IBD stories & experiences

Nikki Matthews - My IBD Story Nikki was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2006. She underwent emergency stoma surgery in 2023.

Jessica Combe - My IBD Story Jessica was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2022 after several years of struggling with symptoms of nausea, diarrhoea, pain, constipation, vomiting, weight loss and fatigue amongst others.

Video: Faces of IBD In this video you can hear from several people with IBD about their experiences.

Barbara Bowen - My IBD Story Barbara was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis during the Covid pandemic in 2020.

Grace Farr - My IBD Story Grace was diagnosed with pancolitis in 2022. Her symptoms at diagnosis were abdominal pain, lack of appetite, nausea, bloody stools, more frequent and urgent stools, joint pain, fatigue and weight loss.

Skin problems and IBD Q&A with Clemmie Oliver Clemmie, who has ulcerative colitis, discusses her experience with skin problems. Clemmie has experienced psoriasis, eczema and rosacea.

Skin problems and IBD - Q&A with Elaine We asked Elaine, who has ulcerative colitis, to share her experience of skin problems and inflammatory bowel disease.

Jordan Clark - My IBD Story Jordan has ileocolitis, a form of Crohn's disease. He was diagnosed at age 14-years-old and had symptoms of constipation, fatigue, being underweight and loss of appetite. He has enjoyed a lot of travelling and has set up his own martial arts school business and a mindset coaching business.

Alice Seymour - My IBD Story Alice was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2005. Today she's a paediatric sister despite being very unwell and struggling throughout her studies. She has undergone a total colectomy and proctectomy.

Francesca Ingenito - My IBD Story Francesca was diagnosed firstly with ulcerative colitis and then Crohn's disease in 2021 during the height of the COVID 19 pandemic.

Graham Beveridge - My IBD Story Graham was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 1979 at the age of eight-years-old when Crohn's disease was less well known. He was finally diagnosed after several years of feeling unwell and intensive testing, where it was felt he was too young to have Crohn's disease. He underwent surgery for subtotal colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis.

Ryan Van Voorhis - My IBD Story Ryan was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at age 14. In his IBD story, Ryan talks about how he had to miss lots of school and school sports and activities due to his chronic illness. He had surgery to remove his colon whilst at college and has lived with an ostomy for 20+ years. Ryan is passionate about looking after your mental health as well as your physical health.

Abigail - My IBD Story Abigail Marie was diagnosed with moderate to severe left sided ulcerative colitis in 2014. She experienced her worst flare to date in 2019 and was hospitalised. Abigail uses her experience, background and degree in Culinary Arts to run her website Abigail Marie the Chef with IBD where she shares her recipes, IBD news of new studies and medications, as well as blog posts about everything IBD.

Molly Dunham-Friel, MPH - My IBD Story Molly was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2012. She felt devastated when she was told UC is a chronic disease, but feels UC has given her a purpose and now uses her experiences to help advocate for better IBD care and help spread awareness.

Katherine Abery - My IBD Story Katherine has Crohn's disease. Her IBD journey first began in July 2019, at the age of 15 and she was diagnosed in January 2020. Despite the challenges Crohn’s disease has brought her and missing a lot of school, she successfully achieved 10 GCSEs and is studying for her A-levels.

Usayd Siddiqi - My IBD Story Usayd was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2018. His symptoms at diagnosis were blood in stool, sudden urges, and constant bowel movements. He underwent a two stage J-pouch surgery with ileus, but experienced some severe complications following surgery. Usayd shares his frank account of his surgery experience during the pandemic, in his IBD story.

Daanya Ravindran - My IBD Story Daanya lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2020 experiencing daily fevers, intense abdominal pain, and loss of appetite. Having Crohn's disease has sparked a passion for science and biology and Daanya is planning to do a bachelor's degree in biomedical science. She wants to help people with these conditions in the future.

Jade - My IBD Story Jade was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2018 when she was 18 years old. She began experiencing IBD symptoms whilst taking her exams. Jade feels that sharing your experience with others is a great way to educate and raise awareness but it also helps you on your journey forward.

Tara Hajek - My IBD Story Tara was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2019, but has has lived with gut issues for as long as she can remember. Something that helps her mentally through this is sharing her health journey via her Instagram channel @tara.tackles.ibd.

Ellie Redman - My IBD Story Ellie was diagnosed with Crohn's disease when she was ten years old. Ellie feels that being confident in talking openly about your disease and educating others is really important and can make a big difference.

Cassie - My IBD Story Cassie was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 1995 when she was 14 years old. After being mis-diagnosed with appendicitis, stress, IBS and an eating disorder, Cassie underwent several surgeries including several small bowel resections, strictureplasty, loop ileostomy (temporary), end colostomy (permanent) with proctectomy. She is a nurse and mum and has a love for strength training!

Scott Moore - MY IBD Story Scott was diagnosed with severe ulcerative colitis in 2019. Scott is a fitness trainer who aims to help people with IBD exercise and stick to a program even when they're not feeling 100%.

Jessica Logan - My IBD Story Jessica was diagnosed with acute severe ulcerative colitis in 2017 and had emergency surgery within a week of her diagnosis. Today Jessica focusses her time on raising awareness of invisible illnesses and disabilities.

Jordan Rankin - My IBD Story Jordan's symptoms started during his first year at university and he was diagnosed with ulcerative Colitis in 2010.

Jen Rose - My IBD Story Jen's IBD diagnosis came in 1989 whilst at primary school. Jen is training to become a psychotherapeutic counsellor, offering emotional support to newly diagnosed IBD patients and their families.

Tina Aswani Omprakash - My IBD Story Tina was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in January 2006. She has a family history of Crohn's and had a colonoscopy as a preventative measure. Symptoms started five months in to diagnosis. In her IBD story, Tina describes what IBD awareness means to a South Asian American woman with Crohn’s.

Maizey Nunn - My IBD Story Maizey was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at 17 years old, after experiencing a lot of stomach pain, many urgent trips to the bathroom and major fatigue. Her symptoms caused Maizey to miss both school and work and the pain was unbearable.

Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford - My IBD Story Sahara was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2007. She runs the #IBDSuperHeroes awareness campaign and Facebook group, and sits on the board for UK charity Cure Crohn’s Colitis. Sahara also works with healthcare companies as an IBD Patient Expert.

Glen Neilson - My IBD Story Glen was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2001. After experiencing severe symptoms in 2000, Glen was admitted to hospital for three months in 2001. During that time he underwent an emergency total proctocolectomy and ileostomy operation. Glen's a real adventurer, having previously served in the Armed Forces as an intelligence operator. He loves to travel and hike mountains.

Clemmie Oliver - My IBD story Clemmie was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis aged 9 and had surgery to remove her colon aged 11. At the age of 18 she had her ileostomy reversed and a J-pouch formed. After working for several years in PR she retrained as a nutritional therapist and now works supporting people with IBD.

Jennifer Higgins - My IBD story After being diagnosed in March 2018 with ulcerative colitis Jennifer quickly had a temporary ileostomy formed. But, after her surgery, she was then re-diagnosed with Crohn's disease.

Tim Parsons - My IBD story After experiencing symptoms since 2008 Tim was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2012. Alongside his day job he volunteers as a voluntary Chaplain to South East Coast Ambulance Service.

Getting through a colonoscopy We all have to do it at some point. That chilly room. That gaping gown. That cold hard table. All those people looking at your poor goose pimpled bottom as you lie on your side and consent to an unenjoyable anal probing. Yes, the colonoscopy; many IBDers’ necessary evil, and nobody’s easy conversation topic. Here are some tips to hopefully help make it easier...

Living with a stoma Q&A - Steph Jennings

Learning to live with a stoma

Living with a J-pouch

Lucy Brightley - My IBD Story Lucy was surprised when she was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2000 - she thought her fatigue was due to working full-time and raising 5 children.

Tom - My IBD Story At just six-and-a-half Tom was diagnosed with Crohn's disease - but he doesn't let it stop him doing anything he enjoys!

What is having a colonoscopy like? Having a colonoscopy is an important part of diagnosing and monitoring inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). If you haven’t had a colonoscopy before the thought of it can be nerve wracking. To help you learn more about what happens during a colonoscopy, and the preparation before, Seb Tucknott kept a diary for us during his last scope at the beginning of 2016.

Nigel Horwood - My IBD story Nigel has lived with the symptoms of Crohn's disease since 1977. In 2010 he had his first operation - which removed his terminal ileum and left him with a temporary ileostomy before having a reversal.