Digestive Health Monthly

Welcome to the monthly eNewsletter of the
International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD)

Digestive Health Monthly - January 2018

Welcome to 2018!

For many, a new year means a fresh start. We feel a sense of potential and find renewed energy and motivation within ourselves. We make resolutions for how we want to live during the next 12 months and promise to keep them. We aim to be healthier. To make time for what is most important to us. To be our best selves.

To help you reach your 2018 goals and maximize the potential of the new year, we have shared a few of the most common New Year's resolutions and tips for how to achieve them with a chronic digestive disorder. We hope to be part of your resolutions now and throughout the year.

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1. Practice Self-Care

For many, resolutions such as eating better, exercising more, reducing or eliminating stressors, and getting more sleep fall into this category. Self-care is spending time to tune into your body and listen to it's needs.

For those with a chronic digestive condition like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), learning how to pay attention to your body isn't always easy. Click here for tips on how to better focus on your health and well-being .

2. Help Others

Give hope to others by sharing your story

Sharing your experiences of living with a chronic digestive disorder with others can provide an outlet for you as well as encourage others who may be struggling to keep fighting.

Share your story and read stories submitted by others in the digestive health community.

3. Get Rid of Toxic Relationships

Get tips on how to know when to change doctors

Establishing a trusting relationship with your doctor or other healthcare provider is an important part of managing life with a long-term digestive disorder. But, when a doctor isn't supporting your health and healing, it may be time to pull the plug.

Many people struggle with knowing when to change doctors. To help you make a decision, here are 5 ways to know when it's time to start thinking about making a change.

4. Spend More Time with Family & Friends

Joining together with your family and friends to support something important to you is a great way to spend more quality time with them while making a difference. By starting a fundraiser with IFFGD you help support critical research to broaden the medical understanding of chronic digestive disorders and develop new and better treatments.

Learn more about starting a fundraiser with IFFGD.

5. Get Organized

Chronic digestive disorders like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are influenced by a number of factors, including diet, stress, and lifestyle. Keeping a record of things like symptom patterns, daily activities, and diet over a week or two can help you and your doctor or other healthcare provider better understand your condition and how to manage your symptoms.

Use this 7-day GERD diary to get started.

IFFGD is a nonprofit organization. We rely on donor support to fund research and to provide reliable information and support to those affected by functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders.

IFFGD | (414) 964-1799 | [email protected] | www.iffgd.org

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