hi today is #WorldIBDDay. this is the face of someone with an invisible illness. i was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in december 2018, i’d been suffering with symptoms for 2 years prior to that, constantly at the doctors and a&e with no answers and being accused of faking +

my symptoms. no one knows what causes ibd neither is their a cure. stress is thought to contribute to a flare up, january 2019 i lost my grandad, on his funeral, that night i had to go to hospital, i felt so guilty. i needed to be there as i spent nearly 2 weeks there +

the typical symptoms include, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, fatigue. at my worst i experienced those and heartburn and indigestion, heart palpitations which felt like a heart attack, mouth ulcers, weight loss, i was dehydrated, joint pains, mental health problems and more +

i couldn’t even get out of bed. i missed university interviews, college assessments, i missed out on living my life. constantly feeling judged by those that barely know me. it can be such an isolating and lonely illness sometimes. the fear of ‘when is the next flare up’ +

and what other complications might this illness bring me? chronic illness is blood tests, it’s constant pain, it’s lonely, it’s all the doctors and hospital appointments, it’s being scared for the present and for the future and it’s missing who you was before you was ill +

most importantly, chronic illness - inflammatory bowel disease, is being brave. i’ve never experienced as much pain as i have with this illness. and i’m one of the lucky ones, i haven’t required surgery yet and i’m alive, i’m one of the lucky ones truly and i’m so thankful +

for all the doctors and nurses and my family who have stood by me every single time i needed them. our NHS is amazing. i am brave and i am so proud of myself. this disease could’ve stopped me from achieving so many things but i won’t let it. it’s something i’ll live with for +

the rest of my life. watching my body change from the medication has been hard. taking all the medication i have has been and still is hard. however i will not feel guilty for being ill anymore. being in constant pain isn’t easy and has taken massive effects on my mental health +

which i still do not talk about as well as body image. this is just my story and i could say so much more but i doubt many will read anyway, if you have thank you and give those you know living with a chronic illness a big hug (when you can, not now).

ulcerative colitis and crohn’s disease are a bowel disease, but they’re so much more than that. if you’re reading this and are living with crohns or ulcerative colitis you are important and i am proud of you.

stay strong

#WorldIBDDay