About 12 years ago, I started with symptoms of going to the toilet all the time, feeling generally unwell, tired, back pain and blood in my poo.

I was visiting doctors every week where I was told I had IBS, and fibromyalgia or sciatica. Hmm - I wasn't convinced.

My symptoms started getting worse to the point where I couldn’t leave the house as I had to be near a toilet & couldn’t get myself dressed as my back pain was so bad. I was put on various medication, including steroids, which had horrific side effects.

As an 18 year old, it was really quite scary to not actually know what was wrong with me!

I found living in pain so difficult. I lived in 7/10 pain every day for years. But in absolute excruciating pain 9 or 10/10 for months. People didn’t get it. It wasn’t their fault - it’s just so hard for people to understand the pain when they can’t see it.

I really struggled. But I HAD to be positive and start imagining this as my new life - living with pain. 

After years of many colonoscopies & hospital visits, I was finally diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis and Enteropathic Arthritis. Woo! Finally some answers!

Unfortunately, autoimmune diseases can’t be cured but they can be treated.

I inject myself with something called Adalimumab - an Anti TNF that blocks the protein TNF (too much is produced in my body) & reduces inflammation. I also take a medication called Mercaptopurine.

I have very little immune system due to it being suppressed by both my illnesses and medications. I still need to be careful about foods I eat & have to take recovery really seriously as I can get ill and injured easily. 

But ANYTHING is possible. Years ago, I couldn’t walk properly, let alone run! I was not in good place both mentally or physically. But my meds, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Pilates & swimming got me out of the worst of it. 

9 years later and I’m a pain free marathon runner! 

Of course, many things are harder to overcome but my message would be to do everything you possibly can to TRY - you never know how strong you may actually be! 

25th May 2024