If Remission Is The Goal | Experts by Experience

Remission from a chronic disease such as Ulcerative Colitis is (short of a cure) a good thing, which is probably why it took some time to figure out how to approach it in writing. This stage in the disease journey also contains some identity crisis, some guilt, and some figuring out how to live, knowing it's not the end of the story.

Experts by Experience is a joint campaign by Mayo Clinic and Inspire.com, where patients affected by serious diseases are given a platform to address some of the important topics that they want both physicians, and communities, to better understand. I'm honored to have contributed on this platform.

"The period of adjustment to remission is real. I learned to find my identity as someone in remission, while finding a way to connect authentically and respectfully with the same IBD community that had carried me for so long. Finally, I was happy and healthy.

That’s when another unexpected emotion hit—guilt. Survivor’s guilt. Remission guilt. [read full piece on MayoClinic.org]

Finding Purpose; Creating a Movement - Keynote

The Iowa Digestive Disease Center (IDDC) presents an annual education conference for patients and caregivers. (more…)

HuffPost: How Living With IBD Helped Me Discover My Superpowers

Through a partnership campaign with Takeda Pharmaceuticals, I was tasked with writing a piece of content surrounding the topic of IBD and superheroes. I'm very proud of this piece, not just for my personal perspective, but because I have the opportunity to leave the reader feeling empowered.

"If you had x-ray vision, what would you do with it? Look through walls and spy on your co-workers? Find your dog’s lost ball under the couch, or lazily peek through your fridge to see if you’re almost out of your favorite Greek yogurt? Or maybe, like a traditional superhero, you would wander your town looking for clues behind the doors that no one can enter, and use your powers for the greater good.

What if your x-ray vision allowed you to not just see through things, but to see the invisible? I was given that super power, in a way, because of my life with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

As many patients know all too well, the difficulties associated with IBD are often invisible to others. It’s the hours when no one is around as you traverse from your couch to your bathroom; it’s the pain and fatigue that lurk in your body; it’s disappearing from your friends as you drive to the doctor’s office; and it’s the emotional pain too - the loneliness and isolation - when it feels like no one understands your experience..." [read full piece on huffpost.com]

The I'mPossible Project: Inspiration Compilation Book

Josh Rivedal is not just a survivor, but a thriver. He's also a storyteller of himself, as well as others who have gone through different experiences, (more…)