Hi, my name is Ellen, I’m the Clinical Data Manger here at Occtopus and the Administrator for the Colorectal Cancer and Stoma Nurses at OUH and I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis (UC) in 2021.
I started experiencing excruciating stomach cramps and bloody diarrhoea; at one point was going to the toilet over 20 times a day and the toilet more resembled a crime scene. I obviously had a lot of prior knowledge and experience with IBD and knew I needed to get it checked out, but the inevitable diagnosis still felt like sledgehammer and is something I’m still processing years later! I was pretty ill whilst the amazing IBD nurses tried to get my symptoms under control and the UC into remission, but we got there thankfully and for the last three years I have been on the biologic medication, Adalimumab, which I have to inject every other week.
It is keeping things under control and fingers crossed keeps doing so, but as any IBD warriors know, there are always some physical and mental battles that will always be there! I understand exactly what the people of this community are going through and, frankly, it’s bloody hard. We’re all just doing the best we can, but if I can help anyone with questions about, diagnosis, treatment, symptoms or just a general question, do message me via our Facebook page!
