Episode
Childhood IBD, Surgery and an Ostomy: Kristin’s long road forward
- Podcast
- Colitis Unfiltered
- Published
- Jan 15, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2209
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://rss.com/podcasts/talkingsht/2459049
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Summary
In this episode of the Talking Sh*t podcast, I speak with Kristin, who was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at just nine years old after months of severe diarrhea, urgency, weight loss, and bleeding. What followed was an 87-day hospital stay, a long stretch of steroid dependence, and a childhood shaped by chronic illness long before she could understand what it meant. Diagnosed in elementary school and facing surgery as a teenager, Kristin opens up about growing up with IBD, missing school, struggling with identity, and living through colectomy, a J-pouch, and eventually a permanent ostomy. She reflects on the emotional toll of being labeled “strong,” the anger she was never allowed to express, and the moment she finally learned it was okay to grieve her body. Now living a full life with an ostomy and decades of perspective, Kristin shares how community, support, and purpose helped her rebuild after years of trauma. Her story is raw, compassionate, and deeply hopeful. A powerful listen for anyone navigating IBD, surgery, or life after surgery. For more stories from the bathroom floor, subscribe to the podcast and visit colitisunfiltered.com