What people with IBD should know

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I am often asked, “What would you tell someone recently diagnosed with IBD?” So, this is what I think you should know! Look out for clickable links in this blog, leading to more detailed information! For many, a definitive diagnosis is a massive relief after a long period of being unwell. This does not mean that acceptance is easy, after all, you have just been diagnosed with a chronic disease which has no cure. Do NOT panic, we’ve got this, life is not over! It is worth pointing out that no two IBD patients’ lives are the same. The disease does not always manifest in the same way, and the fact that a treatment works for one person does not mean it will work for another. This makes IBD notoriously difficult to treat. That said, some IBD patients may have one flare, find the right medication straight away and never have another, and that is fantastic! For the rest of us, being diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis may mean some lifestyle changes and som

My Ulcerative Colitis diagnosis

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I usually ramble on in my blogs so I have set myself a challenge – 200 words max per blog for Crohn’s and Colitis awareness week! 

Over 300,000 people have been diagnosed with Crohn’s or Colitis within the UK alone!

Some people have a really long and hard journey before they are even diagnosed and for some, it’s one major flare leading to being diagnosed straight away. It can be a relief to actually have a name for what you’re suffering with – and then comes the treatment!


I got sick fast and after just two weeks at home in bed doing nothing but sleep and crap blood and mucous, whilst being treated for IBS, I was admitted to the hospital.

I was whisked for a colonoscopy straight away and diagnosed with Colitis on the spot, in September 2007. After a week in the hospital and no improvement from the intravenous meds, I was taken for surgery to have my colon removed and an ileostomy formed.

I feel lucky in the sense that I was diagnosed so quickly because I have heard many stories of years of pain, wrong medication and false diagnosis’. I didn’t have to spend years feeling like I was not being listened to or like I was making things up like many others have. I do feel I have since made up for this though!