I was 23 when my IBD team first told me I had Crohn’s. To be honest, it was a lot to take on board – and that’s putting it mildly.
The very first symptoms I experienced were pain in my stomach, along with a substantial amount of blood in my poo. At the time, I had no idea what was going on, especially as it kept on happening, and there was no pattern.
Eventually, as my symptoms showed no signs of going away, I decided to see my GP and find out what was going on. I was in so much pain.
Luckily, I didn’t have to wait too long for my diagnosis, as I was referred for tests pretty quickly, due to how bad things were. Being told the news that I had Crohn’s, was pretty hard to navigate initially. It took me a while to come to terms with the diagnosis.
I thought a lot about how it would affect me both physically and mentally, and how I was going to live my life from that point on. I will be honest, I just didn’t want to tell anyone at the time.
Aminul
Living with Crohn's Disease
The people who looked after me in hospital were just incredible. I only have good things to say about them. The IBD nurses in particular were so supportive and they really don’t get enough credit for what they do.
The thing about Crohn’s and Colitis is that everybody’s experience is different. For me, stress has always been a big factor. Once I became aware of this, I really started to notice the links between how stressed I was, and how my health would fluctuate.
A few years after my initial diagnosis, I started to experience pain again, but this time it was different. In fact, it was much worse.
I ended up being admitted to hospital, and was told that I’d developed a fistula which was causing many complications in my body. I remember feeling so incredibly unwell at the time.
I had to have emergency surgery which resulted in me having a part of my small intestine removed and because of that I now have a stoma bag. I have to say, having the stoma fitted saved me from a lot of complications and it has improved things drastically. At the moment, I’m not taking any medication for my Crohn’s, as it’s very much in control. I haven’t had a flare-up for a few years now.
I have found that that maintaining a healthy diet, and exercising regularly, has helped me massively with my condition. This is a big reason as to why I’m now a fitness instructor and a personal trainer, and in some ways, I thank my Crohn’s for pushing me in this direction.
My advice to other people with IBD is to not give up on hope, and live a full life as would.
The thing about invisible illnesses is that they’re often overlooked and not taken seriously enough because you can’t “see” them. That frustrates me, and that’s why I feel it’s so important to raise awareness of Crohn’s and Colitis.
That initial moment when you’re diagnosed is life-changing. It’s pretty daunting – and that’s an understatement. But life really does get better and the help is there. Do not ignore the symptoms, and always follow what your gut is telling you.
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