[MUSIC PLAYING] DAVID WEINSTEIN: Thanks

for coming. AMANDA PHELPS: Thanks for having me.

DAVID WEINSTEIN: I thought we would start off by just having you tell us how he met.

AMANDA PHELPS: So I had battled with constipation for years, and I had really bad stomach pains off and on. Didn't really think anything of it until it was really excruciating. So I talked with a friend and she recommended you.

DAVID WEINSTEIN: People, when they think of Crohn's disease, they often think that it presents with diarrhea. Your Crohn's, where it's located in the small bowel, you presented with constipation. You have to categorize it. It's important to know and for you to know where your Crohn's is located, my stomach, or my upper GI tract, or is it located in the small bowel.

AMANDA PHELPS: So how did I even get Crohn's?

DAVID WEINSTEIN: It's actually very hard to get Crohn's because of the microbiome being in balance. Normal bacteria that are flowing through you're small bowel that normally would be eradicated, it gets through the cell, it triggers an immune response, and that immune response, for whatever reason, doesn't turn off. It becomes overreactive.

AMANDA PHELPS: Do you think I had Crohn's for a really long time?

DAVID WEINSTEIN: Your own story that you told, which is the most important thing really, that I do. I think it had been there for several years. You made the decision. You understood, having had the information from the colonoscopy, surgery was going to make you feel better.

AMANDA PHELPS: It was really beneficial. I was at the point where I was in so much pain that it had to help. It couldn't hurt anymore.

DAVID WEINSTEIN: And it was helpful to meet the surgeon before hand, right?

AMANDA PHELPS: Oh, it was definitely helpful. Having that relationship I think is really important.

DAVID WEINSTEIN: The severity of your Crohn's was significant. That led me to begin the discussion with you about beginning biologics.

AMANDA PHELPS: I was a little anxious and apprehensive about the possibility of medication.

DAVID WEINSTEIN: And you wanted to get pregnant too.

AMANDA PHELPS: Right, and I decided that Remicade would be a good option because it is considered to be safe during pregnancy. Are my kids going to end up with Crohn's?

DAVID WEINSTEIN: There's certainly an increased risk, but most likely, they won't.

AMANDA PHELPS: I've been doing really well overall. I pretty much just manage my disease with avoiding foods that upset my stomach. I have really good days and I have not so good days.

DAVID WEINSTEIN: What foods have you found that upset your stomach?

AMANDA PHELPS: So I definitely avoid corn. Sometimes raw vegetables tend to upset my stomach. So if I'm going to eat vegetables, I usually make sure they're cooked because it digests a little easier for me. I also don't eat steak very often.

DAVID WEINSTEIN: Fruits, vegetables, and fiber. They're obviously good for you, but they will slow down gastric emptying. Those are foods you can still eat, but I like what you're doing by cooking them or eating smaller, frequent meals. Diet absolutely plays a role. It affects the microbiome, but no diet is going to control the disease. And my concern more is that people begin to restrict their diet so severely that they begin to lose weight. Have you got your pneumonia vaccines?

AMANDA PHELPS: I have not gotten my pneumonia vaccines.

DAVID WEINSTEIN: Have you gotten your flu shot yet?

AMANDA PHELPS: I have not gotten my flu shot either, and I'm hesitant to add any other medications to my body.

DAVID WEINSTEIN: Everybody understands there's opinions on vaccines. The benefit so far outweighs the risk. Part of preventive care with Crohn's is we immunize against things that we can immunize against. Have you had your dermatology checkup?

AMANDA PHELPS: That I have had. I'm good about that one. DAVID WEINSTEIN: Biologics increases the risk of skin cancer. It's important that you should have an annual dermatology evaluation as a part of preventive care.

AMANDA PHELPS: We've been through a lot together. I've been seeing you for five and 1/2, six years now. I live a normal life, even with Crohn's.

DAVID WEINSTEIN: Right, and you should.

AMANDA PHELPS: It is important for you to have that good relationship with your doctor. And I appreciate you being here to help me.

DAVID WEINSTEIN: I'm lucky to have you.

AMANDA PHELPS: We make a good team.

DAVID WEINSTEIN: Yeah.

[LAUGHS]