WEBVTT 00:00:03.099 --> 00:00:06.139 I just look at life a lot differently now. I 00:00:06.139 --> 00:00:08.279 think I'm very grateful for the times that I 00:00:08.279 --> 00:00:11.380 do feel really good. But it has changed. Like, 00:00:11.419 --> 00:00:13.619 a lot of my relationships have changed. A lot 00:00:13.619 --> 00:00:17.420 of, like, the way I look. has changed. My hair 00:00:17.420 --> 00:00:19.300 is a lot thinner than it was like a couple years 00:00:19.300 --> 00:00:22.519 ago. My weight fluctuates like all the time. 00:00:22.600 --> 00:00:24.980 Like I don't have a lot of energy anymore. So 00:00:24.980 --> 00:00:27.079 just trying to like navigate those things can 00:00:27.079 --> 00:00:29.600 be really hard because it's like I can't do what 00:00:29.600 --> 00:00:32.079 I did when I was like 21 and I didn't have like 00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:35.979 these issues. So just trying to find ways like 00:00:35.979 --> 00:00:40.640 enjoy life, but in a different way now. This 00:00:40.640 --> 00:00:42.820 is Kim, who got diagnosed with Crohn's disease 00:00:42.820 --> 00:00:46.679 at age 26 in Atlanta, Georgia. In the beginning, 00:00:46.780 --> 00:00:49.340 doctors dismissed Kim's symptoms as allergic 00:00:49.340 --> 00:00:53.439 reactions, liver issues, and even IBS. Kim's 00:00:53.439 --> 00:00:56.560 story is one familiar to many IBD patients. Years 00:00:56.560 --> 00:00:59.159 of being misdiagnosed before someone finally 00:00:59.159 --> 00:01:02.119 put the puzzle together. Today, she's sharing 00:01:02.119 --> 00:01:04.879 the ins and outs of living with Crohn's and what 00:01:04.879 --> 00:01:07.000 it's like to jump from one flare to the next. 00:01:07.480 --> 00:01:10.659 This is Talking S***, presented by Colitis Unfiltered. 00:01:10.920 --> 00:01:13.980 My name is Frank Tabering, and Kim, welcome to 00:01:13.980 --> 00:01:16.599 the show. Hi, thank you so much for having me. 00:01:16.900 --> 00:01:20.540 It's a pleasure. So Crohn's, let's quickly talk 00:01:20.540 --> 00:01:24.700 about the timeline of your disease. So when it 00:01:24.700 --> 00:01:27.700 started and then also what you kind of went through, 00:01:27.780 --> 00:01:30.560 where you are today. Take us to your timeline. 00:01:31.759 --> 00:01:34.159 This disease is honestly taking me through hell, 00:01:34.280 --> 00:01:38.540 but I would probably say back in like 2022, I 00:01:38.540 --> 00:01:40.859 actually, my first symptom was kind of like an 00:01:40.859 --> 00:01:42.799 autoimmune rash, and I didn't know it at the 00:01:42.799 --> 00:01:44.900 time, but it literally like exploded like all 00:01:44.900 --> 00:01:47.359 over my face, and I didn't really think anything 00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:49.019 of it. I just thought it was like an allergic 00:01:49.019 --> 00:01:51.540 reaction. Went to the dermatologist. They were 00:01:51.540 --> 00:01:53.299 like, yep, definitely allergic reaction, but 00:01:53.299 --> 00:01:55.579 it just never went away. And then a little bit 00:01:55.579 --> 00:01:58.239 after that was like all the stomach pain started 00:01:58.239 --> 00:02:00.180 happening. I was like in and out of the doctors 00:02:00.180 --> 00:02:02.700 all the time. And they could never tell me like 00:02:02.700 --> 00:02:04.400 what was going on. They just said, oh, yeah, 00:02:04.439 --> 00:02:06.560 you have IBS. And they're like, oh, but you're 00:02:06.560 --> 00:02:09.199 also anemic. But you also have like IBS. And 00:02:09.199 --> 00:02:10.939 I was like, OK, well, what can I do about that? 00:02:11.039 --> 00:02:13.340 Because like I'm in pain all the time. Like what's 00:02:13.340 --> 00:02:15.479 kind of going on? And it would kind of come like 00:02:15.479 --> 00:02:17.740 in waves. So like there was a couple months where 00:02:17.740 --> 00:02:19.139 I felt like really good. I could eat whatever 00:02:19.139 --> 00:02:21.039 I wanted. And then there were some months where 00:02:21.039 --> 00:02:23.969 I was just like. on like bedridden basically 00:02:23.969 --> 00:02:26.490 and it was really really hard because I just 00:02:26.490 --> 00:02:28.550 felt like I didn't really have anyone like listening 00:02:28.550 --> 00:02:31.050 to all the pain that I was going through and 00:02:31.050 --> 00:02:33.849 I finally went to another doctor they did like 00:02:33.849 --> 00:02:35.750 an ultrasound and they said that I had like liver 00:02:35.750 --> 00:02:38.770 issues and I was like okay I'm like 24 years 00:02:38.770 --> 00:02:41.569 old at this point and I just turned 28 like a 00:02:41.569 --> 00:02:43.349 couple days ago so I was like how could I have 00:02:43.349 --> 00:02:45.550 liver issues at 24 like that actually sounds 00:02:45.550 --> 00:02:48.169 insane and they're like yeah it's just mild fatty 00:02:48.169 --> 00:02:50.710 liver just like eat clean and you can reverse 00:02:50.710 --> 00:02:52.349 it and i was like okay and they're like yeah 00:02:52.349 --> 00:02:54.569 and you're also anemic so just like take an iron 00:02:54.569 --> 00:02:56.550 pill and you'll be fine and i was like okay cool 00:02:56.550 --> 00:02:59.449 did that for a couple months reversed my like 00:02:59.449 --> 00:03:02.409 mild fatty liver but i was still in so much pain 00:03:02.409 --> 00:03:05.680 like stomach wise And again, it came in waves. 00:03:05.719 --> 00:03:07.939 Like I was really good one month, really bad 00:03:07.939 --> 00:03:09.500 another month. And I was like, what is going 00:03:09.500 --> 00:03:12.139 on? I also lost like a dramatic amount of weight. 00:03:12.439 --> 00:03:15.280 I was like 125. I went down to like 100 pounds. 00:03:15.360 --> 00:03:17.780 Like it was just really bad. And then after I 00:03:17.780 --> 00:03:19.960 like reversed my like mild fatty liver, like 00:03:19.960 --> 00:03:21.719 I started eating a lot more. And again, like 00:03:21.719 --> 00:03:25.020 I felt super, super good. And then early 2025, 00:03:25.219 --> 00:03:29.460 I would say I was just like throwing up like 00:03:29.460 --> 00:03:32.300 all the time. Like it didn't matter what I put 00:03:32.300 --> 00:03:35.520 in my system, water, like soup, everything I 00:03:35.520 --> 00:03:37.000 was throwing up. And again, I lost like a whole 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:38.960 bunch of weight. And I was also like in and out 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:40.379 of the bathroom, like all the time. I couldn't 00:03:40.379 --> 00:03:42.860 eat anything, had horrible stomach cramps, like 00:03:42.860 --> 00:03:45.419 everything. Went to the doctor, would have listened 00:03:45.419 --> 00:03:48.900 to me again. It wasn't until my mom like pretty 00:03:48.900 --> 00:03:50.919 much called them and was like, my daughter's 00:03:50.919 --> 00:03:52.840 literally like dying. Like I'm about to take 00:03:52.840 --> 00:03:54.240 her to the hospital if like you don't do something 00:03:54.240 --> 00:03:57.460 about it. Got a colonoscopy done and then boom. 00:03:58.169 --> 00:04:01.689 They diagnosed me with Crohn's and it's been 00:04:01.689 --> 00:04:04.050 really hard. Like I wasn't on medication for 00:04:04.050 --> 00:04:06.169 a really long time and I was just kind of like, 00:04:06.169 --> 00:04:09.169 I guess in denial about like the whole thing. 00:04:09.229 --> 00:04:10.930 I was like, this like can't be happening to me. 00:04:10.969 --> 00:04:13.169 Like I'm super fit. Like I go to the gym all 00:04:13.169 --> 00:04:14.930 the time. I eat really healthy. Like why is this 00:04:14.930 --> 00:04:17.569 happening to me? And then I finally started medication 00:04:17.569 --> 00:04:20.430 and like I am feeling a lot better, but there 00:04:20.430 --> 00:04:22.889 are days where I just, again, like I'll randomly 00:04:22.889 --> 00:04:25.329 throw up. Can't eat anything. Can't even stomach 00:04:25.329 --> 00:04:28.290 water. It's just, like, such a process, I guess. 00:04:28.870 --> 00:04:32.689 So, yeah. You mentioned the first, like, symptoms 00:04:32.689 --> 00:04:35.189 that you had until you got officially diagnosed. 00:04:35.970 --> 00:04:38.550 Months and months passed, right? Like, did you 00:04:38.550 --> 00:04:41.490 just see, like, one doctor and it was, like, 00:04:41.490 --> 00:04:43.110 oh, it's just the same doctor that told you, 00:04:43.129 --> 00:04:44.310 oh, it's nothing, it's nothing, and you just 00:04:44.310 --> 00:04:47.810 trusted that person? Or did you seek another 00:04:47.810 --> 00:04:51.009 opinion? Or how did you navigate sort of, like, 00:04:51.029 --> 00:04:54.670 the... the doctor -patient relationship and not 00:04:54.670 --> 00:04:56.970 knowing what is going on and nobody really telling 00:04:56.970 --> 00:05:00.610 you or trying to dig deeper, right, about what 00:05:00.610 --> 00:05:03.839 you have. Yeah, I went to multiple doctors. Like, 00:05:03.879 --> 00:05:06.699 I went to a primary care doctor. She just wrote 00:05:06.699 --> 00:05:08.220 me off and was like, you need to go see the GI. 00:05:08.379 --> 00:05:10.819 And I said, okay. Went to go see a GI. She was 00:05:10.819 --> 00:05:12.560 like, oh, you're just anemic. You probably just 00:05:12.560 --> 00:05:14.879 have IBS. Like, you're stressed out or something 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:16.300 like that, which is causing you to have, like, 00:05:16.339 --> 00:05:18.120 all these stomach problems. And I'm like, okay. 00:05:18.860 --> 00:05:20.620 Went to another doctor. I probably went to, like, 00:05:20.620 --> 00:05:22.839 three or four before, like, one actually took 00:05:22.839 --> 00:05:25.360 me seriously. And then even after I got diagnosed, 00:05:25.579 --> 00:05:27.490 my doctor was like, yeah, you can eat whatever 00:05:27.490 --> 00:05:29.750 you want. Just don't eat anything hard. Like 00:05:29.750 --> 00:05:32.670 don't have like meat or like hard chicken or 00:05:32.670 --> 00:05:34.230 like fried chicken and stuff like that. And I 00:05:34.230 --> 00:05:36.170 was like, you're actually insane. I can't eat 00:05:36.170 --> 00:05:38.649 anything. Like I can't even have like rice. Like 00:05:38.649 --> 00:05:40.310 everything makes my stomach hurt. Like you're 00:05:40.310 --> 00:05:43.149 not helping me at all. So that was the doctor 00:05:43.149 --> 00:05:45.470 that actually diagnosed you with Crohn's. Yeah. 00:05:45.750 --> 00:05:48.350 Yeah. And he was telling me, eat whatever you 00:05:48.350 --> 00:05:50.649 want. Like, it's fine. And I was like, well. 00:05:51.129 --> 00:05:53.610 I can't even drink water or have mashed potatoes 00:05:53.610 --> 00:05:55.970 or rice or anything like that. So I really don't 00:05:55.970 --> 00:05:57.629 know what you're talking about. And my mom was 00:05:57.629 --> 00:06:01.050 like not having it. She like, I wouldn't say 00:06:01.050 --> 00:06:03.209 she like cussed them out, but she was like, how 00:06:03.209 --> 00:06:05.110 dare you basically like treat my daughter like 00:06:05.110 --> 00:06:07.189 this? Like, this is all so new to her. It's all 00:06:07.189 --> 00:06:09.050 like new to us. Like, how could you do this to 00:06:09.050 --> 00:06:11.689 us? So yeah, we ended up finding another doctor 00:06:11.689 --> 00:06:16.329 and yeah, it's been a process. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. 00:06:16.670 --> 00:06:20.399 So right now today, You know, how are you feeling 00:06:20.399 --> 00:06:25.139 generally? I have good days and bad days. I feel 00:06:25.139 --> 00:06:27.779 like I have a lot more good days now just because 00:06:27.779 --> 00:06:30.100 like I'm on Sky Rizzy and that's like the first 00:06:30.100 --> 00:06:32.339 medication I started. And I started that like 00:06:32.339 --> 00:06:35.560 February of this year. And so I do feel a lot 00:06:35.560 --> 00:06:39.220 better, but I still get flares like almost every 00:06:39.220 --> 00:06:42.000 month. And I'm still trying to kind of like navigate 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:44.199 like what's the main cause of it? Like, is it 00:06:44.199 --> 00:06:48.279 food? Is it stress related? Is it like? I don't 00:06:48.279 --> 00:06:50.680 know, just trying to like figure out what exactly 00:06:50.680 --> 00:06:53.319 like the root cause of it is. But I'm like starting 00:06:53.319 --> 00:06:55.300 to notice that like if I take too long, like 00:06:55.300 --> 00:06:57.639 like throughout the day or if I'm like really 00:06:57.639 --> 00:07:00.779 stressed out or really emotional, it like the 00:07:00.779 --> 00:07:05.279 flares start to happen. So I feel better, but 00:07:05.279 --> 00:07:08.420 I'm still not like 100 percent. When you're being 00:07:08.420 --> 00:07:10.939 pulled into one of these flares, how did you 00:07:10.939 --> 00:07:12.620 navigate them? First of all, like how long do 00:07:12.620 --> 00:07:16.180 they typically last and what do you do? to sort 00:07:16.180 --> 00:07:19.199 of protect yourself, apply some self -care? How 00:07:19.199 --> 00:07:21.040 are you experiencing those flares? What are you 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:24.660 doing? How are you surviving those flares? That's 00:07:24.660 --> 00:07:26.839 a really good question. I'm actually in a flare 00:07:26.839 --> 00:07:30.540 right now, so it's funny that you say that. I 00:07:30.540 --> 00:07:33.259 think before medication, my flares would last 00:07:33.259 --> 00:07:36.600 like at least a week or more, and I would pretty 00:07:36.600 --> 00:07:40.339 much just be in bed. like the whole day now it's 00:07:40.339 --> 00:07:43.720 more like it'll last like a couple days and like 00:07:43.720 --> 00:07:46.540 I'll slowly start to like eat again so just eating 00:07:46.540 --> 00:07:49.300 like a lot of soft foods like my pantry is just 00:07:49.300 --> 00:07:51.879 stocked with like cans of chicken noodle soup 00:07:51.879 --> 00:07:54.959 so I'm like always prepared same thing with like 00:07:54.959 --> 00:07:58.600 protein shakes and my heating pad is always next 00:07:58.600 --> 00:08:01.800 to my bed I do castor oil packs like every night 00:08:01.800 --> 00:08:04.060 so when I do get into a flare I do them like 00:08:04.060 --> 00:08:05.720 more often like I'll keep it on like the whole 00:08:05.720 --> 00:08:09.800 entire day and at night too And I just like rest 00:08:09.800 --> 00:08:12.600 and just hydrate as much as I can and just like 00:08:12.600 --> 00:08:15.139 trying not to stress myself out. I noticed like 00:08:15.139 --> 00:08:16.899 during flares too, I will have like a lot of 00:08:16.899 --> 00:08:19.639 anxiety. So I try to like keep myself like kind 00:08:19.639 --> 00:08:21.379 of busy. So I'm not just like laying in bed. 00:08:21.459 --> 00:08:24.100 Like, why is this happening to me? So like reading 00:08:24.100 --> 00:08:26.040 or just finding anything to kind of like distract 00:08:26.040 --> 00:08:29.680 myself and just like taking it easy. Like if 00:08:29.680 --> 00:08:32.299 the only thing I did today was get up and take 00:08:32.299 --> 00:08:34.100 a shower, that's like an accomplishment for me. 00:08:35.210 --> 00:08:38.070 I think the heating pad is definitely resonating 00:08:38.070 --> 00:08:40.309 with me because one of the things that I used 00:08:40.309 --> 00:08:43.110 to do during my colitis flares is just heating 00:08:43.110 --> 00:08:45.730 pad, comfortable blanket. And literally, I would 00:08:45.730 --> 00:08:48.769 lie on a comfortable carpet even because it's 00:08:48.769 --> 00:08:50.590 a little bit harder surface, you know, in fetal 00:08:50.590 --> 00:08:53.529 position and then just rest, you know, like nothing 00:08:53.529 --> 00:08:56.289 else matters. It's just getting through the pain. 00:08:56.330 --> 00:08:58.870 So I can definitely relate to that. Now, going 00:08:58.870 --> 00:09:02.169 back to your diagnosis. When the doctor told 00:09:02.169 --> 00:09:04.570 you you have Crohn's, what went through your 00:09:04.570 --> 00:09:07.230 mind? Have you heard of Crohn's before? Did the 00:09:07.230 --> 00:09:09.590 doctor explain it to you? Did you have to go 00:09:09.590 --> 00:09:11.929 and do your own research? Take me a little bit 00:09:11.929 --> 00:09:15.190 through the process of moment of diagnosis and 00:09:15.190 --> 00:09:18.669 what went through your mind. So it's actually 00:09:18.669 --> 00:09:20.809 funny. I heard of Crohn's like a couple of days 00:09:20.809 --> 00:09:23.649 before my colonoscopy because my mom is actually 00:09:23.649 --> 00:09:25.730 friends with a nurse and it was like telling 00:09:25.730 --> 00:09:28.269 her like what was going on. And the nurse was 00:09:28.269 --> 00:09:31.019 like, oh, like she probably has Crohn's. And 00:09:31.019 --> 00:09:32.860 so I looked it up and I was like, oh my God, 00:09:32.899 --> 00:09:35.240 like this is the last thing. that I want and 00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:38.139 I was like hoping and praying I was like I don't 00:09:38.139 --> 00:09:40.100 care what it is I just really don't want it to 00:09:40.100 --> 00:09:43.139 be this but of course like I just have bad luck 00:09:43.139 --> 00:09:46.059 and I was still kind of like loopy like from 00:09:46.059 --> 00:09:49.039 coming out of like my colonoscopy and they're 00:09:49.039 --> 00:09:51.799 like yeah like she definitely like has Crohn's 00:09:51.799 --> 00:09:54.019 and I was just like of course like of course 00:09:54.019 --> 00:09:56.240 I have Crohn's like I just felt like super defeated 00:09:56.240 --> 00:09:59.240 never even like heard much about it they were 00:09:59.240 --> 00:10:02.129 just like telling my mom like it's hereditary 00:10:02.129 --> 00:10:04.190 or it's caused by like environmental factors 00:10:04.190 --> 00:10:06.409 and i'm like well nobody in my family has it 00:10:06.409 --> 00:10:09.450 so i'm just like the unlucky one that got this 00:10:09.450 --> 00:10:14.049 yeah yeah so we talked a little bit about what 00:10:14.049 --> 00:10:16.350 you're doing while you're flaring but then when 00:10:16.350 --> 00:10:18.350 you have periods that you're you're actually 00:10:18.350 --> 00:10:20.870 feeling good you're coming out of the flare and 00:10:20.870 --> 00:10:23.029 me for instance i've been lucky enough to be 00:10:23.029 --> 00:10:25.789 in remission for a long time But every time, 00:10:25.830 --> 00:10:28.409 for instance, for me, if I see a little bit of 00:10:28.409 --> 00:10:31.750 like a difference in my stool or I have some 00:10:31.750 --> 00:10:34.389 abdominal pain, there's this fear that creeps 00:10:34.389 --> 00:10:36.950 into my head, right? Telling me, could this be 00:10:36.950 --> 00:10:39.309 the next flare, right? Could this be the end 00:10:39.309 --> 00:10:42.049 of my remission? So when you actually feel good 00:10:42.049 --> 00:10:43.429 in those periods where you're not necessarily 00:10:43.429 --> 00:10:50.250 flaring, how do you manage this fear of when 00:10:50.250 --> 00:10:54.460 does the next flare show up? it's always kind 00:10:54.460 --> 00:10:57.240 of in the back of my mind, you know, when I do 00:10:57.240 --> 00:10:59.039 have periods of, like, feeling good. I think 00:10:59.039 --> 00:11:00.779 I'm just so used to getting one, like, every 00:11:00.779 --> 00:11:02.879 month, and I'm just like, okay, well, I know 00:11:02.879 --> 00:11:05.759 it's gonna come eventually, so I'm just kind 00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:08.320 of, like, anticipating it, which I feel like, 00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:10.519 in a way, like, isn't good because, like, your 00:11:10.519 --> 00:11:12.500 gut and your mind are very connected. Like, your 00:11:12.500 --> 00:11:14.299 gut is, like, pretty much your second brain, 00:11:14.379 --> 00:11:16.899 so I feel like just by me saying, oh, yeah, I'm 00:11:16.899 --> 00:11:18.659 about to get one in, like, the next couple weeks 00:11:18.659 --> 00:11:20.299 because I haven't gotten one this month, and 00:11:20.299 --> 00:11:23.570 it's just, like, In a way, like, signaling, like, 00:11:23.669 --> 00:11:27.009 my body, like, hey, like, we listen to you. Like, 00:11:27.110 --> 00:11:28.830 words are powerful. Like, it's going to happen 00:11:28.830 --> 00:11:31.090 if you keep saying that. So, yeah, I mean, it's 00:11:31.090 --> 00:11:33.470 always kind of in the back of my mind. And I 00:11:33.470 --> 00:11:35.710 try to be a lot more cautious about it now, but 00:11:35.710 --> 00:11:39.230 it still, like, creeps up on me. What I'm hearing 00:11:39.230 --> 00:11:41.309 is that at least when you're feeling good, you 00:11:41.309 --> 00:11:44.480 have these thoughts. I guess it's almost like 00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:46.120 a negative emotion, right? Because it's tied 00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:47.940 to fear that is coming. And you tell me that, 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:50.960 well, then it's almost like you're sort of unwillingly 00:11:50.960 --> 00:11:53.600 manifesting it and it might show up after. Are 00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:55.980 you also experiencing it the other way around? 00:11:56.080 --> 00:11:58.559 Let's say that if you're flaring or flare starting 00:11:58.559 --> 00:12:01.899 and you try to, I don't know, apply positivity 00:12:01.899 --> 00:12:04.019 or you're telling yourself, no, but I'm going 00:12:04.019 --> 00:12:07.659 to beat this thing. Are you noticing maybe a 00:12:07.659 --> 00:12:10.679 connection there as well? Or is it more like... 00:12:10.750 --> 00:12:12.850 the negative thoughts or the negative thinking 00:12:12.850 --> 00:12:15.769 that, that always wins. I feel like it's always 00:12:15.769 --> 00:12:18.090 a negative that always wins. I do try to stay 00:12:18.090 --> 00:12:19.850 positive, like throughout the thing. And I'm 00:12:19.850 --> 00:12:22.090 like, okay, like, you know, today I feel a lot 00:12:22.090 --> 00:12:24.470 better. Let me get up and, you know, at least 00:12:24.470 --> 00:12:25.950 like, let me try to clean my room. Let me try 00:12:25.950 --> 00:12:28.409 to at least do something. So I feel like it does 00:12:28.409 --> 00:12:31.549 sometimes, like I am like positive about it sometimes, 00:12:31.750 --> 00:12:33.769 but I don't think I've gotten to that point yet 00:12:33.769 --> 00:12:36.740 where I've like. can fully grasp like my disease 00:12:36.740 --> 00:12:39.980 because I'm still like so new to this like whole 00:12:39.980 --> 00:12:42.419 thing and like I was undiagnosed for like three 00:12:42.419 --> 00:12:45.899 years so this is like a whole new experience 00:12:45.899 --> 00:12:48.980 for me but I am trying to like stay positive 00:12:48.980 --> 00:12:51.519 and like hope that things will work out for me 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:53.399 like in the end but it's hard like when you're 00:12:53.399 --> 00:12:55.379 not feeling good and you have stuff that you 00:12:55.379 --> 00:12:57.460 have to do like I'm an adult like I have my own 00:12:57.460 --> 00:12:59.100 apartment I have a cat like I have all these 00:12:59.100 --> 00:13:01.240 things I have to do and then when I get into 00:13:01.240 --> 00:13:07.269 a flare I'm like why is this happening how do 00:13:07.269 --> 00:13:09.669 you think even though you're still early in your 00:13:09.669 --> 00:13:12.070 diagnosis you've been experiencing at least symptoms 00:13:12.070 --> 00:13:14.350 for a long time how do you think that Crohn's 00:13:14.350 --> 00:13:18.230 is changing you as a person or has changed you 00:13:18.230 --> 00:13:21.350 as a person already yeah I feel like it honestly 00:13:21.350 --> 00:13:23.909 has changed like my whole entire life I just 00:13:23.909 --> 00:13:26.769 look at life a lot differently now I think I'm 00:13:26.769 --> 00:13:29.250 very grateful for the times that I do feel really 00:13:29.250 --> 00:13:33.899 good and I'm just like happy when I feel good 00:13:33.899 --> 00:13:36.480 and I just I'm like okay like this feels great 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:38.279 like I'm happy to be alive like even though I 00:13:38.279 --> 00:13:40.360 have something that's like kind of debilitating 00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:44.019 sometimes like I am just like grateful for every 00:13:44.019 --> 00:13:47.159 moment that I feel decent but it has changed 00:13:47.159 --> 00:13:49.620 like a lot of my relationships have changed a 00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:53.629 lot of like The way I look has changed. My hair 00:13:53.629 --> 00:13:55.389 is a lot thinner than it was, like, a couple 00:13:55.389 --> 00:13:58.389 years ago. My weight fluctuates, like, all the 00:13:58.389 --> 00:14:00.350 time. Like, I don't have a lot of energy anymore. 00:14:01.309 --> 00:14:03.610 So just trying to, like, navigate those things 00:14:03.610 --> 00:14:06.070 can be really hard because it's, like, I can't 00:14:06.070 --> 00:14:08.409 do what I did when I was, like, 21 and I didn't 00:14:08.409 --> 00:14:12.210 have, like, these issues. So just trying to find 00:14:12.210 --> 00:14:15.389 ways to, like, enjoy life but in a different 00:14:15.389 --> 00:14:19.110 way now. So, yeah, I would probably say, like, 00:14:19.230 --> 00:14:21.629 everything about, like, my life has changed. 00:14:22.509 --> 00:14:25.889 Some good, some bad. You know, I know my body 00:14:25.889 --> 00:14:28.250 better than anybody else that's, like, technically, 00:14:28.330 --> 00:14:31.210 like, healthy. So I guess that's also, like, 00:14:31.250 --> 00:14:34.009 a good thing. And, like, food -wise, too. Like, 00:14:34.049 --> 00:14:37.590 I can't really eat as much as, like, a normal 00:14:37.590 --> 00:14:41.269 person, I guess. So, like, socially, like, body 00:14:41.269 --> 00:14:44.490 -wise, physically, all the above. Like, my whole 00:14:44.490 --> 00:14:47.919 life has basically turned upside down. Yeah, 00:14:47.919 --> 00:14:50.299 I was going to ask you actually, you touched 00:14:50.299 --> 00:14:53.279 on a few things that I wanted to mention as well, 00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:56.259 but like how do you feel that Crohn's has affected 00:14:56.259 --> 00:15:00.120 your body image, your intimacy, your relationships, 00:15:00.539 --> 00:15:05.559 you know, have you seen this sort of like impeding 00:15:05.559 --> 00:15:09.100 these things or in what ways has it or is it 00:15:09.100 --> 00:15:12.799 having an effect on you? So I would probably 00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:15.340 say like relationship wise, like it has been 00:15:15.340 --> 00:15:17.279 a little bit hard, just like doesn't even have 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:20.539 to be like romantic. But I love my friends. My 00:15:20.539 --> 00:15:24.080 life support system is amazing, but they don't 00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:27.299 really understand what I'm going through. And 00:15:27.299 --> 00:15:29.539 when I'm like in a flare or when there's like 00:15:29.539 --> 00:15:31.980 something that I can't do anymore, it's kind 00:15:31.980 --> 00:15:33.360 of like, oh, dang, but like you were able to 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:35.039 do those things before. And I'm like, yeah, but 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:38.000 it's different now. And I can't really do that. 00:15:38.800 --> 00:15:41.159 and of course they're super understanding but 00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:44.039 you know I'm just not the same Kim that I was 00:15:44.039 --> 00:15:47.639 like a couple years ago and it could be a little 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:50.779 frustrating sometimes like oh I can't do those 00:15:50.779 --> 00:15:52.460 things anymore like maybe they just like won't 00:15:52.460 --> 00:15:54.220 want to hang out with me or things like that 00:15:54.220 --> 00:15:59.139 but they've been very like gracious and amazing 00:15:59.139 --> 00:16:02.500 like throughout the whole thing so I guess like 00:16:02.500 --> 00:16:04.740 when it comes to meeting new people, like if 00:16:04.740 --> 00:16:06.519 I want to make new friends or like if I want 00:16:06.519 --> 00:16:07.820 to go on a date or something, I have to like 00:16:07.820 --> 00:16:10.480 sit down and explain to them like, hey, I can't 00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:12.220 like eat there because this is going to hurt 00:16:12.220 --> 00:16:14.919 my stomach because I have like an incurable stomach 00:16:14.919 --> 00:16:16.940 disease. And then I have to like sit down and 00:16:16.940 --> 00:16:19.500 explain to them and like if I have to like cancel 00:16:19.500 --> 00:16:21.000 plans with like a new friend because like I'm 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:24.039 not feeling well. So I think like my inner circle 00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:27.000 understands, but meeting new people can just 00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:30.639 be like a little bit harder, I guess. You say 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:31.980 your friends are supportive, but there's also 00:16:31.980 --> 00:16:35.679 a certain lack of understanding. When you talk 00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:38.500 to people about Crohn's, do you have a feeling 00:16:38.500 --> 00:16:42.220 that they do at least understand what it is? 00:16:42.340 --> 00:16:44.279 And also, and I think because when I talk to 00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:46.139 a lot of people online, you know, that are not 00:16:46.139 --> 00:16:48.379 really sure how to navigate this disease, they 00:16:48.379 --> 00:16:51.279 always wonder, how should I approach this with 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:55.279 friends or new people that I meet? What would 00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:58.110 you answer to them? on like how they should express 00:16:58.110 --> 00:17:01.669 themselves and what they should say about their 00:17:01.669 --> 00:17:07.029 condition that's a tough one um because it is 00:17:07.029 --> 00:17:08.970 like a disease that a lot of like if you don't 00:17:08.970 --> 00:17:11.740 have it yourself like You can't really explain 00:17:11.740 --> 00:17:13.740 it to someone like I try my best to be like, 00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:16.380 yeah, my flares literally feel like I have rocks 00:17:16.380 --> 00:17:18.779 scraping my insides. And like, of course, they're 00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:21.339 not going to know like what that feels like. 00:17:21.700 --> 00:17:23.940 So I guess I would just kind of explain like, 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:25.779 you know, I'm going to have my good days and 00:17:25.779 --> 00:17:27.859 I'm going to have my bad days, but my bad days 00:17:27.859 --> 00:17:30.279 are going to be really bad. And like if you can't 00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:32.980 accept and like understand that, then like we 00:17:32.980 --> 00:17:36.079 have no business like being friends or like romantic 00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:39.480 or whatever the case is, because this is something 00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:41.970 that. you know you're gonna have like forever 00:17:41.970 --> 00:17:43.789 even if you're in remission like you still have 00:17:43.789 --> 00:17:47.789 it and so it's just kind of finding the right 00:17:47.789 --> 00:17:51.150 words to like say I guess and just like letting 00:17:51.150 --> 00:17:53.549 them know like I may not look like I have anything 00:17:53.549 --> 00:17:57.230 wrong with me but I do and just because I'm moving 00:17:57.230 --> 00:17:58.849 around and like doing all these things does not 00:17:58.849 --> 00:18:01.369 mean that I'm not in pain so just for them to 00:18:01.369 --> 00:18:04.869 be like more understanding about that. Who has 00:18:04.869 --> 00:18:07.430 been your biggest supporter in this battle so 00:18:07.430 --> 00:18:11.950 far and how have They helped you through this 00:18:11.950 --> 00:18:15.289 disease. I would probably say like the online 00:18:15.289 --> 00:18:18.130 community that I've like built like on TikTok. 00:18:18.230 --> 00:18:20.450 Of course, like my friends and family like are 00:18:20.450 --> 00:18:22.690 amazing and I'm not ever going to say that they 00:18:22.690 --> 00:18:25.769 aren't. But again, it's very hard to explain 00:18:25.769 --> 00:18:29.130 this disease to somebody that doesn't really 00:18:29.130 --> 00:18:32.410 know like what I'm talking about. So I think 00:18:32.410 --> 00:18:34.529 everyone that I've met. throughout like this 00:18:34.529 --> 00:18:37.190 journey has been so like supportive and it's 00:18:37.190 --> 00:18:40.230 so nice to be able to like rant invent talk about 00:18:40.230 --> 00:18:42.150 medicine like all those types of things with 00:18:42.150 --> 00:18:45.559 like people that just understand My roommate 00:18:45.559 --> 00:18:49.059 is also amazing. She may not fully like understand 00:18:49.059 --> 00:18:51.099 like what's happening, but she does try to like 00:18:51.099 --> 00:18:53.480 be there for me like when I'm sick, especially 00:18:53.480 --> 00:18:55.420 because like I lived with my parents like when 00:18:55.420 --> 00:18:57.519 I was first diagnosed and my mom was always like 00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:59.220 running to my room, making sure I was good, trying 00:18:59.220 --> 00:19:01.400 to find like different ways to like help me. 00:19:02.019 --> 00:19:04.619 And my roommate has kind of like taken that role. 00:19:05.349 --> 00:19:07.170 And if I'm not feeling well, she'll make me like 00:19:07.170 --> 00:19:09.089 a tea or she's like, you know, is there anything 00:19:09.089 --> 00:19:11.230 I can get you? So I'm like really grateful to 00:19:11.230 --> 00:19:13.910 have that. And also like the online community 00:19:13.910 --> 00:19:16.250 like as well. And I'm sure your cat probably 00:19:16.250 --> 00:19:19.990 as well, right? Yeah, she's a little spicy. But 00:19:19.990 --> 00:19:22.609 yeah, I feel like she knows when I'm sick and 00:19:22.609 --> 00:19:25.130 she won't leave my side when I'm, you know, going 00:19:25.130 --> 00:19:26.910 through a flare or something like that. So I 00:19:26.910 --> 00:19:29.640 love her too. See, there you go. You know, I 00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:31.539 know that they can feel it when we're not well. 00:19:31.640 --> 00:19:34.839 And even though they're buttholes sometimes with 00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:37.559 their attitude and their character, I feel like 00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:40.579 they sort of have this protectiveness, like they 00:19:40.579 --> 00:19:43.779 want to protect us. Right. So it's good. Now, 00:19:43.880 --> 00:19:46.640 let's talk a little bit about your presence online, 00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:48.839 what you're doing, the awareness that you raise, 00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:50.720 you're advocating for yourself and for others 00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:53.660 with this disease. A lot of people really struggle 00:19:53.660 --> 00:19:56.880 to talk about it and talk about it openly. And 00:19:56.880 --> 00:19:58.559 yet here you are. And this is actually how we 00:19:58.559 --> 00:20:00.619 connected because I stumbled across your profiles. 00:20:00.700 --> 00:20:02.359 I was like, wow, you know, you're just really 00:20:02.359 --> 00:20:04.839 out there and you don't have any filter. And 00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:06.599 that's perfect. You know, I was like, I got to 00:20:06.599 --> 00:20:10.019 talk to this one. So how did you find the courage 00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:13.619 to do this? Did you just one day wake up and 00:20:13.619 --> 00:20:15.440 say, you know what, I need to share what I'm 00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:18.420 experiencing? Or was it like gradual? How did 00:20:18.420 --> 00:20:20.579 you go from, you know, somebody who's really 00:20:20.579 --> 00:20:23.980 suffering from this to sharing what you're going 00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:28.029 through with the rest of the world? So I actually 00:20:28.029 --> 00:20:30.569 used to be like a very like I didn't even want 00:20:30.569 --> 00:20:32.789 to be like known online like posting a video 00:20:33.640 --> 00:20:36.299 and just like listening back to myself I'm like 00:20:36.299 --> 00:20:39.160 oh like I just don't want to do that like I just 00:20:39.160 --> 00:20:41.000 I would post like little videos but I would never 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:42.920 speak I would never sit in front of the camera 00:20:42.920 --> 00:20:45.579 like I would never do any of that and then I 00:20:45.579 --> 00:20:47.559 think like when I got diagnosed like I said earlier 00:20:47.559 --> 00:20:49.660 like I just feel like my whole perspective on 00:20:49.660 --> 00:20:51.940 like life change and I'm just like you know life 00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:54.119 is like too short I'm already sick I'm gonna 00:20:54.119 --> 00:20:57.079 be sick for a long time even if I get into remission 00:20:57.079 --> 00:20:59.319 like I'm still gonna have like whatever's going 00:20:59.319 --> 00:21:01.259 on with me so I'm just like I might as well just 00:21:01.259 --> 00:21:03.059 do whatever I want at this point like I don't 00:21:03.059 --> 00:21:05.039 really care what anyone has to say about me like 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:09.940 I'm gonna post about this and that's it And I 00:21:09.940 --> 00:21:12.880 didn't really expect it to like get to the capacity 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:15.640 that it is now because I do get a lot of messages 00:21:15.640 --> 00:21:17.759 from people that are like, have you done this? 00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:19.019 Like, have you done this? Like, oh, I've seen 00:21:19.019 --> 00:21:21.759 your page. Like, you know, this is what I'm going 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:23.779 through. And like, it makes me feel good because 00:21:23.779 --> 00:21:26.140 I'm like, OK, yes, I have this thing that's like 00:21:26.140 --> 00:21:28.019 going on with me, but like I'm not the only one. 00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:30.160 And I love when people reach out to me and I 00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:32.000 love when people ask me questions because I feel 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:34.680 like I'm kind of helping in a way. And even though 00:21:34.680 --> 00:21:36.660 like I'm not a doctor, I'm just like a girl that 00:21:36.660 --> 00:21:39.990 has like stomach issues. I just. you know, I 00:21:39.990 --> 00:21:42.309 just like doing it at this point and I just don't 00:21:42.309 --> 00:21:44.750 really care. Like I just, I'm going to speak 00:21:44.750 --> 00:21:47.930 my truth and whoever likes it, likes it. And 00:21:47.930 --> 00:21:50.250 whoever doesn't, then like, it's fine. You don't 00:21:50.250 --> 00:21:52.130 have to follow me or have to listen to anything 00:21:52.130 --> 00:21:54.450 I have to say, but I just kind of have the mindset 00:21:54.450 --> 00:21:56.150 of like, I'm going to do whatever I want in this 00:21:56.150 --> 00:21:58.650 life because I already feel like a big part of 00:21:58.650 --> 00:22:01.730 me is gone. So I might as well just make the 00:22:01.730 --> 00:22:03.640 most of it at this point. You're talking as we 00:22:03.640 --> 00:22:07.680 sort of slowly move to the closing, you are talking 00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:10.420 to people, you are answering questions, messages 00:22:10.420 --> 00:22:15.859 that people ask you online. So what kind of advice 00:22:15.859 --> 00:22:19.900 would you have for friends and family who are 00:22:19.900 --> 00:22:22.200 supporting someone with Crohn's but may not fully 00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:25.140 understand it? What would you tell them? How 00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:27.700 should they act towards that person? You know, 00:22:27.700 --> 00:22:30.400 how could they best support a person with Crohn's? 00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:32.680 I'd probably say the number one thing is like 00:22:32.680 --> 00:22:35.700 be patient because they're going to have days 00:22:35.700 --> 00:22:37.559 where they don't feel good and they might cancel 00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:40.900 plans and they might, you know, like there's 00:22:40.900 --> 00:22:42.880 just so much that comes with this. And I don't 00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:44.839 think people really, again, like people don't 00:22:44.839 --> 00:22:46.539 really realize like what we go through. So I 00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:49.259 just think being patient and understanding like 00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:51.859 where they're coming from and just because they 00:22:51.859 --> 00:22:55.200 look okay does not mean that they are. So probably 00:22:55.200 --> 00:22:58.299 be patient. Ask them questions, like, let them 00:22:58.299 --> 00:23:00.799 know that I'm here to support you in, like, whatever 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:04.619 you need. Like, can I bring you soup? Can I take 00:23:04.619 --> 00:23:06.039 you to your doctor's appointments? Can I take 00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:07.799 you to your infusions? Like, anything to kind 00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:10.829 of let them know that you're supportive. Because 00:23:10.829 --> 00:23:12.329 even if you don't understand, I feel like that 00:23:12.329 --> 00:23:15.430 would make a world of difference. I know my friends, 00:23:15.470 --> 00:23:17.210 like when I first got diagnosed, they were sending 00:23:17.210 --> 00:23:18.529 me like articles. They're like, oh, you should 00:23:18.529 --> 00:23:20.710 take like these supplements. Like even doing 00:23:20.710 --> 00:23:23.710 things like that just like makes me feel good. 00:23:23.849 --> 00:23:25.549 And like I'll have friends that are like, oh, 00:23:25.549 --> 00:23:27.750 like they're doing this research study like on 00:23:27.750 --> 00:23:29.809 Crohn's and they'll like send it to me. So just 00:23:29.809 --> 00:23:32.549 like little things like that, like kind of doing 00:23:32.549 --> 00:23:35.759 your own research on the disease itself. like 00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:38.140 taking them to like finding supplements like 00:23:38.140 --> 00:23:40.599 food that they could probably eat like you know 00:23:40.599 --> 00:23:42.319 if we're gonna go out to eat or something and 00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:44.400 they're like gluten and dairy free just being 00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:47.259 like considerate you know just like oh they can't 00:23:47.259 --> 00:23:49.539 eat here but like maybe we can eat here so i 00:23:49.539 --> 00:23:51.839 would say definitely being patient and like considerate 00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:53.599 of the person because their whole life like just 00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:56.359 changed they they don't need to be dealing with 00:23:56.359 --> 00:23:58.200 all these external factors when they have like 00:23:58.200 --> 00:24:01.099 an internal war going on like in their body you 00:24:01.099 --> 00:24:03.019 said something that i absolutely believe to be 00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:06.640 a very good and that is for them to do their 00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:09.579 own research as well, to educate themselves first. 00:24:09.819 --> 00:24:12.680 And then I always say, while this is a really 00:24:12.680 --> 00:24:14.839 great tactic and it's a really great sign of 00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:19.039 support, just be careful that you don't overdo 00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:21.420 it and that you don't necessarily force the knowledge 00:24:21.420 --> 00:24:24.279 that you discover onto the patient either, right? 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:28.680 Yeah. Because we might just not be receptive. 00:24:29.420 --> 00:24:32.400 So it's just, you know. Take whatever you learn 00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:34.240 by yourself with a grain of salt. I think offer 00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:37.380 the help. And then when we are ready to accept 00:24:37.380 --> 00:24:40.220 it or to take it. And we will let you know. Right. 00:24:40.359 --> 00:24:43.220 And we'll go along with it. So, yeah, no, that's 00:24:43.220 --> 00:24:44.900 really great. That's really good. I would wait 00:24:44.900 --> 00:24:47.140 for all that research talk after they've like 00:24:47.140 --> 00:24:49.740 marinated in the fact that like they have it, 00:24:49.779 --> 00:24:51.559 because I know that when I was first diagnosed, 00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:53.940 like my family, especially, they're like, well, 00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:55.099 you can do this and you can do that. And I'm 00:24:55.099 --> 00:24:56.480 like, honestly, I don't want to hear it. Like, 00:24:56.519 --> 00:24:57.759 I don't even want to have this. Like, I don't 00:24:57.759 --> 00:24:59.019 want to hear it. I don't want anything to do 00:24:59.019 --> 00:25:01.599 with this. But now I'm a little bit more like, 00:25:01.720 --> 00:25:05.680 OK, like hear them out. So, yeah, just wait for 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:07.880 them to like grasp that they have the disease. 00:25:08.269 --> 00:25:10.329 then share all the research and things like that 00:25:10.329 --> 00:25:13.630 exactly exactly give them some time some space 00:25:13.630 --> 00:25:15.950 I think that's that's the winning formula and 00:25:15.950 --> 00:25:18.750 then letting them know that whenever they're 00:25:18.750 --> 00:25:21.750 ready they can just come to you and and they're 00:25:21.750 --> 00:25:23.670 there for help so showing up I think that's really 00:25:23.670 --> 00:25:25.950 like a strong part yeah that's really cool so 00:25:25.950 --> 00:25:28.710 we talked about the past we talked about the 00:25:28.710 --> 00:25:31.269 present now and I would always like to end with 00:25:31.269 --> 00:25:33.470 the future and this is a question that might 00:25:33.470 --> 00:25:36.710 be extremely difficult to answer But I do believe 00:25:36.710 --> 00:25:39.390 that everybody who is going through IBD has some 00:25:39.390 --> 00:25:42.170 sort of an idea or at least a wish. Do you think 00:25:42.170 --> 00:25:45.809 that in our lifetime we'll see a cure to IBD? 00:25:46.910 --> 00:25:49.569 I would love to see that. And I don't see why 00:25:49.569 --> 00:25:51.670 not. I feel like medicine has definitely come 00:25:51.670 --> 00:25:54.670 a long way. I'm in like in a support group on 00:25:54.670 --> 00:25:56.829 Facebook. And there are people that have been 00:25:56.829 --> 00:26:00.799 diagnosed for like years. you know, since they 00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:02.940 were like my age, like long, long, long time 00:26:02.940 --> 00:26:05.420 ago. And they've said like, you know, medicine 00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:08.279 has come a long way. So I don't see why not. 00:26:08.380 --> 00:26:11.180 I feel like if they're doing like the research 00:26:11.180 --> 00:26:13.640 like behind it, I don't see why there couldn't 00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:17.000 someday be a cure to this. I don't know if it 00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:20.339 will be in my lifetime, but I would still love 00:26:20.339 --> 00:26:23.480 to be able to see it if it is, but it would be 00:26:23.480 --> 00:26:26.859 nice. it absolutely would be i always say as 00:26:26.859 --> 00:26:29.039 well i don't necessarily think that it's going 00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:33.059 to be in my lifetime but the one after I think 00:26:33.059 --> 00:26:35.660 they're getting or they will get much, much closer. 00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:38.779 Yeah, that's true. So we'll leave with a message 00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:42.799 of hope and see what happens. Well, Kim, thank 00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:45.039 you so much for taking the time to talk to me 00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:48.019 today. I really enjoyed learning about your struggles 00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:50.740 and also about how you're doing right now. The 00:26:50.740 --> 00:26:52.559 only thing I can say to you is keep doing what 00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:56.279 you're doing with your online presence. And I 00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:59.359 hope that your treatment continues to be effective 00:26:59.359 --> 00:27:02.930 and really hope for you that. the number of flares 00:27:02.930 --> 00:27:05.250 will decrease and the number of good days will 00:27:05.250 --> 00:27:07.809 increase. So thank you so much for being on the 00:27:07.809 --> 00:27:09.789 show. It was a pleasure. Thank you so much. Thank 00:27:09.789 --> 00:27:13.130 you so much for having me. That's it for today's 00:27:13.130 --> 00:27:15.730 episode of Talking S***, presented by Colitis 00:27:15.730 --> 00:27:18.849 Unfiltered. I'm Frank Tabering, and if this hit 00:27:18.849 --> 00:27:22.089 home or hit your gut, do us a favor, subscribe 00:27:22.089 --> 00:27:25.230 to the show and follow us at Colitis Unfiltered 00:27:25.230 --> 00:27:28.569 on YouTube, Substack, Instagram, Threads, TikTok 00:27:28.569 --> 00:27:31.500 and Reddit. We'll see you soon. for more inspiring 00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:33.059 stories from the bathroom floor.