If you’ve been reading my previous posts, you will know that I am about to have surgery to remove my entire colon and get a permanent ileostomy. In preparation, I attended a stoma nurse clinic where I was given an unexpected tool to help me prepare for waking up from surgery: a practice stoma kit.Continue reading “Stoma for a Day: An Experiment.”
Tag Archives: Disease
Before Stoma Surgery: What to Expect.
Seeing as my ileostomy surgery will take place in less than a week now (yikes!), I have been undergoing all the necessary pre-surgery tasks. The weeks leading up to surgery, particularly one as major as stoma surgery, can be daunting, so I have documented the process so people can see exactly what to expect andContinue reading “Before Stoma Surgery: What to Expect.”
IBD and Alcohol: Why I Don’t Drink.
I am now 20-years old and the closest I ever got to consuming alcohol was the tablespoon of Grand Marnier my mum used to put in our Christmas fruit salad. As I was diagnosed with Crohn’s so early on in my life when I was only 12, I never got into the habit of drinkingContinue reading “IBD and Alcohol: Why I Don’t Drink.”
30 Things I’m Tired of Hearing With Crohn’s.
As any Crohn’s or Colitis patient will tell you, our illnesses can be pretty misunderstood and to be honest, I could probably write a thesis about all the annoying or patronising comments I’ve heard over the years to do with my Crohn’s. But for now, I have compiled a list of the 30 most ignorantContinue reading “30 Things I’m Tired of Hearing With Crohn’s.”
Trauma, Recovery and The End of The Treatment Road.
After fistula surgery That week I spent in hospital after my second fistula surgery was awful. Really awful. I had never stayed solely on a surgical ward before and it honestly felt like a bit of a looney bin. I mean, I can’t blame the other women, being cooped up in a room with no windowsContinue reading “Trauma, Recovery and The End of The Treatment Road.”
A Definitive Guide to Abdominal MRI Scans for IBD.
If you’ve never had an MRI before and you’ve been referred for one all of a sudden, it can seem like a daunting prospect. However, an MRI provides incredibly useful imagery for your doctors about the extent and location of your disease as well as highlighting other issues such as strictures or abscesses. It isContinue reading “A Definitive Guide to Abdominal MRI Scans for IBD.”
Approaches to Food in a Flare Up.
Anyone who has ever experienced a relapse of their IBD will at some point have asked themselves the big question: “what should I eat?” When your symptoms flare up your appetite normally goes down, but it is important to try and give your body nutrients, particularly if you are experiencing vomiting or diarrhoea. ButContinue reading “Approaches to Food in a Flare Up.”
Surgery, Anaphylaxis and Ustekinumab.
Being admitted I was admitted to hospital on March 15th, 2019 for my first ever surgery. Even the journey to the hospital was a nightmare. I felt like I’d reached an all-time low with my internal symptoms, and my extra-intestinal symptoms had also reached rock bottom. The erythema nodosum which I had suffered from soContinue reading “Surgery, Anaphylaxis and Ustekinumab.”
Clinical Trials, Abscesses and Fistulas.
Clinical trial enrolment In late December 2018, I began the process of entering a clinical trial for a new biologic called Risankizumab. The first thing anyone looking to enrol in a trial will likely have to do is a “washout period”, basically where you stop taking all other treatments for about 6-8 weeks to ensureContinue reading “Clinical Trials, Abscesses and Fistulas.”
Coming and Going, Adalimumab, Methotrexate and Yet Another Liquid Diet.
Going back to university When I finally returned to university in the autumn of 2018, I was so excited to be back. Although most of my friends from first year and my old flatmates had moved off campus, as a “disabled” student I was entitled to remain in a dorm. This meant that I would be livingContinue reading “Coming and Going, Adalimumab, Methotrexate and Yet Another Liquid Diet.”
Me and My Crohn's 