IBD ਮਰੀਜ਼ ਪੈਨਲ
ਰਾਇਲ ਲੰਡਨ ਅਤੇ ਮਾਈਲ ਐਂਡ ਹਸਪਤਾਲ
ਮਰੀਜ਼ ਕਹਾਣੀਆਂ
My Crohn's Story
Hi! I’m Laura from Sydney, Australia. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease just after my 30th birthday in 2009. My life was put on hold as I struggled to do the normal, everyday things I had always taken for granted. As anyone with an understanding of IBD knows, it can sometimes be a daily battle to get out of bed, leave the house, and live a normal life. The symptoms take over and can be debilitating.
For the next 4 years I suffered flare after flare, tried medication after medication, nightly enemas, suffered side effects including a pulmonary embolism, tried different diets, saw psychologists for my anxiety, had fistulas and abscesses, and was in and out of hospital.
In 2013, I made the decision (guided by my doctor’s) to have permanent ileostomy surgery. Although I knew this was not a cure, medication had failed to get my Crohn’s under control or in remission, and felt I had no other option. I wanted my life back! Within weeks of recovering from surgery, I knew I had made the right decision. For the first time in a long time, I felt well and like my old self again.
Since my surgery, I’ve been blessed with good health and I am very fortunate to have adapted incredibly well to life with an ostomy with very few issues, and I am now medication free.
Just six months after my surgery, I went on the trip of a lifetime - a 10-month holiday, travelling through three continents and 17 countries, with my ostomy in tow! I haven’t been able to travel much over the last year, but when I do I always take photos with my belly out and post them on my blog Stomalicious in the hope that this will help raise ostomy awareness and encourage others with a stoma or who are concerned about ostomy surgery.
In 2016, I fulfilled one of my lifelong dreams and moved from Sydney to live in London! My husband and I decided to settle in East London, and that’s when I came to be under the amazing IBD team at the Royal London hospital.
The IBD Patient Panel
I started volunteering with the Crohn’s & Colitis UK East London network and through that I met other RLH IBD patients and learnt about the IBD patient panel. I knew right away I wanted to be involved as I feel strongly about helping others with IBD and I know the patient experience can play a big part in that. I’ve really enjoyed being part of the events we have put on as a panel and contributing my ideas!
Happy World IBD Day to everyone!
If interested, you can read more about my travels with an ostomy on my blog
https://stomalicious.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/stomalicious
