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The word “surgery” can feel like a threat when you’re young and already worn down by Crohn’s disease. Michael Morgan, author of *The Secret Life of Crohn’s*, joins us to talk about being diagnosed at age 10, cycling through medications, and living with the kind of urgency that forces you to plan every minute around toilets, school schedules, and the fear of being noticed. We get into the part people don’t always see: the constant anxiety, the shrinking world, and how much mental energy IBD can steal long before anyone calls it mental health.

Michael also shares what it was like to hear ostomy surgery discussed as a teenager, the misconceptions that fueled his fear, and the moment he realized life on the other side could be bigger than the life he was trying to protect. We talk about the adjustment period, confidence building, and why so many people with ostomies describe freedom and relief once their disease is under better control.

From there, we dig into practical realities: asking schools for accommodations, using tools that make bathroom access easier, staying on top of Crohn’s management even after major surgery, and navigating rare symptoms like inflammatory disease in the mouth. And yes, we go deep on travel with an ostomy, including packing supplies, hostel bathrooms, and the small “tricks” that make big adventures possible.

If you’re facing a big treatment decision, supporting a child with IBD, or trying to make your world bigger again, this conversation will meet you where you are. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this with someone who needs a little more hope and a lot more real talk.

Links: 

• More of Michael's Story- Crohn's & Colitis UK
• Order Michael's book
• Article about Michael and his book- Hackney Citizen
• Traveling with an ostomy- United Ostomy Association

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