Interview: Nigel Horwood, Author of “Wrestling with the Octopus”

Tell us a bit about yourself: When and how were you diagnosed? In October 1977 I was at college and started having to make frequent dashes to the bathroom. When I eventually plucked up the courage to see my GP he put it all down to “nerves”. It wasn’t until he went on holiday, in July 1978, that I saw a locum. He took one look and sent me to a gastro consultant. Within 3 days I was in hospitalRead more

My 2019 Lists

It’s the last day of 2019. I thankfully was stable health-wise, so there isn’t much to share about my health year. I can share books, podcasts, and TV shows that I consumed though, in the hope that they may be entertaining to some of you. Books I’ve read (sometimes re-read) and enjoyed in 2019: “American Gods” by Neil Gaiman. I read this with students, and truly enjoyed it, especially the outside perspective on the US, from 20 years ago. “TheRead more

New Year’s Resolutions for People with Chronic Illnesses

If you’re anything like us, you probably spent a good chunk of 2018 dealing with your chronic illness, adjusting to new developments and learning from the hard knocks along the way. We’re not big believers in New Year’s resolutions, but we like to make lists and bring visibility to chronic illness, especially of the invisible variety. These New Year’s resolutions are an accumulation of some insights and hopes for the new year. We know that different conditions require different handling and that not all of these resolutions will work for everyone. We all have different experiences and life situations and that’s cool! But we want to share these resolutions to show solidarity, help allies support friends and family and let others with chronic illness know: you’re not alone.Read more

About that semi-colon tattoo…

This year, Mental Health Awareness month is May. And for a few years now, I have seen articles and blog posts about semi-colon tattoos pop up in my timeline. People get them to raise awareness for mental health and suicide awareness, because a semi-colon continues a sentence that would have ended otherwise. Usually the words “powerful” are somewhere to be found in the article. In my corner of the internet, that is IBD groups and Instagram, every year, people getRead more

Word Warrior Wednesday: Cheryl Strayed

Today’s words of Wisdom are from Local Treasure and poet Cheryl Stray. You may know her marvelous memoir “Wild” or have seen the movie (also great!). She has also written “Tiny Beautiful Things”- a compilation of her advice columns on “Dear Sugar”. Her Newest is called “Brave Enough” and it’s a collection of little words of wisdom, quotes to “guide, motivate, validate, challenge and comfort us in our own lives”. here it is:Read more

Happy 2016!

This year’s resolution: write more. When I left my university job in 2014, I gave up what I had thought of as my career. After a few visiting stints, I’d get a tenure track job, I’d work, do my research, be happy- except for that I was not. There was no tenure track job on the horizon, and the thought of starting out somewhere, and leaving the friends and connection you’ve made hurt me. The visiting position I had paidRead more