In 2018 I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), after a decade of undiagnosed mishaps by various doctors that dismissed my symptoms as a poor college diet, excessive alcohol consumption, stress and other reasons. In my IBD journey, I felt that my concerns and my voice did not matter. My experience could be the same for other patients that identify, or look like me.
We must be intentional to speak out and voice our concerns about our own health care and address the disparities that exist within the healthcare system – whether it is being rushed in and out of appointments or being denied medication due to insurance status or affordability. These disparities in the healthcare system must be addressed to live healthier, thriving lives with chronic illnesses like IBD.
This post is sponsored by Janssen Biotech, Inc.