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This week we talked to Nicole Kittleson! Nicole's daughter Addy was diagnosed with Crohn's disease when she was 8 years old but that diagnosis wasn't easy to get to. Addy wasn't growing or gaining weight, her eyes became dull and her hair started falling out. Nicole brought her concerns to her daughter's pediatrician but they just encouraged her to feed her more calories but Nicole knew something more was going on. When her daughter started experiencing skin inflammation and complaining about blood in her stool and Nicole finally demanded that her daughter get the tests she needed to get a definitive diagnosis of Crohn's. We talked to her about Addy's unusual and severe symptoms of a flare and their decision to use the Specific Carbohydrate diet to treat her disease for several years. We talked about the ramifications of using this diet including the cost, the time, and the impact that it had on family traditions and culture. We talked about how Nicole, Addy, and the rest of the family incorporated the SCD and these changes and needs into their daily routine and how they coped as a family. Finally we talked about how parents can also experience medical trauma as part of the process of their child having a chronic illness and about how parents can care of themselves while also caring for their child with IBD. In Nicole's case her own diagnosis of an autoimmune condition- Lupus- forced her to understand her need to care for herself as well as her family.

We had a deep and impactful conversation with our friend Nicole as well as some laughs. We know that you'll be inspired by her and her daughter Addy too.

Please keep in mind that the views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and should not be considered medical or legal advice. Please consult with your healthcare team on any changes to your disease, diet, or treatment. We want you to stay safe and healthy! ;)

Links:

• Nutritional Therapy for IBD- great source of info in diets and IBD
• Info on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet- Nutritional Therapy for IBD
• Diet info from the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation- USA
• Info on Camp Oasis- camp for kids with IBD- Crohn's & Colitis Foundation USA
• Community & Support programs- Crohn's & Colitis Foundation- USA
• IBDesis- South Asian IBD Alliance's support program
• Info on Toxic Megacolon- Stanford Children's Hospital

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