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What if you've been ignoring the signs your body has been giving you because life is simply too busy to pay attention?
In this episode of Everyday Ancestral, I sit down with NBC News journalist Chloe Melas to talk about her 15-year journey with ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that she's spent much of her career keeping private. From the outside, Chloe appeared to have it all together: a successful television career, a family, and a full life. But behind the scenes, she was dealing with bleeding, unpredictable bathroom trips, exhaustion, and the emotional toll of living with an invisible illness.
What makes Chloe's story so important is her willingness to talk openly about the things most of us avoid discussing. We explore why gut health deserves more attention, how stress and modern lifestyles can complicate chronic illness, and why paying attention to your body and advocating for yourself can make a real difference. Chloe also shares how her experiences inspired her to co-author a book about digestive health and help others feel less alone.
Why This Matters to You
Ignoring symptoms because you feel otherwise healthy? Chloe first noticed blood in her stool at 25 but dismissed it for nearly a year. What was initially diagnosed as proctitis later progressed to left-sided ulcerative colitis. Her experience is an important reminder that symptoms don't have to be debilitating to deserve medical attention. Blood in your stool, persistent bowel changes, or recurring digestive discomfort should never simply be written off as normal.
Feeling embarrassed about your digestive health? Bathroom habits, bloating, constipation, and other digestive issues are things many people avoid discussing, even with their closest friends. Chloe kept her diagnosis largely private for years while building a career in television. Once she began sharing her story, she heard from people who had been suffering in silence. Her experience shows how speaking openly can help break down the shame surrounding chronic illness.
Wondering how modern life affects your gut? Chloe reflects on years of frequent antibiotic use, stress, inadequate sleep, and changing food quality as possible influences on her health. While she doesn't claim to know exactly what caused her disease, she believes our environment and everyday habits deserve closer attention. We discuss why nutrition, rest, and lifestyle are important parts of the conversation alongside medical care.
Struggling to prioritize your health while raising a family and working? Chloe is a mother of two with a demanding journalism career. She knows the habits that help her feel better, but admits that maintaining them isn't always easy. When work gets busy, sleep suffers, meals become less intentional, and her symptoms can become harder to manage. Her experience reflects a challenge many modern households face: knowing what supports our health but struggling to make room for it.
Feeling like your doctor isn't listening? Chloe's experience with different gastroenterologists taught her the importance of finding a doctor who takes her concerns seriously. She emphasizes getting a proper diagnosis, asking questions, seeking second opinions when needed, and combining appropriate medical treatment with a broader look at diet, sleep, and stress. Her message is that you deserve to be an active participant in your healthcare.
Actionable Advice
Pay attention to your bathroom habits. Chloe describes stool as a daily health report card. Notice persistent changes, particularly bleeding, and discuss them with a qualified healthcare professional. If you see blood in your stool, seek medical evaluation rather than assuming it's a hemorrhoid.
Review your daily habits. Look at your sleep, diet, stress, alcohol consumption, and hydration. Chloe shares how getting adequate rest, eating more intentionally, and reducing alcohol have become important parts of managing her health.
Discuss fiber with your doctor. Chloe found that increasing fiber, particularly psyllium husk, significantly improved her symptoms. She also emphasizes that fiber doesn't work the same way for everyone and may worsen symptoms for some people. Work with your healthcare team to determine what's appropriate for you.
Advocate for yourself at medical appointments. Ask questions, explain your symptoms clearly, and seek another opinion if you feel rushed or dismissed. Chloe stresses that a proper diagnosis and following prescribed treatment are essential, even when you're also exploring nutrition and lifestyle changes.
Make space for rest and connection. Chloe experienced years of remission during a period when she was sleeping more, spending time at home, and focusing on her nutrition. She also reminds us of the importance of community. Sometimes the simple act of sitting with friends, sharing stories, and stepping away from constant demands is something we need more of.
Chloe's journey began at 25 when she noticed bleeding but didn't fully understand the seriousness of her symptoms. Over the following 15 years, she navigated an ulcerative colitis diagnosis while building a career in journalism, becoming a mother, and learning to live with a chronic illness she rarely discussed publicly. Eventually, sharing her experience led to an outpouring of messages from others facing similar challenges. That response helped inspire the book she co-authored with her friend Judy, expanding the conversation to include other digestive conditions such as IBS, celiac disease, diverticulitis, and colon cancer. Today, Chloe is using her platform to help people speak openly about gut health and take their symptoms seriously.
Links & Resources to Explore
Pre-order The Girl’s Guide to Guts
Your body is constantly communicating with you. The question is whether you're giving yourself the time and attention to listen. Chloe's story reminds us that taking care of our health isn't about following a perfect routine or finding one magic solution. It's about paying attention, asking better questions, getting appropriate medical care, and making room for the habits and relationships that support us. Start by taking one symptom or concern you've been putting off seriously, and listen to the full episode for an honest conversation about gut health, chronic illness, and learning to advocate for yourself.
This episode is for general information only and is not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition. Talk to your doctor before making changes to your care
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