This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
“The people who love and support you will listen” – Hamish’s story
I first realized something was seriously wrong when I was just 16, nearly 17 years old.
At the time, I was working as an apprentice carpenter for a construction company, focused on learning my trade. Then, out of nowhere, I started experiencing intense stomach pains and frequent trips to the bathroom. At first, I brushed it off, but when I began seeing pools of blood each time, panic set in. I was terrified and had no idea what was happening to me.
Despite the pain, I kept pushing through, pretending nothing was wrong. But as time went on, my frequent bathroom trips became noticeable to my coworkers and my boss. They assumed I was trying to avoid work, and I felt too embarrassed and afraid to explain the truth. For over six months, I suffered in silence—dealing with unbearable pain, fatigue, and fear of the unknown. I told no one. Not my friends, not my family, not even my employer. Eventually, I lost my job. I accepted it without protest, convinced they needed someone more reliable.
As time passed, my condition became impossible to ignore. I was losing weight rapidly, constantly exhausted, and withdrawing from everything. My self-confidence disappeared. I was scared. Then, one morning, I woke up in excruciating pain, unable to move or get out of bed. That was the breaking point.
My mum came in to check on me, and for the first time, I broke down. I told her everything—the pain, the fear, the months of suffering in silence. I genuinely thought I was dying.
She rushed me to the hospital, where I was immediately seen by a specialist. After countless tests and rounds of medication, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease (IBD). I had never even heard of it before. Suddenly, I was faced with the reality of a chronic, incurable illness—one that would change my life forever.
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes severe inflammation and ulcers in the digestive tract, leading to cramping, bleeding, loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, and constant, painful trips to the bathroom. I was placed on strong medication, and after a week in a hospital bed, I finally felt a small spark of energy return to me.
Coming to terms with my diagnosis was incredibly difficult. My mental health took a massive hit. When you’re diagnosed with a long-term illness, a wave of emotions follows—shock, denial, anxiety, frustration, fear, and even anger. You feel lost, uncertain about the future, and at times, completely alone. I struggled with these feelings for years.
At first, I tried to ignore my symptoms, desperate to feel “normal” like everyone else. But deep down, I felt weak and powerless. I turned to alcohol and self-destructive habits, using them as an escape, a way to momentarily forget the reality of my condition. But after years of battling stress, frustration, and anger, I finally accepted the truth. This disease wasn’t going anywhere—but how I chose to live with it was up to me.
I made a promise to myself: this would be the start of a new chapter. A journey toward health, strength, and resilience. And that’s when fitness became my outlet, my passion, and ultimately, my greatest success. Today, I’m on medication that keeps my Crohn’s under control. Of course, there are good days and bad days, but no matter what, I remain committed to a healthy, active, and nutritious lifestyle.
To anyone struggling with Crohn’s or any chronic illness—don’t suffer in silence. Speak up. The people who love and support you will listen.
You are not alone
