Megan Starshak: Co-Founder of The Great Bowel Movement (E96)

Enjoy this interview with Megan Starshak, an ulcerative colitis warrior, adventurer, runner, cyclist, patient advocate and co-founder of The Great Bowel Movement.

In this conversation, Megan shares her journey with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), her advocacy work, and how she balances life with chronic illness. She discusses her diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and the challenges she faced in finding effective treatments. Megan emphasizes the importance of finding a supportive community and offers advice for young adults with IBD. She also talks about her involvement with The Great Bowel Movement, an organization that aims to decrease the stigma surrounding IBD. Megan shares her career in marketing and how she uses her skills to support other patient advocates. She closes this interview with a message of empowerment and the importance of not wasting the challenges we face.

Takeaways

• Finding a supportive community is crucial for individuals with IBD. Connecting with others who understand the challenges can provide a sense of belonging and empowerment.
• It is important for young adults with IBD to be proactive in their healthcare journey. Staying informed about treatment options and advocating for oneself can lead to better outcomes.
• The Great Bowel Movement is an organization that aims to decrease the stigma surrounding IBD. They provide resources and support for individuals living with IBD and encourage open conversations about the disease.
• Megan's career in marketing allows her to use her skills to support other patient advocates and help them share their stories. She believes in the power of storytelling and connecting ideas with the people who can make a difference.
• Living with a chronic illness can be challenging, but it can also lead to personal growth and resilience. Embracing the journey and finding meaning in the struggles can empower individuals to live their lives to the fullest.

Topics covered in the interview

• Megan's IBD Story and Diagnosis
• Understanding IBD and Treatment
• The Impact of IBD on Daily Life
• Advice for Young Adults with IBD
• Navigating Treatment and Doctor Appointments
• Finding Effective Medications
• Life in Remission
• Navigating Food and Trigger Foods
• The Great Bowel Movement
• Megan's Career and Supporting Patient Advocates

From the show

Stephanie: Looking back at that time in your life and reflecting on when you were going through this as a college student, what advice would you give to other young adults who are living with a chronic illness?

Megan: Advice for people going through that now would be just to keep yourself informed, and know that it's okay if you don't understand the deep science of what all the treatments are or what they do, but just know that there are options out there. There are so many more options now than I had when I was that age, which is really amazing for people to have just some more things on the table. It's kind of frustrating that you do have to take charge, that we're still in a place where nobody is really going to do this for you, but it's also kind of a good growing up action too. Start by understanding what's going on in your body, what's going on with your treatment, and managing the relationship with your doctor.

Stephanie: What are your biggest takeaways from the lessons you’ve learned throughout your IBD journey?

Megan: Understanding treatments and understanding nutrition and exercise, but also realizing you have to find what works specifically for you and that it might take a little bit of trial and error and working with your doctor to figure out what's going to be best. Also, coming to terms with what you wanted maybe isn't what the reality is; I gave up running, but I found cycling. I found an entire other sport that I love that I have met some really amazing friends through. So it's okay to pivot. It's okay if your best laid plans do not come to life. You're gonna be okay.

Links from the show:

The Great Bowel Movement:

• Website - https://thegreatbowelmovement.org/
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheGreatBM/
• Instagram & X - @thegreatbm

Megan:

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/itsmemegaroo

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