Thriving through colitis and aging, with grit and humor - one victory at a time.

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SAN DIEGO | MANILA

Snippets from my life with ulcerative colitis 

[LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE WITH IBD]
Here’s a warm, cozy, and reassuring reminder of the warriors within us โœจ
If you have a major sweet tooth but still want a nutritious mid-day energy boost, this Peanut Butter Protein Bites snack from @choicejuicery is worth trying (unless peanut butter isn’t your thing!). Ingredients: • Peanut Butter • C
I recently discovered my new favorite salad—the Ultimate Caesar from @choicejuicery! It’s a healthier twist on the classic Caesar, and I’m absolutely hooked. This salad is gluten-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, and vegan, yet still full
Forget Valentine’s—today, I’m celebrating Colon-tine’s Day because let’s be real… our guts deserve the most love! ๐Ÿฅฐ While others are indulging in fancy dinners and chocolates, some of us are scouting special die
First dentist visit of the year—done! โœ…๐Ÿฆท IBD doesn’t just affect the gut—it can also take a toll on dental health. With brittle teeth, TMJ, and a history of bone loss, I knew I couldn’t take any chances. That’s why I c
Last month, for the first time, I shared a gluten-free dish with my Tatay (father). Now, why is this a big deal? Because my Tatay is old school—very set in his ways, with a simple, no-fuss palate. No fancy sauces, herbs, or seasonings (don&rsq
Something’s definitely in the air—woke up with a sore throat and some sniffles. ๐ŸคงYesterday’s dry winds and nearby fires likely worsened the air quality. Big thanks to everyone who checked in! The fire, about 4 miles away, has been
๐€๐ฌ ๐›๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฒ ๐š๐ฌ ๐š๐ง ๐ž๐ฅ๐Ÿ, ๐ˆ’๐ฏ๐ž ๐›๐ž๐ž๐ง, ๐๐š๐ฅ๐š๐ง๐œ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ฅ๐ข๐Ÿ๐ž ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐ˆ๐๐ƒ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง. ๐‰๐ฎ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค ๐š๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐ž๐š๐ซ-๐ž๐ง๐ ๐๐ž๐š๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ž๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ, ๐–๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ž ๐๐ž๐œ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐ก๐š๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ
Make new memories with the people who matter most. Do it while you can.
Last night, I didn’t let my Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) stop me from celebrating my 50th birthday with my loved ones. It feels like just yesterday when I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at 40. I jokingly called it my “midlife
My favorite side dish is Sautéed Spinach. It’s quick, easy, and healthy. All you need is olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper, and you’re done! (Sometime, I finish it off with a squeeze of lemon for a little zing!) ๐Ÿ‹
I visited my old stomping grounds, @theusgrant for lunch today. I used to have a thriving career in hospitality operations until my IBD symptoms became challenging to manage. But at least I got to keep great friends for life!
Happy National Coffee Day! โ˜•๏ธ As someone living with IBD, I’ve had to reduce my coffee consumption over the years. That’s when I discovered @drinkvitacup, a local company based in San Diego. They offer a variety of coffee blends, includ
It’s truly inspiring to see Crohn’s patient @dannyjosephofficial take the stage on “The Voice,” earning a four-chair turn with his powerful and emotional rendition of Annie Lennox’s “I Put A Spell On You.” B
It has been ten years since I was able to eat raw fish because of my IBD diagnosis. Unfortunately, I don't trust my gut to handle potential bacteria exposure, so I have been sticking to vegan rolls, like the ones from @vegan_mirai, to satisfy my sush
Every raindrop is a quiet reminder that even gray clouds bring life. The sprinkle of rain is exactly what the earth needs to grow, just like the little miracles hiding in our darkest moments. It’s all about perspective. ๐ŸŒง๏ธโœจ
This is not the result I was hoping for, but such is life with IBD. For context, my last calprotectin test (December 2023) was 15 mcg/g (normal); now, it’s up to 444, meaning inflammation is active. I’m not having the best day ๐Ÿ˜”