Ulcerative colitis, resilience and research: Maria’s refusal to give up

🎙️ In episode 27 of the Colitis Unfiltered podcast, I speak with Maria, who was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at 23 after months of blood in her stool and becoming so sick she could barely stay awake. After initially reaching remission quickly, she stopped her medication while feeling well, unaware of just how serious the consequences could be.

💊 Years later, Maria entered a flare that she is still fighting today. After prednisone, mesalamine, multiple biologics and years of treatment failed to bring lasting remission, her doctor recommended surgery. Not ready to take that step, Maria searched for another option and entered a clinical trial using an implanted neurostimulator to explore whether stimulating the brain-gut pathway could help manage her refractory ulcerative colitis.

💜 Maria opens up about chronic illness, body image, relationships, healthcare self-advocacy and refusing to give up hope when conventional IBD treatments stop working. Despite hospitalizations, years without remission and uncertainty about what comes next, she has learned to focus on what she can control, ask more questions and keep searching for a path forward.

For more inspiring stories from the bathroom floor, visit colitisunfiltered.com