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Amanda Phillips never imagined her lifelong battle with Crohn's disease would transform into a business helping other people living with chronic illnesses. But after decades of unexplained stomach pains, missed diagnoses, and learning to navigate life with IBD, that's exactly what happened.

Amanda takes us through her journey from childhood stomach aches dismissed as "just constipation" to her eventual diagnosis at 17. We explore how she learned to identify her personal flare triggers—stress and GI bugs being the major culprits—and the profound anxiety this created around situations most people take for granted, like commuting to work or being around sick family members.

The pandemic became an unexpected turning point in Amanda's health journey. Working remotely eliminated the bathroom-related stress of her daily commute. When her company pushed employees back to the office, Amanda fought for accommodations, facing frustrating resistance from HR despite documentation showing remote work improved her health and performance.

The birth of Be Well came during a February 2022 hospitalization, when Amanda found herself freezing in a standard hospital gown. Looking around at the medical wear available, she thought, "I can do better than this."

What makes Amanda's approach unique is her commitment to meaningful design. Every Be Well product—from symptom tracking journals to discreet pill holders to comfort items with inspirational quotes—comes from lived experience and continuous customer feedback with a focus on prioritizing patient comfort, dignity, and practicality. Now she's expanding into new territory with hospital gowns, non-metal MRI hoodies, and more innovations.

Whether you're living with chronic illness or supporting someone who is, this episode offers inspiration in turning personal challenges into purpose and creating solutions that truly understand patient needs.

Links:

• Link to the BeWell website
• Link to BroGlo
• Information about IBD and work- Crohn's & Colitis Foundation- USA
• My guest co-host, Stacey Calabro's episode

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