Gut and bowel issues can be incapacitating for anyone, but they can often be managed through diet and medication. However, for those suffering from Inflammatory Bowel Diseases like Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, these are daily challenges.
Today, Monday, marks the start of Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week, an initiative aimed at highlighting the struggles endured by those living with these diseases, which cause painful sores and inflammation in the gut. Symptoms can include cramping, diarrhoea, swollen joints, mouth ulcers, fatigue, and loss of weight and appetite, according to charity Crohn’s and Colitis UK. A social media influencer, known on TikTok as letstalkcrohns, shared five insights he wished he had been aware of before his Crohn’s Disease diagnosis, reports the Mirror.
Saying knowing these five points « would have saved me a lot of stress, confusion, and anxiety », he started by stating: « Flare-ups aren’t just urgent bathroom visits or stomach pain. I didn’t expect to have joint pain, fatigue, fever, or brain fog. It’s a whole body thing and not just your gut. »
He went on to say: « People will assume that you don’t look sick, and this is so frustrating. Just because it’s invisible doesn’t make it any less real. »
For his next piece of advice, he sought to dispel misconceptions surrounding diet. « It’s not just about food, » he said.
« I used to think that just avoiding trigger foods would be enough, but stress, poor sleep, [and] over-exertion all play a massive part in your wellbeing. »
He went on to explain: « Hospital visits can become a regular thing, and not every treatment might work for you the first time. It’s a process of trial and error, having patience, and finding a solution that works for you. »
Discussing remission, when symptoms become less noticeable, he explained: « Remission doesn’t mean that you’re going to feel 100 per cent better. Hopefully you have good days, but you’re still going to have bad days, and because Crohn’s is a chronic condition, it still requires a certain level of management, but hopefully over time you’ll find something that works for you. »
He concluded by saying: « I wish I knew a lot of this sooner, but honestly, how are you supposed to know? »
In the video’s comments section, the presenter added: « I actually want to add to this and say… it’s not all doom and gloom. Hopefully you’ll still have very normal days along the journey, some days you might not be ok, and that’s ok!
« I used to get so frustrated when I felt a little off but it’s all part of it! Just take on your shoulders and be aware of the highs n lows! »
TikTok users shared their own experiences in the comments. One revealed: « Took me two years to find the right medication for Ulcerative Colitis disease. Been in a flare since last November and I’m only just starting to come out the other side. »
Another commented: « I could not have worded this better myself, well said. So sick of seeing posts and the first thing they talk about is how much they go to the toilet. It’s so much worse and more than that. »
A different user expressed: « I also wish I knew how opinionated people can be about an illness they don’t have. People always tell me what diets to try like that’s how it works. »
And another advised: « Place your mental health first. It’s a lot harder to do that than the physical. There will be a light at the end of the tunnel, even if it’s small victories at a time. »
Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week runs from Monday, December 1, to Sunday, December 7. Find out more at crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/
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