Built From the Battle: How IBD Shaped BeWell Products

A view into how IBD shaped BeWell for World IBD Day.

When I Was First Diagnosed with Crohn’s...

...I thought my life would be divided in two: before IBD and after IBD.

But what I didn’t expect—what no one tells you—is how much creativity can be born out of survival. How many everyday things I’d have to reinvent just to get through the day. And how one flare, one hospital stay, one bad reaction to a “safe” food could spark something that would later help thousands of others.

Most BeWell products I’ve ever created came from a moment where I needed something that didn’t exist—yet.

So on World IBD Day, I wanted to tell you the stories behind them. These aren’t just products. They’re pieces of my Crohn’s journey—built for me, and now shared with you.

1. The Urgency Bucket: Inspired by IBD Panic

Let’s start with the bathroom.

If you know, you know. IBD urgency is unlike anything else. You don’t get a warning. You don’t get time to negotiate. It’s go-time, right now.

That’s where the Urgency Bucket came from. It’s not a “cute storage container”—it’s an act of preparation. I created it for myself first, to have a bathroom-ready space for wipes, gloves, briefs, hygiene supplies, and extra clothes when things went sideways fast.

It’s now in homes/cars across the country, giving people with Crohn’s, colitis and incontinence a little more peace of mind. Because when your body betrays you at any second, being ready isn’t optional—it’s vital.

Where did I get the idea? I wanted to improve upon my make-shift toilet that I carried in my car after too many close calls. It was one of those extra large ice cream pales, the kind you buy for parties. I lined those with trash bags and they could not fold down and you could not put your weight on it. How do I make it better. Well, the BeWell Urgency Bucket collapses, comes with a carrying case and has a soft rim that you can put weight on.

2. The One Day Pill Holder: Because I Never Miss a Med

When you’re managing IBD, medication isn’t a maybe. It’s your foundation. And for me, that meant carrying my iron, mesalamine, and backup emergency meds with me everywhere—even if I was just running out for coffee.

But traditional pill cases were either huge, ugly, or rattled like a maraca in my purse. That’s why I designed the One Day Pill Holder. Slim, beautiful, and discreet—it’s small enough to live in your bag, but strong enough to hold what you need to feel like yourself. Not only did I want something portable for my purse, where the pop top did not pop off; but I wanted something nice looking for my desk at work.

Because let’s be real: skipping your meds because of inconvenience just isn’t an option for us.

3. The IBD Journal: Because Patterns Matter

I remember the exact moment I realized I couldn’t keep doing this in my head anymore. I had just finished a flare that knocked me flat for two weeks, and I still didn’t know what caused it.

So I started writing everything down—meals, meds, bathroom trips, bloating, fatigue. That became the foundation for the IBD Symptom Journal. I actually designed it while hospitalized and I needed to go on a restrictive diet.

It’s structured enough to help you see patterns, but flexible enough for the real chaos of chronic illness. And the best part? People message me all the time saying it helped them finally figure out what foods they could tolerate or how their flares align with stress or hormone shifts.

We’re detectives in our own bodies—and this journal is the tool I wish I had sooner. Keep in mind, though I called it an IBD Journal because of the specific poop tracking, it is so helpful for anyone symptom tracking!

4. The IV Zip Hoodie: Born in a Hospital Room

The IV Zip Hoodie was born during my flare in the hospital. I was in the hospital for a severe flare, freezing, exhausted, and feeling totally exposed. I called the nurse for a blanket and felt guilty for needing to bother them.

So I sketched something in that bed—a hoodie that zipped along the arms, with soft fabric that wouldn’t irritate sensitive skin or tubing. I went right home to think of a name for this "Crohn's store" and finding suppliers.

Now, thousands of infusion/hospital patients are wearing them. Staying warm. Staying covered. Staying human.

Because you should never have to take off your dignity to get treatment.

This Isn’t Just Awareness. It’s Our Reality.

World IBD Day isn’t just about purple ribbons. It’s about the real, lived experience of fighting a disease that doesn’t give you a break. And for me, the only way to fight back was to build better tools. We still have work to do because I still meet people who have never heard of Crohn's.

If you're living this life too, I hope these products help you feel a little more understood, a little more prepared, and a whole lot less alone.

From one warrior to another—
I see you. I believe you. I’m building for us.

—Amanda
Founder, Crohn’s Warrior, Builder of BeWell