I’m 56 and live near Hull. I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease at the age of 23. I am currently dealing with inflammation in the large & small bowel and symptoms really vary with low platelets a continual problems. Away from Crohn's I’m a lifelong Hull City fan. I work as a Mystery Shopper & used to be a football commentator.
Crohn's Disease could never be described as ‘sexy’. It’s bodily functions that people don’t talk about gone wrong. Urgent protracted toilet visits conjure up images and smells others won’t want to know about.
I felt others wouldn’t understand what I and other people living with the condition were going through.
Dave
Person Living with Crohn's Disease
The smell, the noises and the inconvenience of planning trips around toilet access. Going to a football match away from home meant often needing a service station stop or bunging myself up with loperamide to get through.
You can’t really say - Hi guys I’ve bunged myself up with anti diarrhoea tablets OR Crap that’s 15 miles to the Moto, I might not make it
I still felt embarrassment more than anything and I think that's okay. It is always a relief to meet a fellow person living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease but I find it can be deflating if they are in remission and you aren’t.
Avoid graphic details as I've found sometimes people struggle to understand. I would start by explaining your situation and how it affects you. Perhaps advise in advance if you feel you might need to go to the toilet urgently so people have warning. Everyone can then be prepared to make allowances and support you.
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