Thanks for finding Keeping My Shit Together. I’m Kelly Dwyer, a writer, mother, and instructional designer living in the Washington, DC Metro area.

I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in the Summer of 2018 after suffering a severe, acute flare that put me in the ER for dehydration and severe pain and a total digestive breakdown. I’m still in the midst of that flare and am working with my doctors to find the right combinations of drugs and care to help me achieve remission. 

I have lived with gastrointestinal symptoms and issues for many, many years, but without a firm diagnosis, or even an idea of what was wrong with me. Knowing now that I have Crohn’s has been a huge relief and I’ve jumped into the massive world of medical research and diet and supplements and medication to try to get a handle on how to help my disease. Having a great team of doctors and being a diligent advocate for my own health is how I’m going to get better and stay well.

I plan on updating this blog with recipes of food that I can tolerate eating at different points during my path to remission, as well as notes on the health decisions, supplements, medications, diet and lifestyle choices that impact my disease.