal life. Part of living with an illness is learning how to WAIT.   We WAIT … Continue reading →

+383

  

My mom will be posting once a week throughout February, so enjoy this post written by Karen Brocker as she writes what it is like to be the mother of a daughter with a not so normal life. Sarah has … Continue reading →

+376

  

Being a realist is not the same as being a pessimist.  In fact, it makes me kind of angry when people tell me I am being pessimistic about my illness.  There are certain things that I say and do that … Continue reading →

+419

  

My mom will be posting once a week throughout February, so enjoy this post written by Karen Brocker as she writes what it is like to be the mother of a daughter with a not so normal life. I’m really … Continue reading →

+395

  

Ever heard the saying, “I love the person I am, because I fought to become her?”   True, I have fought so hard. But what happens when you don’t love who you are? And I don’t mean loving yourself in … Continue reading →

+420

  

Sometimes I forget how hard it is for people to be in my life. I forget that me being sick is hard on other people as well as hard on me.  Maybe it is because it hurts me to know … Continue reading →

+392

  

My mom will be posting once a week throughout February, so enjoy this post written by Karen Brocker as she writes what it is like to be the mother of a daughter with a not so normal life. Crohns is … Continue reading →

+428

  

The Wonderful Internet: The Internet is a wonderful thing and it can provide loads of helpful information, but what happens when all of sudden you have a new symptom and the Internet can give you all of the potential causes, … Continue reading →

+405

  

My mom will be posting once a week throughout February, so enjoy this post written by Karen Brocker as she writes what it is like to be the mother of a daughter with a not so normal life. Most parents … Continue reading →

+405

  

Do you see what I see? Weight, What? I am a total Type A, perfectionist, always striving to be and look my best.  But what does that mean for my appearance since I’m so sick? Society tells me that thin … Continue reading →

+360

  

So right now I just do not feel good.  My mom asked me how I didn’t feel good and I actually can’t explain it.   I am not more nauseous than normal and I am not in excessive pain, but … Continue reading →

+319

  

One-Size-Fits-All Myth: There are very few things in life that are truly one-size-fits-all.  Actually the only clothing item that is coming to mind that actually works that way is a scarf. When I am in a store and they claim that … Continue reading →

+317

  

  Clinically Insane.  The definition of insane is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results each time.  By this definition, I am clinically insane.  Want to know why?  Because I keep trying to eat, sometimes it … Continue reading →

+315

  

There are certain moments in life that make all the hard work worth it.  It’s like reaching the top of the mountain (I imagine since I’ve never actually climbed one) or finishing a big race (once again, only speculation).  Yesterday … Continue reading →

+355

  

If there was one thing that I wished people understood about Crohns Disease, it’s that just because I do not look or act sick, DOES NOT mean I am not sick.  I could very easily look sick every day and complain every … Continue reading →

+377

  

First off, my apologies for being so behind on writing.  The Christmas season was a blur of vacations and family gatherings.  It has been wonderful, but incredibly busy. There was one slight hitch in my holiday festivities: I CAN’T EAT. … Continue reading →

+370

  

Enjoying the Florida sun without having to have my port accessed!   What did I learn this past year?  This question keeps running through my mind, yet I am having a hard time finding an answer.   I know I … Continue reading →

+331

  

Me & my Mom on our recent trip to Nashville over Thanksgiving *This Blog Post is written by my mom Karen Brocker about what it is like to have a child grow up chronically ill.  Thanks Mom! When Sarah was … Continue reading →

+358

  

Stress causes your body’s endocrine, nervous, physical systems to react. All of these responses stem from your, autonomic nervous system (ANS). Your ANS is a network of nerves reaching out from your spinal cord to every organ in your body. … Continue reading →

+337

  

Life is a balancing act.  Everyone has to balance their time, money, energy, relationships, and goals.  Everyone’s balance looks different depending on what is important to them.   But inherent in the definition of balance is the idea of having … Continue reading →

+419

  

I feel like writing something that is funny, but I am not really a funny person, and I know that, so instead, I am going to write about things other people have said that are funny! How am I going … Continue reading →

+385

  

When you go to the bathroom as many times as I do a day, you learn some tips and tricks to avoiding potentially embarrassing situations when taking crap.  So here are some of my most prizes tips to to avoiding … Continue reading →

+383

  

Interviewing can be nerve-racking for everyone.  Saying the right thing, avoiding saying the wrong thing, and making yourself seem awesome.  But as I search for jobs for after graduation, I am faced with an interesting dilemma.  Do I mention my … Continue reading →

+366

  

Warning: This Blog post will contain explicit material, but you are going to want to continue reading anyways because I will be talking about poop in a highly entertaining manner! I have a riddle and I encourage you to delve deep … Continue reading →

+349

  

This isn’t a normal blog post for me, but I believe that I have a rather unique perspective on the issue of dating. Therefore, this post is written to women and men everywhere, but especially the ones who claim that … Continue reading →

+366

  

Someone the other day, told me I need to really delve into how I feel and share that with my readers.  And it’s true.  Emotions and real life experiences make a person relatable to others! But for me, right now, sharing … Continue reading →

+355

  

-Some Crohns Patients use the bathroom upwards of 20 to 30 times a day during a flare- Long Car Rides: Too many Bathroom Breaks So this past weekend was my fall break and my mom and I traveled to Wisconsin … Continue reading →

+374

  

“Show me a hero and I’ll write you a tragedy.” -Fitzgerald Think back to the last time an unexpected crisis affected you and how you felt at that point in time.   Maybe a family member got sick and/or died, … Continue reading →

+331

  

Know the ins and outs of all your medications.  Starting a new medication can be both exciting and scary.  A new medication brings the hope of remission.  It can also bring the fear of another failed drug and sometimes even … Continue reading →

+380

  

There are very few things in life that truly last forever, you can change how you look, you can change partners, people die and families change, you can change your personality, and you can fall in and out of love. … Continue reading →

+359

  

Last week I found myself heading to the hospital mid-afternoon, and although I was not completely surprised, I had not packed for the hospital at all. In fact I had brought business casual clothing, makeup and hair accessories in order … Continue reading →

+345

  

Two weekends ago, I had the amazing opportunity to attend the Intense Intestines Foundation 3rd annual rock climb event!  I was both nervous and excited about the trip, but lets me honestly, I was mostly just excited!I had never flown … Continue reading →

+429

  

So since it’s spring break, and I can’t actually go any where near the water because of my port, I decided I was going to tan at home.   Simple enough for the most part, but for starters, I was … Continue reading →

+370

  

So since it’s spring break, and I can’t actually go any where near the water because of my port, I decided I was going to tan at home.   Simple enough for the most part, but for starters, I was … Continue reading →

+418

  

It’s been a long time since I’ve written.   It’s been a long time since I’ve really thought or let myself feel about being sick. When things get too much for me to handle, I do this thing called “survival … Continue reading →

+417

  

It’s been a long time since I’ve written.   It’s been a long time since I’ve really thought or let myself feel about being sick. When things get too much for me to handle, I do this thing called “survival … Continue reading →

+399

  

Can you get a massage with an accessed portacath?  This is the question I kept asking myself over the past couple months.   I get so stressed with school and being sick, that sometimes I just really need a massage, … Continue reading →

+323

  

Can you get a massage with an accessed portacath?  This is the question I kept asking myself over the past couple months.   I get so stressed with school and being sick, that sometimes I just really need a massage, … Continue reading →

+325

  

KnockOut Panties Night-Tee from knockoutpanties.com Okay so lets be real for a second, when you are living with a Chronic Illness, night sweats are just something that you learn to live with.   When I am flaring, I have night … Continue reading →

+343

  

For someone with a Chronic Illness, “how are you” is a complicated question.  In a split second, you have to analyze how much the person cares.   Because with a chronic illness, you aren’t just good, fine or okay.  Each … Continue reading →

+475

  

For someone with a Chronic Illness, “how are you” is a complicated question.  In a split second, you have to analyze how much the person cares.   Because with a chronic illness, you aren’t just good, fine or okay.  Each … Continue reading →

+501

  

I have this unbelievable fear of overreacting to a symptom.  For some reason, I am terrified that one of these days, I am going to make a big deal out of a symptom that turns out to be nothing.   … Continue reading →

+489

  

I have this unbelievable fear of overreacting to a symptom.  For some reason, I am terrified that one of these days, I am going to make a big deal out of a symptom that turns out to be nothing.   … Continue reading →

+472

  

When I get sick, my whole body gets sick, including my hair. During flares, my hair tends to become very thin and hard to manage.  Therefor, I have developed some simple tips to help combat thin, limp and brittle hair! … Continue reading →

+508

  

When I get sick, my whole body gets sick, including my hair. During flares, my hair tends to become very thin and hard to manage.  Therefor, I have developed some simple tips to help combat thin, limp and brittle hair! … Continue reading →

+487

  

So I don’t like to cry.  At all.  In fact when I cry I often feel weak and I know that isn’t the case, but I really really don’t like to cry. Plus sometimes when I cry, I can’t stop … Continue reading →

+513

  

So I don’t like to cry.  At all.  In fact when I cry I often feel weak and I know that isn’t the case, but I really really don’t like to cry. Plus sometimes when I cry, I can’t stop … Continue reading →

+465

  

Today’s video deals with the dangers of asking What-If….We all do it at times, but what we don’t realize is that asking “what if” is actually harmful to us!  So check out my video as I give an alternative to … Continue reading →

+468

  

Today’s video deals with the dangers of asking What-If….We all do it at times, but what we don’t realize is that asking “what if” is actually harmful to us!  So check out my video as I give an alternative to … Continue reading →

+481

  

Do you ever just feel like you can’t catch a break with your health?  That one thing after another goes wrong with your body and there is nothing you can do to stop it?  Well that is how I feel … Continue reading →

+488

  

So as some of you know, for the past 4 weeks or so I have been experiences headaches and vision problems.  I went to the ER two weeks ago to have an MRV, which is different from an MRI, done … Continue reading →

+419

  

Ever had someone tell you that you look tired?  How did that make you feel? Uh it probably kind of made you feel like crap.  Ya if you didn’t feel like crap before, you definitely did after.  Now imagine always … Continue reading →

+379

  

Being sick makes moving around so incredibly complicated.  Not only because I feel crappy, but because I have to lug all my medical equipment with me wherever I go.  For me, whenever I travel overnight, I have to have my … Continue reading →

+370

  

Going into a doctor’s appointment can be entirely overwhelming.  They use big words and talk a lot, and in general. when people use big words, I just smile and nod.  But when you are at the doctors, you can’t just … Continue reading →

+413

  

This past year was extremely difficult for me.  I had three surgeries, stayed about 2 months in the hospital and had 2 PICC lines and now a portacath.  Being sick is hard, but learning to “dance in the rain” and … Continue reading →

+396