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Picture My IBS

Tracking Pixel This post is sponsored by the Picture My IBS initiative but contains feelings and thoughts all my own. 



Most of you know that I am a nurse, or I was a nurse in my former life (ha!) so discussing gastrointestinal problems doesn't phase me one bit... but it can be embarrassing and something that is hard to share. When I was asked to consider posting on behalf of the Picture My IBS initiative, I knew it was something that had touched my life, and touches thousands of other lives and needed a voice.



While I am definitely NOT an artist, this was a fun little project to do. Immediately I knew what I wanted to draw because IBS is something that has affected me for so long, and until I accepted it, learned to deal with it, and figured out what worked for me, it really did feel like "The Missing Piece" of the puzzle of an otherwise bright and cheery life. IBS no longer feels like the missing piece to me.



Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a chronic condition characterized by recurring abdominal pain and a change in bowel habits (diarrhea or constipation). It affects many people and everyone who is affected can be affected differently. 


I have personally dealt with IBS since my college years. It comes and goes and is worse in some seasons that others, but I have learned to cope with it and it is just part of my life now. I have been for multiple scopes and had lots of blood work done. So while I have sought treatment over the years, it is estimated that only about 1/3 of people with IBS seek treatment because it can be embarrassing to talk about. A new initiative called Picture My IBS offers people (like me!) a new way to show their feelings about how IBS impacts their life. By creating an original piece of artwork, in whatever form you feel best lets you express yourself and your journey with IBS. Picture My IBS was created by The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) in collaboration with Allergan and Ironwood Pharmaceuticals and aims to help those with IBS find a better was to communicate with their doctors, to share their IBS journey so that they don't feel so alone.



As part of the Picture My IBS initiative, a panel of judges will evaluate submitted artwork and the Grand Prize Winner will receive a trip for two to a luxury hotel and spa in New York City, and five Honorable Mention Winners will receive a $100 American Express gift card. All winning art will also be featured on the Picture My IBS website. Whether you have IBS or you have loved ones that do, Picture My IBS would love to see your artistic expression. Visit PictureMyIBS.org today for details and to enter the contest for a chance to win one of these exciting prizes.



So today, I encourage you, if you have dealt with or are dealing with IBS, take your blank canvas and create something totally you that shows how you feel about IBS. Then submit it to this amazing campaign and give IBS a voice!
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This is a sponsored post written on behalf of the Picture My IBS initiative.

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE FIFTY UNITED STATES, D.C., AGE 18 OR OVER. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. THE SPONSORS OF THE CONTEST ARE ALLERGAN USA, INC. WITH AN OFFICE AT HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER; PLAZA V, SUITE 1900; JERSEY CITY, NJ 07302; IRONWOOD PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. WITH AN OFFICE AT 301 BINNEY STREET, CAMBRIDGE, MA 02142; AND THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF GASTROENTEROLOGY. APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE OF ALL PRIZES IS $6,500. ODDS OF WINNING DEPEND ON NUMBER AND QUALITY OF ENTRIES RECEIVED. ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 1, 2016 AND FEBRUARY 28, 2017. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS APPLY. PLEASE SEE COMPLETE CONTEST TERMS AND CONDITIONS AT PICTUREMYIBS.ORG.

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