We’ve carefully selected these blogs because they are actively working to educate, inspire, and empower their readers with frequent updates and high-quality information. If you would like to tell us about a blog, nominate them by emailing us at [email protected]!
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, including diarrhea, fever, weight loss, abdominal pain, cramping, and more. Though the disease is most often treated with medication, as many as half of people with Crohn’s will require surgery to remove damaged portions of the digestive tract.
Living with a chronic disease can be an isolating experience. But there are always others in the same boat. Finding them and aligning with them can bring a sense of community and relief to life with the disease. We’ve rounded up some of the best blogs online in hopes of making those connections easier.
Jenni Schaeffer suffers with fibromyalgia, depression, and anxiety, as well as Crohn’s disease. But, as you’ll see from her blog, she manages to stay upbeat through it all (see the “Random Funny Stuff” section). Equal parts reflection and humor, there are memes, treatment updates, setbacks, and triumphs. There’s also a whole section on how to be a good ally to someone with Crohn’s by knowing what to say, and what not to.
For folks with Crohn’s disease, an ostomy is one of the more dramatic (but often necessary) surgical interventions. Uncover Ostomy is an organization dedicated to bringing awareness to what it means to live with an ostomy, in the hope of dispelling some of the stigma associated with them. Folks preparing to get an ostomy or those relatively new to living with one will find the posts and personal stories comforting. We particularly like their profiles of people living with them.
Vern lives with Crohn’s and has been blogging about it since 2009. He shares his journey and his art with the world here. We love his humorous “You Might Be a Crohnie” series, and the section dedicated to his art work, a form of therapy Vern uses to take his mind off the drudgery and pain of his disease.
Ali Feller is a writer, runner, and Crohn’s survivor — and if you have Crohn’s and live for athletics, this is the blog for you. Ali hosts a podcast by the same name as her blog, and while both focus mostly on running, Crohn’s is a part of Ali’s daily life and comes up quite frequently. We love the balance of athleticism and reflection that Ali shares, as well as her upbeat energy.
Sara Ringer’s journey is unique, given that she has both Crohn’s and chronic intestinal pseudo obstruction. Between the two, Sara faces chronic pain, frequent hospitalization, and relies on intravenous feeding (TPN) to deliver nutrition to her body. Through it all, Sara is resilient and open, forging a meaningful connection with her readers and inspiring us all.
Tammy Williams is a successful medical malpractice attorney who left her legal career in 2015 at the age of 46 to hit the road. Literally. She currently lives in an RV, from which she travels the country and blogs about her adventures. But this isn’t merely a travel blog. It’s a glimpse into Tammy’s mind as much as it is a view out of her driver’s window. Adding to the uniqueness of Tammy’s current nomadic life is her “constant companion,” Crohn’s disease. We love her writing style, her roadside reviews, and her reflections on life with Crohn’s.
Stephanie Hughes is a mom living with Crohn’s disease and a stoma. She blogs about all aspects of her life, but especially how the disease and motherhood shape her. While getting a stoma was a difficult decision for Hughes, she says it gave her life back. Recently, she’s been blogging about an exciting development in her life: her second pregnancy.
There are many approaches when it comes to treating Crohn’s disease. For Alexa, who was diagnosed at age 12 in 2007, following the paleo lifestyle helps to manage the symptoms. She blogs about that and more on Girl in Healing. Alexa recognizes that medication has its place in the treatment of Crohn’s, but she says eating according to Paleo principles has helped her significantly. On her blog, you can read about what she’s eating and see the delicious photos that go with it. She also shares tips and tricks that she’s found effective for staying healthy.
Crohn’s & Colitis UK is the United Kingdom’s largest charity working against Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. Founded in 1979, the organization has more than 32,000 members, and their blog is a great place to read up about advancements in Crohn’s treatments, as well as learn about fundraising efforts to improve Crohn’s research. We particularly like the personal stories of people living with Crohn’s disease.
When this nonprofit-working, book-loving blogger realized how helpful blogs were when she needed support on her journey with Crohn’s disease, she created one herself! Now her blog is filled with useful, humorous, and educational posts. The blogger is a traveler, so you can expect to read about her journeys and how she manages the symptoms of her condition while exploring the world. For people with Crohn’s who worry about venturing too far from home, this blog can help alleviate fears and offer practical advice.
This blog is part of Crohn’s Forum, an active community of online friends affected by IBD, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. The blog goes one step further than the forums, offering educational posts that discuss diets, treatment, travel, and more. Recently, we enjoyed the profile of Dr. Karen Edelblum, an assistant professor at Rutgers University who both studies and lives with Crohn’s.
Thalia Skye is a young woman with Crohn’s and a stoma. Her posts vary from deep and honest reflections to dry wit, and cover everything from body image to how Ryan Reynolds helped her through a colonoscopy. Skye is a breath of fresh air and is a great role model for other young women dealing with the stigma and emotional fallout of Crohn’s disease.
While working to help find a cure to both Crohn’s and colitis, this charity hopes to improve the lives of everyone living with IBD. Their blog is a wealth of information. If you live in Canada, you can find a calendar of events with fundraising efforts and campaign details. We particularly love the impact stories they share, which shine a light on the people living with Crohn’s, researching it, and volunteering to find a cure for it.