Going on holiday and flying with a stoma generally means that you have quite a lot of stuff. However, going on holiday with hand luggage only is so much cheaper and can be a lot…
Chronic Illness
How the change in Disabled Blue Badges affects people with invisible illnesses
When you have an invisible illness/disability, it can be hard to prove to people that you are chronically ill. It can also mean that sometimes, help and support isn’t available to you. However, last Friday…
How to deal with MRI Scan anxiety
As soon as the phrase “you need an MRI scan” are uttered, I am filled with panic. I am someone who is very claustrophobic and it’s a major part of my anxiety. However, I know…
Arthritis health update | Going back to the beginning
It’s been nearly a year since I was diagnosed with enteropathic arthritis and I’ll be honest, it’s been a bit of a battle. I’ve tried two different biological drugs, both of which didn’t work, and…
How to keep yourself hydrated with a stoma
One of my biggest worries, when it’s warm, is keeping hydrated. The large bowel is where you re-absorb a lot of water back into your body so when you have an ileostomy, it can be…
3 months on adalimumab | When the miracle drug doesn’t work for you
At the beginning of February, I changed medication from Golimumab to the Humira bio-similar, adalimumab. I take this medication for my arthritis and changed because Golimumab stopped working after a few months. When I was…
Why I made my stoma permanent | j-pouch vs barbie butt surgery
It’s been over a year since I had my (hopefully) final stoma surgery where I made my stoma permanent. I’d spent three years deciding whether to keep my stoma or opt for j-pouch surgery which…
Mental health awareness week – Learning to love my new body
This week is mental health awareness week and this years theme is body positivity. In the age of social media, we all seem to be more aware of how our bodies look. Comparison culture is…
Am I Disabled? : Why you should define chronic illnesses as a disability
Last month, Crohn’s & Colitis UK launched the next phase of their Not Every Disability is Visible campaign. It opened up a really interesting discussion as to what disability is and led me to question…
