“I was so scared and I thought that my life was over, but nine months later I am learning how to manage it and how to not let it define me!”- Kayleigh’s Story
My journey with IBD started when I was in year 9/10, when I couldn’t attend school due to having fecal impaction because of my inflammation. It felt like nobody (myself included) understood what was wrong with my body. I was either constantly using the bathroom or not going at all for long periods of time.
At this point I wasn’t aware that I had bowel disease, but as time went on and my symptoms worsened and I was booked in for a colonoscopy. A million thoughts were rushing through my head, was it cancer? When I came out of hospital I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, and I got put on a lot of medication.
I started out on Pentasa granules then Mesalazine tablets and Salofalk enemas, but eventually that didn’t work and led me to having more inflammation in my colon causing the bloody stools, immense stomach pain, vomiting etc. I was sent to the emergency department at Fiona Stanley hospital in Perth and after a 7 hour wait, I was given a bed. The new medication I was put on was Prednisolone, Azathioprine, Suppositories, Supplements (Calcium and Vitamin D3) along with taking the Salofalk enemas and oral based Mezavant. Azathioprine didn’t work for me, however I am now on Vedolizumab infusions which are working for me!
The support from my friends and family was great. I had lots of people around me to support me even though nobody knew what was going on with me. It kind of became an inside joke about how often I had to use the bathroom. The support I had after being diagnosed was even greater. I had support from friends, my partner, my family here in Australia, my family from my home country New Zealand, doctors, nurses and IBD specialists.
I have learned that stress plays a huge role in making my symptoms worse so now I try to limit my stress and how worked up I get about things, even though it is much easier said than done. I stay active at work, but I make sure to take time out for myself when I get home. I also surround myself with the people who support me and kick negative people from my life!
I was so scared and I thought that my life was over, but nine months later I am learning how to manage it and how to not let it define me! My advice for others with IBD is to join support groups and talk with others who are struggling. You may be able to help each other and also learn new things!