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So today is world Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) day! Here comes an unusual but important thread from me. #worldIBDday2020
Someone close to me was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease (a type of IBD) in 2016. Contrary to what people might think, the diagnosis wasn’t quick or simple. One of the reasons for this was because of how difficult it was for them to be open about what was happening with their body.
The journey to diagnosis actually started with months of ignoring symptoms (including changes in bowel movements, fatigue, pain and extreme weight loss). This eventually got to a point where the pain led to them being rushed from the GP to hospital with suspected appendicitis.
Through various tests the correct diagnosis was made and they had emergency surgery to have a colostomy bag due to a perforated bowel.
With IBD being an invisible illness it often makes it hard for open discussions to be had about it. Especially if the initial symptoms are your bowel movements, I can see why you might not want to go with “let me tell you about my poop” as a conversation starter.
So It wasn’t until friends and family could see the weight loss that questions began to be asked about this person’s health.
This has led to me being very open about my toilet habits. If I’m happy to talk about these "gross" topics then that might allow someone else to feel comfortable to talk about them too. Maybe it’ll help people seek advice before it gets to the point it did for this person.
There are many more tales of life with IBD from this person. But today I just want to tell everyone that it’s important to discuss what is happening with our insides and the state of our poop. It’s often a sign of a flare up with IBD when there’s discomfort or changes.
It’s also important for people to realise how much anxiety people can feel when they’re around those who are unaware of their diagnosis. By allowing open conversations to ensure awareness of symptoms and toilet needs it can make social or work environments much more relaxing.
So please everyone, don’t be prudes, everybody poops, let’s talk about it. (Sorry for the gif).
