These are some of my favorite IBD educational resources to share with patients and caregivers. They provide credible, accurate, and accessible information on Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
IBD School – from the University of Michigan IBD Team
Dr. Peter Higgins and the University of Michigan IBD Team have put together a wonderful series of educational videos about IBD. These videos answer a lot of common questions that patients have. If you’re a patient, they may also inform you on some things you didn’t know you didn’t know! Dr. Higgins is an international leader in IBD medicine, so you can be sure the information is credible. Fortunately, he and his team know how to translate their vast medical knowledge into relatable and understandable videos.
Inflamed and Untamed
I’m sure most of you are already familiar with Sara Ringer and her blog/vlog, Inflamed and Untamed. But, if you aren’t, or you haven’t been there in awhile, please check it out. Sara was the first online IBD advocate I came across, years ago, that not only spoke to my experiences as a patient, but shared accurate information about these diseases.
I consider Sara Ringer a pioneer in the world of IBD advocacy and education. There are many things we take for granted as common knowledge now, that weren’t so obvious and well-known before Sara took the time to explain them to us. For instance, the fact that you can not have both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Even before doctors were taking the time to explain this misunderstanding, Sara Ringer addressed it for us. Many of us now educate the IBD community on this seemingly simply fact, but I give credit to Sara for being the first.
There’s a reason she is so well-respected by not only patients and caregivers, but by leading IBD doctors and scientists. She really knows her stuff.
And you know how there is a new version of “X number of things not to say to someone with Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis” popping up every day? They are almost all carbon copies of Sara’s original work. Imitation is certainly one form of flattery.
Sara is truly an original. Not only in the way she expresses herself and her experiences with IBD, but also in the quality information she shares with our community. She understands the medical side so well, that she has often been there to effectively explain to us the things our doctors couldn’t.
Quick link to her Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/bedroomdancing911
And here’s one of her playlists to get you started, “IBD: Information and Medical stuff explained.”: