I joined the Army when I was 20, serving as a Royal Engineer. My first real posting was in Hameln, Germany, and from there I was deployed all over the world on construction and operational tours including Afghanistan and Kenya. My story with Inflammatory Bowel Disease begins in Belize, situated in Central America between Mexico and Guatemala, where I was deployed for three months at 27 years old and first started to experience symptoms.
In Belize at the time, temperatures were hitting 30°C, and 80 - 100% humidity by six o’clock in the morning. I was in a 50-man room with no air conditioning, and to make the ventilation worse, we all slept in mosquito nets to prevent being bitten by those “flying crocodiles”! From there, my symptoms started gradually with losing weight, bouts of diarrhoea and sickness. My fitness suffered greatly, going from feeling one of the fittest in the squadron, to struggling to keep up with the other guys. Eventually, I hit a point where I couldn’t keep up at all. It can quickly become very hard when your fitness lets you down, as it’s the foundation of being a soldier, no matter what your role is.
Chris serving in Belize
During my time in Belize I had a horrendous wind, which quickly became very embarrassing and hard to manage. The toilet facilities were awful to say the least. Some toilets didn’t flush, and if there was toilet roll, you were very lucky indeed. When nature called, which it did many times a day, I would have to rush around looking for somewhere to go and it became very stressful.
On return to my unit in Germany, I went straight to the medical centre. I was initially diagnosed with Gastroenteritis and given medication. Months passed with no improvement my weight dropped to nine stone, I ended up being referred for tests and went to hospital, where I was diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
As lovely as the German hospital nurses, doctors and staff were, it’s a very scary place when you can’t communicate with anyone and feel alone.
Chris
Living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
I was told I could have a stoma bag or try new, quite expensive injections. I went for the latter and had to have six injections in one go, followed by a dose every two weeks for over two years. I was also put on a high dose of steroids which I found really tough.
About six months in,my partner and I decided to get a dog. After conducting a lot of research, we brought home a lovely border collie cross, who we named Vilma. At the time I had no idea how much this dog would mean to me, and how much she would help me through my journey. During this time, I would experience flares where during walks I would experience stomach cramps that where so painful I had to lie on the floor. I was also so embarrassed and nervous about having a toilet accident that I would tuck myself away in a bush so that no one would see me in pain.
After a year or so of treatment, I did gradually improve to a point where I could return to work, although I still had periods of feeling unwell. To my surprise I was selected for promotion, but due to my medical grading, I was held in limbo and medical officers advised me my best option was to voluntary leave the Army. I fought tooth and nail with the support of my management to stay. After months of appealing and finally attending my promotion course, I was finally promoted to the rank of Corporal.
Once I finally received my promotion in 2011, I was posted back to the UK. It was a much more relaxed atmosphere working with The RAF there, and I decided to apply for the next progression in my career to become a Clerk or Works. This application highlighted my medical grade with Army HQ and triggered the medical discharge process. At the same time my condition started to worsen, and under guidance from Dundee University Hospital, I agreed to surgery to remove the worst-affected part of my bowel. When I got home from hospital after the operation, I got a notice telling me I was being medically discharged from the Army.
Leaving the military meant I also had to lave my accommodation and I’ve since moved to the Northeast of England to start a new life. At times I have struggled to settle, but my condition is now fairly well managed and is getting better and better to the present day, where I am now medication free.
For me personally, I think living an active and adventurous lifestyle has really helped. free. I find being outdoors has had a massive positive impact, relieving stress and anxiety.
Chris
Living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Team 7 Summits
Just over three years ago I came across a veterans’ charity called Climb 2 Recovery. They use rock climbing and mountaineering as a form of recovery for veterans injured, or sick through service. It wasn’t until I joined that I realised the negative impact my condition had had on my mental health. I went on to become a rock-climbing instructor and mountain leader within the charity.
This is where my path crossed with Andy Speed, a below the knee amputee and Richie Hughes, with an ankle injury. We have now teamed up forming Team 7 Summits with the mission to climb the highest mountain on each of the seven continents to promote, motivate and inspire others with disabilities that life goes on, it is worth living, and adventure is on the doorstep. You just need to go and get it!
If you would like to find out more about our project, please visit our website and social media pages to find out how you can help.
Thank you for reading my story.
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