In My Shoes for people living with Crohn’s or Colitis

You can download a pdf version of your guide here, or continue scrolling to read it. 

A Guide to In My Shoes: 24 Hours with Crohn's or Colitis

The app that helps your friends, family and colleagues understand what it's like to live with Crohn's or Colitis.

Ever wished that, just for a day, your friends, family and colleagues could understand what it’s like to live with Crohn’s or Colitis?

You know what it’s like, and how difficult it can be to juggle work, social commitments and medical appointments. Having to know where the nearest loo is at all times. But how much do those closest to you really understand what it’s like?

In My Shoes: 24 Hours with Crohn’s and Colitis is a free, immersive app that allows anyone to step into the life of someone living with Crohn’s or Colitis for a day, experiencing a series of tasks and choices which prompt the user to think about how the conditions can impact daily life.
In 2020 life changed for us all, but especially for people living with a lifelong condition. It has become more important than ever that you feel connected, understood, and empowered to have open conversations with the important people in your life. The In My Shoes app helps to start these conversations.

The difference the app makes

For more video testimonials of In My Shoes download our guide, scroll to the end of this page, or visit our Youtube channel.

How to ask someone to do the app for you

Top tips

We realise that you may feel concerned asking a friend, family member or colleague to do the app to understand more about what life is like for you. So we asked people who have already done this to share their top tips!

• Mention the app if someone asks how you’re feeling – it’s a great opportunity to understand (some of it) for themselves
• If your friend or family member doesn’t know what to get you for your birthday, ask that they do the app experience for you
• Tell your IBD consultant, IBD nurse specialist, GP or dietitian about the app – they might not know about it and would appreciate having another resource that they can recommend to other people with Crohn’s or Colitis

If it feels too daunting having a chat about it, why not send them a text or email? You could say:

You can also get advice about how to talk to people about your Crohn’s or Colitis and create your own Crohn’s & Colitis UK ‘Talking Toolkit’.

It’s so important that you feel you have the support network that you need around you in your day to day life – so if you have someone in mind who you think would benefit from doing the app, let them know about In My Shoes today.

How the app works

A foolproof guide for your friends, family and colleagues

1. Click one of the buttons below to download the app or search for ‘In my Shoes’ on the Apple or Google Play app stores:

2. Select when you’d like the experience to start. Remember – it’s going to last for 24 hours

3. Updates and challenges will be sent to you. Make sure you keep your phone near you, notifications are on, silent mode is turned off, and that you leave it on overnight

4. Await your first task

After you've completed the app

• Talk about the experience with your friend, family or colleague who recommended the app to you
• Share your experience! Post about it on social media (use the hashtags #InMyShoes and tag Crohn’s & Colitis UK) or tell a friend who you think might also benefit from completing the app.

In My Shoes: 24 Hours with Crohn’s or Colitis has been developed through a partnership between Crohn’s & Colitis UK and Takeda UK, one of Crohn’s & Colitis UK’s corporate partners.

EXA/UK/GI/0015

July 2023