IBD, treatment failure and hope: Savannah’s search for remission

🎙️ In episode 26 of the Colitis Unfiltered podcast, I speak with Savannah, who was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at just 16 after severe abdominal cramping, blood in her stool and relentless urgency began disrupting her life. Growing up in rural Tennessee with limited access to specialists, she was bounced between doctors before a colonoscopy at Vanderbilt finally gave her an answer.

💊 Savannah talks about navigating ulcerative colitis as a teenager, being bullied as “the girl with the shit disease,” spending months isolated at home and, at her worst, going to the bathroom nearly 40 times a day. After years of treatments including mesalamine, prednisone, 6-MP and multiple biologics, she is now participating in a clinical trial for a new ulcerative colitis medication after previous treatments stopped working or failed to bring lasting remission.

💜 Today, Savannah is turning her experience with IBD into purpose, pursuing a doctorate in psychology and openly sharing her chronic illness journey on social media. She talks candidly about body image, mental health, relationships, finding the IBD community and learning that sometimes saying “no” is essential.

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