Happiful December 2019

8.
Show your support for
#PurpleFriday on 6
December, as people
wear purple clothes for
Crohn’s & Colitis UK
@stomainateacup. “My stoma gives
me freedom I never had when
IBD had its grip on me. I am not
ashamed of my stoma, I respect it,
and life has vastly improved with
it,” she adds.
PATIENTS ARE IN GOOD
COMPANY!
IBD is more common than you
think, and the condition doesn’t
discriminate when it comes to
who it affects. Magician Dynamo,
Olympian Steve Redgrave, and
England cricketer Jack Leach
(whose glasses-cleaning action in
the middle of a nail-biting Ashes
Test went viral) are all part of the
exclusive IBD club.
9.
IT’S AN INVISIBLE DISABILITY
Don’t judge a book by its cover!
Many IBD patients might look
the picture of health, which
means they can even be accused
of faking it when it comes to
using a disabled loo. Accessing
disabled toilets is vital for things
like changing colostomy bags and
avoiding accidents, but a general
awareness of this is lacking.
However, change is coming;
the charity Crohn’s & Colitis UK
recently successfully campaigned
for five supermarkets to alter their
disabled toilet signs to explain that
not all disabilities are visible.
10.
IBD CAN MASSIVELY IMPACT
RELATIONSHIPS
Along with its physical symptoms,
it’s worth knowing that IBD
can also significantly impact
relationships. The chances are you
probably know someone with the
condition – whether it’s a friend,
colleague, family member, or
partner. Communication issues
can be a problem; those with IBD
can find it difficult to explain why
they can’t attend social gatherings,
while symptoms can lead to fear of
leaving the house, and can affect
patients’ sex lives and body image.
Find out more about IBD at
crohnsandcolitis.org.uk. Crohn’s
and Colitis Awareness week is 1–7
December.
Jenna Farmer is a freelance health
writer and nutritional therapist. She
has Crohn’s disease and blogs about
her journey to improve gut health at
abalancedbelly.co.uk