PAC Moment: IBD & How Treatments Impact Daily Life

IBD treatment plans are as varied as the patients who live with and follow them. Vanessa shares her experience with IBD and how her treatments impact her daily life:

I was diagnosed with Crohn’s at the age of three and have been getting treatments ever since. When I was younger, I went on steroids on and off for a couple years. I started Remicade when I was about five, and I have been on it now for 11 years. I go in every 8 weeks to get my infusion, and recently had my 100th.

Getting infusions impacts me with school and side effects. It is tough having to miss school frequently to go to the hospital to get my infusion, but after so many years I have learned to adapt. After my infusions, I am usually tired and might feel sick. I have adapted to the side effects over the years, and I am very thankful for Remicade being able to help me get into remission.

Vanessa

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PAC Moments is a series of short stories originally shared by members of the Patient Advisory Council on their social media channels. They are being re-shared on LOOP as a way to reach more people and raise more awareness of IBD. We hope you'll share these with others and ask them to take a moment to read + learn more about #LifeWithIBD 💚💙

Fionna and Vanessa are co-leads of the PAC Communications taskforce. In this role, they help PAC members share their IBD stories and experiences on social media, #InTheLOOP and across the IBD Community - to raise awareness, build community and help others with IBD know they are not alone. You can connect with Fionna, Vanessa and the PAC on social media @ICNPatients or by visiting improvecarenow.org/patients and completing the contact form.