I'm British but live in New York and have UC; I have amazing insurance but it still costs me $6,000+ a year for all my medical bills (I miss the nhs!!). Also the FDA banned Asacol in the US just before it was about to come out of patent (and get cheap) so I had to switch to a mega expensive form of exactly the same drug. Absolutely nothing wrong with Asacol it's still happily available elsewhere in countries with more rigorous drug screenings! This video sums up my feelings so much - the loneliness I find difficult as I find the illness very isolating (either you're trapped and can't socialize or however lovely people are they don't understand). Plus constant stress and anxiety from having to think about how you're going to get through all the things you need to in the day 😔 Thank you for talking publically! How have you dealt with it in relationships?
Dear you, who is reading all the comments in the desperate hope to find something useful because you have just been diagnosed with Crohn's or Colitis and feel like your whole life is falling apart (and I know that you exist because that was what I did all day when I was in that situation 4 years ago): You will not always feel like this. This is not what your life will look like for the rest of your life. Yes, you will have Crohn's/Colitis for the rest of your life. BUT: It will be better. You will have to try out different types of medication and have a look on what you're eating, and that time will be terrible, but you will find your way and you will in the end be able to deal with it. It just TAKES TIME. You will learn a lot about yourself and you will cry a lot. However, you will notice that you are way stronger than you ever thought you'd be. So don't panic and don't lose your hope - YOU WILL BE FINE.
Ok, I am on meds that mess up with my emotions and i didn t think to burst into tears reading the comments but that s actually the case :P So thanks for saying (or... typing) those nice things, i think i needed to hear that bc i have UC and am having a huge flareup right now which is not nice but i m handling it ;) that s all i wanted to say.... just thank you for thinking about us and cheering me up :D
Once I was diagnosed, I was a bit down because I now had this permanent condition that I had to take meds for. Combine that with financial problems due to less work hours and spending more than I earned for a while. What was going to be "normal" for me? Fortunately, with the initial treatment of Prednisolone (these can make you moody and mess with your immune system, cause weight gain etc) and the daily use of Salofalk to maintain it (Salazopyrin gave me a drug rash after 2 weeks, but was otherwise working) - within 2 weeks I was at 80% normal and now I'm at 90-95% normal long term and can live my life pretty much unrestricted. It sometimes flares up, but it is generally limited to some discomfort for 3 or 4 hours and 2 or 3 trips to the toilet. Then it is like a reset. Half the time that is caused by eating bad. This happens once every couple of months. If you're getting symptoms (like some blood from the bowel) and are undiagnosed, don't do what I did and put it off - see your doctor. Getting treatment - which is typically medication - is very likely to be better than doing nothing.
I have intestinal failure which involves stuff like this. My stomach and bowel don't work properly and so I can't eat or drink. So amazing of you to make this. I make videos on my channel about my conditions and review books. Love you! X
Jesus Hannah not only do we have the same birthday 19.02.1992 but now i see we have the same condition ... so weird! And I now think I have a new favourite youtuber
jetters It sounds worse than having a butt crack higher than your belly button, which is what I have. Chronic plumber's crack is what they dx me with. Also the same day I was dx'd with cankles...not on just one leg, but bilaterally! Friday lot of humans rolled off the line the day I was born.
I am a day older than you hahahaha! but yeh I have digestive problems too :( Mine is from a connective tissue disorder which suuuuuuucks. Its weird that its a Feb thing tho :P
I have crohns, so glad to see someone else discuss something like this! I am on daily tablets (immune suppressants) and infliximab every 6 weeks. Thank you so much for this video x
Me too! I also have Chrons (for 2 years now), and I'm just starting to get a hang of it. I haven't had that bad symptoms though. :) It's nice to hear someone talking about it, thank you Hannah! You're amazing!
I love meeting people who you can truly understand, I have had ulcerative colitis for just about a year now, and have had A LOT of flare ups!!! you guys are so positive, and I wish you well for the future❤️ also well done Hannah for this brave and uplifting video, I hope you are also doing well, love and support always, zara elysia. x
You make me want to move to the UK even more Hannah lol. Having Crohn's and living in the states is v expensive. I was diagnosed with Crohn's when I was 12 (I'm now 25). As far as my initial symptoms, all I remember was having a poor appetite, having to use the bathroom after every mean and being very thin. That summer during my year physical my pediatrician was concerned that I had lost a significant amount of weight compared to last year and referred me to a gastroenterologist. There I had my first of many lovely colonoscopies, I was diagnosed with Crohn's. In 2004, no one really knew about the disease nor did anyone in my family have any gastro issues. After being informed of the treatment plan with steroids and then maintenance medications, I was nervous but I just wanted to be better. All of the typical symptoms were present: the moon face, mood swings, and the increased appetite that I swear could not be fulfilled no matter what lol. It didn't really bother me at first because I knew it was just temporary. From that point until present day 2017, I never kept an exact count of how many flareups I've had; I do know its more that 6. I too think I would've been maybe 2 inches taller if it wasn't for the steroids during puberty (can't complain I'm 5'5). In combination with steroids I've tried a lot of medications for maintenance and for a while I knew that that steroids were affecting my mental health, but I had no other choice in treating my flare ups. This past October I felt very ill but not the usual. I had massive abdominal pain and was always nauseous with a poor appetite. It escalated to not going to the bathroom at all with vomiting. So after an upper gi, an mri and a colonoscopy I found out I had a narrowing in my small intestine due to massive inflammation. The only solution was surgery, and not steroids, so I was relieved but scared shit non the less. Long story short, surgery was successful; the technical term for it was an ileocecal resection (if you want to Google and be technical lol) I'm about 5 months post op and my stomach has never felt better. I don't want to scare you or other people with my story because I know it's dramatic lol. Like you, I just want to make topics like this a more open conversation because we can't help what we have. Also, I believe our diseases are 100% stress induced. As a child I was very stressed due to a strict upbringing which carried into my school years and into adulthood. If I'm nervous or worried about anything my stomach is the first place I feel it; once the task/issue I'm worried about is done, it's like it has sucked the life out of me and I need a day or 2 to recover. Steroids as well as a lack of support during my experiences with Crohn's has negatively impacted my mental health as well. My journey may not have been an easy one, but it has taught me to take care of my body and mind. It's slowly getting easier to talk about my disease without being ashamed and I know I'm a stronger person because of it. Amanda xx
I don't work with UC patients but I do work as a nurse in a hospital setting and I know how much patients stories and experience can help others in the same situation which makes this video the best. Hannah Witton keeps making the world a better place ❤
You're so lucky you have access to the NHS! I'm very jealous. I live in America and have a ton of health problems. But I basically have to pick and choose which ones I want to just live with and which ones I want to get care for because I can't afford to get treatment for everything. Health care is SOOO EXPENSIVE here!!
i have hEDS, and i feel ya. i constantly have to choose between living with pain or eating or living while fainting every day, the list goes on and on. it’s awful, and i’d rather pay more taxes so some kid can get heart surgery than have slightly more money and a sicker country.
@Matthew Familia I'm sorry that you feel that doctors have no incentive to be great at what they do. A close family member is a doctor in the NHS - 12 hours shifts and the rest and from what I have seen of her and her colleagues, they are a dedicated bunch.
Great video! I was diagnosed with UC last year and had a pretty torrid time in hospital around December time where the flare up got so bad, no meds were working, that they were debating taking out my bowel.. was pretty scary stuff. But I managed to get through that time and am now living happily and healthily eating all the foods under the sun! Obviously, medication is keeping me in check. For those who have recently been diagnosed, stay positive and find people to talk to! If the people around you know your suffering it will be such a help
Thank you for speaking out Hanna. I am currently having my first flair up in 3 years and it is almost unbearable. I wish more people would talk about these issues, however since it is about poop not a lot of people will. When I was being diagnosed I could barely eat and lost a lot of weight, I still had to go to work and when I would try and talk to coworkers about it, once they heard the world bowel, they changed the subject and acted disgusted. It's such a cruel response when someone is going through a lot of pain and agony.
Here's a little trick for colonoscopy prep from back when I was having a bout of colon cancer. You can mix those prep powders with "clear liquids". Well, it dawned on me that vodka was a clear liquid (the nurse later confirmed that was true, if unorthodox). A little added spirit made the nasty prep drinks MUCH more palatable, and by the end of the evening I wasn't worried about the colonoscopy at all!
Interesting approach... but it might not be the best idea for someone with uc to down all that vodka (especially during a flare up). I have uc and I recently stopped drinking alcohol completely, because it worsens my condition. I really could use a way to make the prep stuff more bearable though, last time I had to take it it kept coming straight back up...
I'm an older man and UC sufferer (diagnosed 15 years ago) but I genuinely learnt from watching this. Thanks for posting and being so open. I would add that my experience is also hat stress is a key factor in flare-ups.
I live in America, where there is no NHS and my husband has possibly irritable bowl syndrome. they haven't really been able to figure it out, but it's not chrones or UC. Anyways, we HAVE insurance and still had to pay upwards of $600 for his colonoscopy. I just don't understand how people in my country don't want Universal Healthcare like you have in the UK.
I'm sorry :( I hope the US will catch up with the rest of the world one day and get universal healthcare. I'm a major hypochondriac and I go to the doctor and e-mail him often, and have gotten to the hospital several times b/c of injuries and stay there for hours to get treatment, never had to pay anything for it.
Kristan Shuford my self, my sister and her son all have different forms of IBS. it is so frustrating to get a diagnosis, praying for you and your husband. (in the US as well so I def get it)
Kristan Shuford with our current government doing everything they can to cut funds on the NHS and put strain on it so they have a reason to privatise it, we might not have it for much longer:(
i think i big reason that a lot of conservative Americans don't want universal healthcare, is because that means their tax dollars are going to pay for the healthcare of people they will never know, and they don't want to pay for other people's healthcare. i think another reason is because universal healthcare is a very left wing policy, and there seems to be this stigma in America where anything remotely associated with communism is bad because of associations with communism and the cold war.
Been having diarrhoea for like 3 months, went to the GP and thought it was IBS, had a blood test and no, turns out I'm Coeliac (gluten intolerant) and my body's now trying to recover from 17 years worth of damage. Always good to go to the GP ^.^
I'm an IBS sufferer and have been for about 2 years now. I've found diet, exercise, and remaining low stress help to avoid flare-ups for me. It's definitely a downer, and getting on with life is difficult, but it is possible 👍🏻
My Mum had suffered for over 10 years and she very recently had to have an ileostomy bag and no longer has any of her large intestines, colon etc. It's amazing how she's got her life back after having the op because unfortunately for her, she ended up not being able to go anywhere because she would just poo herself and couldn't control it. Passing a lot of blood too, it nearly killed her. She was at the very top end of how bad it can get for sufferers and from watching this video, it's a relief that not everyone suffers with UC to the same extent because it was heartbreaking to see x x
I'd never heard of UC until this video, so thanks for educating me hannah! I can sympathise with being ill just after finishing exams though. I've just finished year 11 and due to the stress of exams I got CFS again(I originally got it when I was 9 and recovered by the time I was 10) and I agree, it's rubbish being ill for ages and it disrupting your life.
I can relate to this Soooooo much. I am 12 and I have had it since 2012. People never really believe you when you say you don't feel well because it is a invisible illness. Keep strong fellow IBD sufferers. YOU'RE AMAZING!!
IBS gal here, i've had it for 7 years, i'm on medication that i take 3 times a day before i eat, same about diarrhea and any bad shitting experiences haha
My dad took antidepressants and his IBS improved so much and is now able to sleep properly, i advise anyone to try it if your doctor suggests it! These illnesses are highly linked to stress and anxiety
My mom had ulcerative colitis and an ileostomy. You are a brave lady for sharing your story! I was 12 when mom had her surgery and vividly remember seeing her stoma for the first time. Keep up the cool blog!
Dear Hannah, you are a complex, brilliant brave woman! You've been through something few can imagine. Years ago I had a strange bought of chronic diarrhea that lasted close to five-six months. While I was commuting to a job via Rail & Shuttle bus in the large office building. Bloody awful.
So happy that I'm subscribed to you, because you don't bullshit. You get to the real talk, and you don't beat around the bush when it comes to typically 'embarrassing' things (that can sometimes just be normal bodily functions dammit society). You really help people who are going through the same stuff, with videos like this and The Hormone Diaries.
So, I just stumbled across this, but I’ve had Crohn’s for almost 10 years now. Even though it’s different from UC, I still relate to a lot of your experiences/symptoms you talk about here. It’s really cool to see you be so open about it, because it’s something I’ve struggled talking about to people because they’ve treated me differently in the past because of my Crohn’s, and I hate that. I see you have other videos on the topic, so thank you for being so open about it and showing people that daily life is different for some, and that’s completely fine and normal.
My mother has ulcerative colitis and has been suffering for some time now. Thank you for talking about it, I found it informative and hopefully others will too 👏
petition for more people to talk about poo openly? like seriously i have ibs and it used to really rule my life and i just wish poo was more acceptable to talk about, luckily i'm more comfortable with it now but i still wish more people would talk about their poo related problems and just poo in general, thanks for making this video
(i'm only halfway through the video) speaking of triggered by stress oh my god i had my last college exam today and i was actually late to it because i couldn't get off the toilet literally i got up and had to sit back down four times before going sobbing to a teacher because i didn't want to poo myself in the exam that i was already 5 minutes late for i was scared they wouldn't even let me in it was traumatic which is another reason we need to talk about poo more :)
I have IBS but wasn't diagnosed till I was in my thirties after some really nasty flare ups. Colonoscopy, colonography, upper endoscopy, all suck but I'm thankful for them. Still get flare ups but manage to keep them to a few days now down from weeks. Still abdominal cramps, repeated diarrhea, blood and mucus, and the pain of needing to go when there's nothing more to go definitely make it difficult to socialize. Just watched you in another vlog of how your not an artist, maybe not but you do have a flare (no pun intended) for bringing these topics to life. Love how you gesture and make it seem so silly that we don't talk about these things more. You are awesome.
I had a colonoscopy for the first time recently and can no longer drink orange flavour cordial as it just reminds me of Moviprep, it took me so long to drink the first dose that I ended up drinking about 1 and a half doses all together. I recently got diagnosed with Colitis after years of suffering and almost a year of speaking to various doctors, my GP and other specialists before they actually decided to give me a colonoscopy. I'm definitely glad for the NHS, but it can definitely be difficult to get appointments and diagnoses. The first doctor I saw gave me some tablets that mostly made my usual symptoms worse as well as making me tired and gave me strange mood swings. I also tried a diet which involved eating no gluten, dairy, sugar, potatoes or red meat. Luckily when I was properly diagnosed the doctor told me that if the diet wasn't helping I might as well eat a regular diet.
I'm not really supposed to eat red meat, ice cream etc but I do anyway, and it's all good. It'll probably be different to you, so just stick to the recommended diet for now or do whatever you want I guess.
Oh my God it's so good to hear someone talking about problems like that and to know I'm not the only one!!! I have these problems more or less all the time, espiacially the I-always-need-to-know-where-the-toilets-are. No doctor knows what is wrong with me, which is really frustrating, so at times I almost wish I would just have colitis so I could get treatment, because slowly but surely it scares the shit out of me that no one seems to know what's going on inside my body
I just got diagnosed with UC last month and its been a really difficult process. Currently in the hospital for 2 weeks and taking steriods really puts a toll on my body.
same here friend I was diagnosed with it last month too well in 2023... but anyway same here the steroids have been awful and disgusting but the masasaline is ok to take with milkshake I prefer it that way cuz I'm 10 so I don't like ti swallow tablets so we got it in liquid form lol
I haven't figured out what my exact stomach issues are (already diagnosed with acid reflux but there's definitely more going on than that.) It makes me feel better when people speak out about their gastrointestinal issues though :)
marinashutup me too! I am going through the same thing. I am so scared I have UC because I have all the symptoms and am a 1 candidate for it. One of my blood test comes back Monday so wish me luck
marinashutup same, I have an undiagnosed stomach condition aswell but I’ve been told I have low grade atrophy??? But medication doesn’t work for me. If you don’t mind me asking what symptoms do you get
marinashutup Amen for people speaking out. I wish had found this a few yrs ago when my flare ups started. They still don't know what is exact trigger. But I have learned to go into recovery, ice cold watered wash cloth on tummy, keep warm. And now on terrific med that keeps flare up manageable. I'm 70!!!! And did not start the ailment until 64, can you believe. Thx to everyone keep speaking out it helps so so much.
I have had Ulcerative Colitis since I was 12 and it absolutely sucks! I get IV infusions of remicade (infliximab) every 8 weeks and my immune system is complete shit, I am sick ALL THE TIME and have extremely low energy. Although I'm not doubled over in pain and constantly shitting myself, my UC still has a huge impact on my life. Autoimmune disease have become an epidemic and affect 1 in 5 women now!!! (I think that's in the US). It's super frustrating that scientists still don't know what causes UC and other autoimmune diseases and the main treatments are immunosuppressants. The emotional toll of having a chronic illness is really difficult, I feel like I have lost parts of my identity to this illness and I am still struggling with feeling SO ANGRY at my illness. Sending you and all the other sickos out there tons of love :) thanks for being honest with us!!!!! UC sucks and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy (also it has contributed to me having anxiety and depression so that sucks too)!
I was diagnosed with UC about a year ago, luckily the flare ups I have had since then have only ever lasted a couple of weeks. Thank you for making this made me feel a little bit better about it
I'm so happy I found this. In literally 5 days time I'm going to see a gastroenterologist and I've been terrified of the prospect of potentially dealing with my horrible symptoms for the rest of my life. Although I haven't been formally diagnosed, it is looking like IBD. I've struggled with it for 9 months continuiously and it's nice to see a real person talk about their experience and how it differs to mine.
Hey thanks so much for sharing your story. I have UC but with very different symptoms as you. Currently going through a flair and I found your video. It really helps to hear your story
Hannah I love that in your book you are open about having a break up and can be honest about how upset you were as from TH-cam I would have never guessed you were going through that and it made me realise that although all those exes I've cried over weren't worth it, I wasn't weak or dumb to get that upset!
Omg I didn't know you had UC😱! I subscribed to you because you are very honest and funny and I honestly had no idea! There Is basically no one that talks about UC on the internet unless they are moaning about how awful it is but you seem very positive even though you have dealt with all the horrible stuff!💕I'm so happy that you can talk about this so openly because I find it very difficult as it is quite embarrassing . I was diagnosed last year (ish) at 13 and have just come out of a flare up. It is very encouraging to hear that you haven't had a flare up in a long time because that random aspect the disease really scares me. I also had an issue with the horrible laxative (PICOLAX) I had a lemon flavour one so now I can't go near Lemonade without throwing up😂 I was on steroids as well, I had them through an IV for a week but then I was on tablets for a month and I ate at least 30 packets of crisps a day😂 I definitely think my disease is worsened by stress so I am extremely apprehensive about my GCSEs. I currently take azathioprine and mezavant, I did take azacol at first though, i am also gluten free. I am pretty sure I am managing my symptoms quite well but you never know with UC🙄 Also God bless the NHS!
I have IBS and when I went to get my colonoscopy, I literally could not swallow the prep that they gave me because it was making me gag so hard. I called my doctor and he told me to take an entire bottle of miralax dissolved in Gatorade which did the same thing as a prep but was sooooo easy to drink. Thought I'd mention it in case anyone else had a terrible reaction to the prep and wanted to look into alternatives!! (Obviously contact your doctor before trying it, I'm not pretending to know exact dosage information)
Erin T also tips- gummy bears dissolve at body temp so they're like liquid so you can eat them during the prep. i took them and they gave me a good taste after the bad tasting prep. also its better if the drinks really cold and use LOADS of double strength orange squash or squash your choice it seriously helps- it made ot taste like Lucozade rather than vomit 😂
That's what my doctor gave me too! Though, she had me take two Dulcolax a few hours before then I had to drink the whole thing of Miralax in a bunch of Gatorades. I'm so thankful for this new way
Definitely refrigerate it before drinking- it still tastes awful, but marginally better if it's cold (and given it tastes like some kind of puke/pain/suffering mix, marginally better is worth it)
If anyone reading this is taking azathioprine, PLEASE be extremely careful with taking it, you really shouldn't immediately stop taking these tablets because your immune system and liver can go into shock (if you're on a high dose of azathioprine for a long period of time then you should be going for quarterly blood tests anyway to test your LFT levels). Just a warning in case anyone was unaware! Like Hannah said, they'll drop your dosage and wean you off them gradually over an extended period of time.. it just gives your immune system a chance to build back up again :)
I went off it suddenly... but that's because it gave me acute pancreatitis! So that's another consideration for anyone thinking of taking it, I had been on it for 8 months and it was helping me until suddenly, I had to be rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. It happens to an estimated 1-2% of patients on azathioprine. Everyone should carefully consider any heavy duty medication and talk to their doctor/s about the pros and cons.
I have colitis and am currently going through a flare up that has lasted a little over a year now. It really really sucks. Especially when you have children who need things and have to go places and be involved in things and you’re pretty much tied to the toilet. Also not being able to work is a whole fight in itself. You can’t work because you’re always in the bathroom and when you try to reach out and get assistance your denied because you still are capable of taking care of yourself. Please send me good vibes.
I don't have UC but it made me so happy that you're talking about digestive system problems since they're so often skirted around. I have severe anxiety and have for the majority of my life (I'm 18) so I experience stomach symptoms like upset nausea and intense cramping which we think is down to the levels of adrenaline in my system damaging me. It sucks that a mental illness has such an impact on my physical health but when I'm particularly stressed and anxious for long periods (exams especially omg) my stomach suffers. We all need to talk about poo more!
I've had IBS since I was about 12/13 (I got diagnosed with PCOS at the same time - Super fun!) and I've basically been taking Mebeverine ever since (I'm 21 now). I had to 100% take it every single day until I was about 17 or I would feel horrendously sick/have cramps/constipated or diarrhoea each day - sometimes I would still get the cramps even when taking medication - but thankfully it has started to become less severe in the past 5 years, I've been able to get away with only taking Mebeverine when I can tell my IBS is flaring up and I feel sick/get diarrhoea. One of the main things that has affected me this whole time is gluten, specifically pasta and bread - so I've had free from for about 10 years now and I love it - but I've noticed that anything can make me get cramps/diarrhoea, including coffee, some vegetables, processed meat until I became a vegetarian, different snacks and so on!! So basically it was really difficult knowing what to avoid and I just had to play it day-by-day sometimes. I think I'm still really lucky nowadays that I'm not as reliant on Mebeverine any more and have been able to eat wholegrain pasta and brown/multi grain bread the past few years, as long as I'm being careful and not eating too much. Being vegetarian has actually made me feel so much healthier - I'm not sure what it was but red meat could just make me feel so sick so I decided to cut it all out and it's been great! It might not work for everyone but 100% the best lifestyle for me. My boyfriend is also vegetarian and happily eats/buys gluten free food so we can eat it together :) I've got a whole lotta love for the NHS, GPs and all the accepting people in the world who making living with something rather inconvenient a lot easier
Thanks for this Hannah, I've actually just been diagnosed with Crohns disease today (strange timing!) and I've been having a little cry to myself about it, but you've made everything seem so normal. Time to stop feeling sorry for myself I think! x
As someone whose had alot of issues with my bowels and intestines this is very reassuring, I had surgeries and loads of medication to deal with it and spent most of my life being scared of telling people I had it. Recently I have become more confident and open about it and videos like this are honestly very inspiring so thank you
I am lactose intolerant and have ibs I don't know if its anything more serious because I haven't been to a doctor about it because it has made my anxiety insane. I never leave the house anymore. its so hard but it's great to hear you talk about real issues and give us inspiration to keep going!
I had a Crones disease scare a year back, gosh I was scared... I remember one of the things that got me trough it mentally was that I knew Hank had UC and still had a good life, so thank you for making this video, it really can help
I had colitis but managed to completely overcome it. Have been off all meds since 2008, and haven't had a flare since 2012 when I finally gave up dairy. That's what triggered it for me. Vegan diet is what helped me.
My daughter was just recently diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and I'm so depressed I wish I could take it away I feel like this is my fault. You are right about how it takes alot away because she's missed so much school her grades have dropped she's on 6pills a day. To go from completely healthy never missing a day of school to now the unknown waiting by my phone to ring because I know the school nurse is going to call. This is all new to me and all I ever wanted was my kids to live a happy healthy life and now my daughter has this disease. Thank you for this video made me cry but it helps me to know that others are going through the same and the information is def beneficial so thank you and I'm praying for you and everyone going through this debilitating disease.
I'm 26 and I got diagnosed with UC this year. According to statistics each year there are more and more young people getting IBD. However it is not something publicly discussed much in my country. In fact one of the doctors even advised me to keep it a secret from my coworkers and friends...which i didn't. Anyways it is easier to hear from people fighting the same battles. :) Thanks for sharing
Really applaud this 👏🏻👏🏻 my sister has UC and had an emergency ileostomy 4 years ago, so I really empathise with what you've been through. It's so unpredictable and I think stress is definitely a factor! Keep looking after yourself xxx
My dad had colon cancer and had part of his intestines removed so he has much of the same symptoms in terms of having almost no warning when poop is coming or even just sometimes not having much control over his bowels period. So my brother and I have to have colonoscopies early. In my house we try to laugh about all of this because if we don't it's just too depressing. We call the special drink "colon blow" because it just makes it a little funnier to deal with. This is such an interesting video. I feel like we should talk more about this kind of stuff that actually really affects a lot of people.
I’ve had six anal surgeries due to grade 4 hemmoroids and fissures. I’ve had symptoms all my life but they were greatly worsened with each of my pregnancies. My doc calls it chronic constipation due to a slow gut. I’m so sorry you have suffered so much pain and discomfort. It’s like my mom says, “if your booty’s not working nothing else in your life can.” I stumbled across this video and I quite like your attitude and take on things. 👍😊
I've had IBS for around 10 years. I recently found the low fodmap diet and it changed my life! Really great you are talking about this sort of stuff it doesn't get talked about enough.
I wish I wasn't so late in discovering your channel! I've gone through similar stuff with your hormone diaries and going off the pill, and I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis about the time this video was posted. I'm currently dealing with bouts of debilitating fatigue, brain fog, and acne of all things, and it does feel good to know I'm not alone in dealing with the ups and downs of chronic illness. Thanks for doing what you do!
Thank you for this video. My genetics mean that it's fairly inevitable that I'll develop gastrointestinal issues someday, so I'm finding it really useful to learn as much as I can beforehand. I just hope I don't follow in my dad's footsteps - he was fine until he was about 25, then developed very severe Crohn's. He now has roughly three feet of small intestine (I think it's normally about 20 feet), and nearly died in intensive care after getting pneumonia after an operation, because his immune system was basically nonexistant. Autoimmune diseases are shit.
I have what my doctor called a "minor ibs" it's mostly anxiety induced, and I can generally control it pretty well without prescription meds but I'm in the midst of my worst episode of it ever. I don't know how people with worse digestive issues than I have deal with the world. Kudos to all that do.
Chelsey Vasquez and also BS.... employers can't terminate solely due to documented illness, so either their 'illness' wasn't documented (or self-diagnosed) or they made it up completely
I was diagnosed with UC this past year. The symptoms weren't great but my mental health was a disaster and I didn't feel like myself at all. Thanks for sharing
Thank you for addressing difficult subjects with such maturity and respect for others. You are doing a great thing online for educating many people about things they don't feel like they can ask others! I love you, keep on doing what you are doing
Great video. Not a lot of people talk about UC and in my personal experience Crohns is a lot more well known then UC. I got diagnosed 5 years ago, after I finished my A-Levels. I also had a flare up in November and had to change my meds again. All good now. Thanks for sharing your story. :)
i have followed you some time now and this is the first thing relevent to me. I don't have UC or ibs or anything visibly wrong but I am allergic to every single thing I consume including tap water and bottled water. I have a (marked) gastrocolic reflex. witch mean I have a very fast reflex to food meaning it goes in and 6 minutes later the exact same food comes back out the other end all chewed up but not digested. I go to the loo 30+ times a day and have the worst sore bum you can possibly imagine. I also suffer from (visceral hiypersensitivity) it means that I can feel the food in my tummy and every single inch of my gut as it moves and churns and gargles and dosnt digest while it races through me to ultamitly end up in the loo less then 10 mins later. I am on 13 medications to slow my gut down which can go as low as 15 out of 30 so 50% slower and less often but i am crippled with the pain and the medication leaves me feeling like and looking like a drug abuser. my life is ruled by the toilet but because of the condition I have I am not able to have a colostomy or iliostomy as it would make things worse! I worked on the oil rigs. I was engaged to a lovely girl who I loved and I had my own home. then I got (post infectious gastroenteritis) while off shore and was medivac back to Aberdeen where I was admitted and went from 10st to 6.⁴lbs in 9days. I have been suffering for 4 years now and have lost everything from my independence and my hone. car. friends. job. career. to the love of my life who decided that she needed love from someone who didn't shit them self or didn't weight 6.4stn but hey. she loved me when I had it all and when I lost it she got her love from someone else. anyway that's a little bit about my story hannah. it's pretty grim. I am house bound and do not socialise as being 31 male and incontinent isn't a very attractive thing in a friend or partner. if anyone wants to know more I am happy to talk about it. it's really rough and nasty and keeping a poo diary with pictures and videos isn't exactly the content I like on my phone but its doctors orders. anyways. happy to enlighten anyone who asks. thanks for sharing hannah
I have ibs so can kinda empathise but as you say the different diseases are all different and they affect people differently also. I find mine is worse when I'm stressed or really tired. when mine flares up the pain is horrendous and I take buscopan which thankfully does work but it takes up to a week to settle down properly xx thanks for sharing your story , it makes other sufferer feel less alone xx
one of my best friends had UC, and i spent days in the hospital with her when she was addmitted. I love this video, so informative and so interesting as someone who doesnt suffer from it, but has spent tiem around people with UC
This makes me so happy that i'm not alone!! I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis when I was 12. Doctor's didn't really know what was wrong for about 3 years. After a colonoscopy, they diagnosed me then tried using steroids and anti inflammatory infusions but nothing worked. The last resort was a temporary ileostomy surgery and it totally changed my life. My entire large intestine and all of the ulcers were removed. One year after the ileostomy, they performed a reversal surgery and everything inside was reconnected with the small intestine. After that, it was like I never had colitis at all. If this operation is available, I would highly recommend it. Thanks for sharing your story Hannah x
My aunt has chrons, my mum has allergies to lots of food, I'm positive for coeliac markers, and I'm currently waiting on my letter for the hospital for an endoscopy and colonoscopy! They have no idea what's wrong with me so I'm just waiting to go through the awful colonoscopy process and see what happens haha. I want to say thank you for making these videos about UC as it's a) very likely what I have based on symptoms and investigative process, and b) makes me feel MUCH better about having a colonoscopy. THANK YOU
I suffer with quite bad IBS and my dads suffers with Chronns disease and its such a pain dealing with it, having to constantly manage what I eat because it might flare up and having to know where I can find a toilet can be exhausting, so glad that you've made this video and are raising awareness of IBD and IBS so people don't just turn around and say 'it's only a little stomach ache, get over it' (which I've had in the past) and actually become educated about things like this, love you're videos as always, much love xx
I was diagnosed with IBS when I first started secondary school the pain in my stomach was excruciating, mine is a constant thing but seems to get worse through stress. Recently the pain has been getting bad again and my stomach swells so much I look about 6 months pregnant. It's a serious pain in the arse. (Pun not intended) I'm so glad you made this video because I'm now wondering if I should make an appointment to check if I could possibly have colitis, I know my auntie suffers from it and my IBS symptoms have changed some what In the past few months. X
It's nice hearing more and more of people stories about thier Crohn's or Colitis and people should not feel embarrassed having a conversation about poo! I was diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis in April 2013 age 18 and I've gone 27 months living without on steroids. Great tips and love hearing your story Hannah!
If you appreciated this video, you may also want to know that Gut health is so important for overall health! A survey from 2018 of 71,000 Americans found that 61% had at least 1 bothersome gut issue! The most common gut symptom was acid reflux or GERD, then abdominal pain, then bloating.
I feel so much better knowing that other people have UC as I do. I was diagnosed in 2015 after a whole weeks international camp with guides and thousands of others. I obviously had to use the public toilets and I honestly don't know how I survived. It was before I was diagnosed so I was on no medication for it whatsoever therefore I was literally running to the toilet between 15-20 times a day (and the toilets were really far away from our tent too) I then had a colonoscopy and an endoscopy and got put on the right treatment. I have had about 3 flare-ups since then (I'm having one now) AND its my GCSE year. People don't really understand it at my school (not even the teachers) and I sometimes miss lessons because of the extreme pain I experience all the time. The teachers get annoyed at the fact I miss lessons because I'm either at hospital appointments or in the medical room or can't leave the toilet. Even my friends don't fully understand why I don't come out. I have developed some sort of social anxiety where I don't want to go anywhere because there may not be a toilet. I am also on the maximum dose of my meds but I just feel like they aren't working:(
I love this so much! I don't have OC but have IBS. I went for a colonoscopy twice now and the prep is grim 😷 it's really difficult to try to describe the pain to others when it's really bad and the fact that if I don't get my meds right I'm either bloated- which family member decribe as my "6 months pregnant belly" or I'm running to the toilet. Thank you so much for bringing up this topic. I feel like it's such an "Ewh subject" for some people but at the end of the day it's a medical condition and if it effects your life then I don't think it should need to be hidden away
Hey! Fellow bloater here! I too have IBS. I use VSL #3 which is really expensive but the only pills that have truly worked for me. They have been a relief! But everyone is different. I just haven't met a lot of people who bloated to the same extent I did so I'm excited to see I'm not alone!
LauraMon Try the Low FODMAPs diet, it works for me. Be careful with probiotics, because if your IBS is provoked by SIBO it'll only make it worse (from experience).
I also am an IBS gal with bloating and diarrhea. and the low FODMAP diet helped, but didn't completely get rid of my symptoms so I also take tummy fiber and probiotics. This was after loads of trial and error with probiotic brands and fiber sources and elimination diets. So basically have to find what works for you! I still have it flare up when I am stressed or overly excited. So still working things out in this body of mine. Good luck to all my tummy troubled friends.
LauraMon hahah my best friend and i also have a running joke about my "5 month pregnant belly"! What makes it a bit better is that i can claim a seat on the bus if i am already feeling bad.
How didn't I find you sooner? I was diagnosed with UC when I was 12, so 5 years ago. No one speaks about it or knows about it so it was great finding this video, hearing about your similar experience, similar meds etc. This is really comforting
I dont have what you mentioned in fact Ive never heard of this until now, but i recently found out that I had triggered two genetic conditons(Eczema and Keloids) which no one else in my family ever has a history of and I have to live with them my entire life... Yay
This is interesting to learn about. I got diagnosed with ibs (irritable bowel syndrome) this week, yayyyyy, currently having tests to try to find out exactly what it is that is affecting me, but it's nice to hear someone talk openly about bowel issues
This video is so important. I have IBS, it is linked with my anxiety and even though it's not as bad as UC or Crohn, I can relate to a lot of things you mentioned. This is a topic that needs to be talked about, we still have a lot of taboo around it, especially women. Thanks for the great content. Keep up the good work. Poopers of the world, unite! :D
I was diagnosed about 3 months ago, I’m already in my second flare up and it’s quite severe, on my last resort before back on steroids and I hate them, I’m 12 but it’s so nice to see someone else with it too
This is incredible! You're the only TH-camr I know of that has spoke about this. I have colitis too but I think a bit more advanced than yourself. Over the next few days I'm actually going to be vlogging recording my story And my time to fight back against the disease, I dont know if you'll see this but please if you do any tips would be incredible I'm trying to think of the best approach without sounding like I want everyone to feel sorry for my it's more I want people to be able to understand more about IBD.. also anyone that can see this if its something you're intrested in more than welcome to view once it's up:)
Was diagnosed with UC when I was 17! Life has been crazy because of it, but somehow I’m stronger since I was diagnosed. I plan on making a TH-cam channel dedicated to it soon!
So glad you have access to the NHS! Hank Green, who also has UC, has said before how his medical bills for dealing with it cost him thousands a year.
Not to mention a colonoscopy which could also cost a lot depending on how much his insurance is willing to cover.
not for very long though is the sad and short version.
I'm British but live in New York and have UC; I have amazing insurance but it still costs me $6,000+ a year for all my medical bills (I miss the nhs!!). Also the FDA banned Asacol in the US just before it was about to come out of patent (and get cheap) so I had to switch to a mega expensive form of exactly the same drug. Absolutely nothing wrong with Asacol it's still happily available elsewhere in countries with more rigorous drug screenings! This video sums up my feelings so much - the loneliness I find difficult as I find the illness very isolating (either you're trapped and can't socialize or however lovely people are they don't understand). Plus constant stress and anxiety from having to think about how you're going to get through all the things you need to in the day 😔 Thank you for talking publically! How have you dealt with it in relationships?
Maybe Hank Green should get better insurance
phillysub maybe america shouldnt try and profit off of sick people how bout that
Dear you, who is reading all the comments in the desperate hope to find something useful because you have just been diagnosed with Crohn's or Colitis and feel like your whole life is falling apart (and I know that you exist because that was what I did all day when I was in that situation 4 years ago):
You will not always feel like this. This is not what your life will look like for the rest of your life. Yes, you will have Crohn's/Colitis for the rest of your life. BUT: It will be better. You will have to try out different types of medication and have a look on what you're eating, and that time will be terrible, but you will find your way and you will in the end be able to deal with it. It just TAKES TIME. You will learn a lot about yourself and you will cry a lot. However, you will notice that you are way stronger than you ever thought you'd be. So don't panic and don't lose your hope - YOU WILL BE FINE.
Thank you
Ok, I am on meds that mess up with my emotions and i didn t think to burst into tears reading the comments but that s actually the case :P So thanks for saying (or... typing) those nice things, i think i needed to hear that bc i have UC and am having a huge flareup right now which is not nice but i m handling it ;) that s all i wanted to say.... just thank you for thinking about us and cheering me up :D
Oh this actually made me a little emotional! I know exactly how you feel. Stay strong & get well soon xx
thanks, i m actually feeling a bit better medically wise ;)
Once I was diagnosed, I was a bit down because I now had this permanent condition that I had to take meds for. Combine that with financial problems due to less work hours and spending more than I earned for a while. What was going to be "normal" for me?
Fortunately, with the initial treatment of Prednisolone (these can make you moody and mess with your immune system, cause weight gain etc) and the daily use of Salofalk to maintain it (Salazopyrin gave me a drug rash after 2 weeks, but was otherwise working) - within 2 weeks I was at 80% normal and now I'm at 90-95% normal long term and can live my life pretty much unrestricted. It sometimes flares up, but it is generally limited to some discomfort for 3 or 4 hours and 2 or 3 trips to the toilet. Then it is like a reset. Half the time that is caused by eating bad. This happens once every couple of months.
If you're getting symptoms (like some blood from the bowel) and are undiagnosed, don't do what I did and put it off - see your doctor. Getting treatment - which is typically medication - is very likely to be better than doing nothing.
I have crohns and I've been in remission for about 4 years!!!!! :)
Meg L OMG yayyyy! That's so good! ;)
yay i'm so happy for you!!
How did you do it ?
Congratulations hope you stay in remission
Are you still in remission?
'I could have had a couple more inches in me' Hannah Witton, 2017.
Thank goodness; I was really worried we were just letting this go.
Paused video at this exact moment, scrolled down, was not disappointed
Looooool best comment in this video
Timestamp required
I have intestinal failure which involves stuff like this. My stomach and bowel don't work properly and so I can't eat or drink. So amazing of you to make this. I make videos on my channel about my conditions and review books. Love you! X
"having colitis is just shit" well yeah I guess it is lol sorry I know the disease isn't funny but the pun is xx
Jesus Hannah not only do we have the same birthday 19.02.1992 but now i see we have the same condition ... so weird! And I now think I have a new favourite youtuber
'tis a sign! But not sure what of...
jetters It sounds worse than having a butt crack higher than your belly button, which is what I have. Chronic plumber's crack is what they dx me with. Also the same day I was dx'd with cankles...not on just one leg, but bilaterally! Friday lot of humans rolled off the line the day I was born.
Pretty sure you're a Hufflepuff too! :O
I am a day older than you hahahaha! but yeh I have digestive problems too :( Mine is from a connective tissue disorder which suuuuuuucks. Its weird that its a Feb thing tho :P
Imanoth explain lol
I have crohns, so glad to see someone else discuss something like this! I am on daily tablets (immune suppressants) and infliximab every 6 weeks. Thank you so much for this video x
Me too! I also have Chrons (for 2 years now), and I'm just starting to get a hang of it. I haven't had that bad symptoms though. :) It's nice to hear someone talking about it, thank you Hannah! You're amazing!
I love meeting people who you can truly understand, I have had ulcerative colitis for just about a year now, and have had A LOT of flare ups!!! you guys are so positive, and I wish you well for the future❤️ also well done Hannah for this brave and uplifting video, I hope you are also doing well, love and support always, zara elysia. x
LauraLovesBrian I'm on infliximab too! Every 7 weeks. Glad to know there's other people out there 💟
Me too! I'm on Infliximab and just have gotten better after a bad year
how do immune suppressants improve crohns? just wondering
You make me want to move to the UK even more Hannah lol. Having Crohn's and living in the states is v expensive.
I was diagnosed with Crohn's when I was 12 (I'm now 25). As far as my initial symptoms, all I remember was having a poor appetite, having to use the bathroom after every mean and being very thin. That summer during my year physical my pediatrician was concerned that I had lost a significant amount of weight compared to last year and referred me to a gastroenterologist. There I had my first of many lovely colonoscopies, I was diagnosed with Crohn's.
In 2004, no one really knew about the disease nor did anyone in my family have any gastro issues. After being informed of the treatment plan with steroids and then maintenance medications, I was nervous but I just wanted to be better. All of the typical symptoms were present: the moon face, mood swings, and the increased appetite that I swear could not be fulfilled no matter what lol. It didn't really bother me at first because I knew it was just temporary.
From that point until present day 2017, I never kept an exact count of how many flareups I've had; I do know its more that 6. I too think I would've been maybe 2 inches taller if it wasn't for the steroids during puberty (can't complain I'm 5'5). In combination with steroids I've tried a lot of medications for maintenance and for a while I knew that that steroids were affecting my mental health, but I had no other choice in treating my flare ups.
This past October I felt very ill but not the usual. I had massive abdominal pain and was always nauseous with a poor appetite. It escalated to not going to the bathroom at all with vomiting. So after an upper gi, an mri and a colonoscopy I found out I had a narrowing in my small intestine due to massive inflammation. The only solution was surgery, and not steroids, so I was relieved but scared shit non the less. Long story short, surgery was successful; the technical term for it was an ileocecal resection (if you want to Google and be technical lol) I'm about 5 months post op and my stomach has never felt better.
I don't want to scare you or other people with my story because I know it's dramatic lol. Like you, I just want to make topics like this a more open conversation because we can't help what we have. Also, I believe our diseases are 100% stress induced. As a child I was very stressed due to a strict upbringing which carried into my school years and into adulthood. If I'm nervous or worried about anything my stomach is the first place I feel it; once the task/issue I'm worried about is done, it's like it has sucked the life out of me and I need a day or 2 to recover. Steroids as well as a lack of support during my experiences with Crohn's has negatively impacted my mental health as well.
My journey may not have been an easy one, but it has taught me to take care of my body and mind. It's slowly getting easier to talk about my disease without being ashamed and I know I'm a stronger person because of it.
Amanda xx
I don't work with UC patients but I do work as a nurse in a hospital setting and I know how much patients stories and experience can help others in the same situation which makes this video the best. Hannah Witton keeps making the world a better place ❤
You're so lucky you have access to the NHS! I'm very jealous. I live in America and have a ton of health problems. But I basically have to pick and choose which ones I want to just live with and which ones I want to get care for because I can't afford to get treatment for everything. Health care is SOOO EXPENSIVE here!!
if you can cut sugar intake altogether go on lchf diet i believe it has helped me
i have hEDS, and i feel ya. i constantly have to choose between living with pain or eating or living while fainting every day, the list goes on and on. it’s awful, and i’d rather pay more taxes so some kid can get heart surgery than have slightly more money and a sicker country.
@Matthew Familia I'm sorry that you feel that doctors have no incentive to be great at what they do. A close family member is a doctor in the NHS - 12 hours shifts and the rest and from what I have seen of her and her colleagues, they are a dedicated bunch.
Great video! I was diagnosed with UC last year and had a pretty torrid time in hospital around December time where the flare up got so bad, no meds were working, that they were debating taking out my bowel.. was pretty scary stuff. But I managed to get through that time and am now living happily and healthily eating all the foods under the sun! Obviously, medication is keeping me in check. For those who have recently been diagnosed, stay positive and find people to talk to! If the people around you know your suffering it will be such a help
Just came back to this hannah just after you posted about your operation - hope you have a speedy recovery!!
Thank you for speaking out Hanna. I am currently having my first flair up in 3 years and it is almost unbearable. I wish more people would talk about these issues, however since it is about poop not a lot of people will. When I was being diagnosed I could barely eat and lost a lot of weight, I still had to go to work and when I would try and talk to coworkers about it, once they heard the world bowel, they changed the subject and acted disgusted. It's such a cruel response when someone is going through a lot of pain and agony.
Here's a little trick for colonoscopy prep from back when I was having a bout of colon cancer. You can mix those prep powders with "clear liquids". Well, it dawned on me that vodka was a clear liquid (the nurse later confirmed that was true, if unorthodox). A little added spirit made the nasty prep drinks MUCH more palatable, and by the end of the evening I wasn't worried about the colonoscopy at all!
Kenneth Tyssen
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Kenneth Tyssen this is hilarious lmao
Interesting approach... but it might not be the best idea for someone with uc to down all that vodka (especially during a flare up). I have uc and I recently stopped drinking alcohol completely, because it worsens my condition. I really could use a way to make the prep stuff more bearable though, last time I had to take it it kept coming straight back up...
Thank you so much this is very helpful!
this is literally my plan for colonoscopy number 6 next month. Moviprep is vile!
I'm an older man and UC sufferer (diagnosed 15 years ago) but I genuinely learnt from watching this. Thanks for posting and being so open. I would add that my experience is also hat stress is a key factor in flare-ups.
I live in America, where there is no NHS and my husband has possibly irritable bowl syndrome. they haven't really been able to figure it out, but it's not chrones or UC. Anyways, we HAVE insurance and still had to pay upwards of $600 for his colonoscopy. I just don't understand how people in my country don't want Universal Healthcare like you have in the UK.
I'm sorry :( I hope the US will catch up with the rest of the world one day and get universal healthcare. I'm a major hypochondriac and I go to the doctor and e-mail him often, and have gotten to the hospital several times b/c of injuries and stay there for hours to get treatment, never had to pay anything for it.
Kristan Shuford my self, my sister and her son all have different forms of IBS. it is so frustrating to get a diagnosis, praying for you and your husband. (in the US as well so I def get it)
Kristan Shuford with our current government doing everything they can to cut funds on the NHS and put strain on it so they have a reason to privatise it, we might not have it for much longer:(
i think i big reason that a lot of conservative Americans don't want universal healthcare, is because that means their tax dollars are going to pay for the healthcare of people they will never know, and they don't want to pay for other people's healthcare. i think another reason is because universal healthcare is a very left wing policy, and there seems to be this stigma in America where anything remotely associated with communism is bad because of associations with communism and the cold war.
If he does have IBS, try a low FODMaP diet. It is a list of foods he should avoid. It by no means cures IBS, but it can help decrease the symptoms.
Been having diarrhoea for like 3 months, went to the GP and thought it was IBS, had a blood test and no, turns out I'm Coeliac (gluten intolerant) and my body's now trying to recover from 17 years worth of damage.
Always good to go to the GP ^.^
I'm an IBS sufferer and have been for about 2 years now. I've found diet, exercise, and remaining low stress help to avoid flare-ups for me. It's definitely a downer, and getting on with life is difficult, but it is possible 👍🏻
My Mum had suffered for over 10 years and she very recently had to have an ileostomy bag and no longer has any of her large intestines, colon etc. It's amazing how she's got her life back after having the op because unfortunately for her, she ended up not being able to go anywhere because she would just poo herself and couldn't control it. Passing a lot of blood too, it nearly killed her. She was at the very top end of how bad it can get for sufferers and from watching this video, it's a relief that not everyone suffers with UC to the same extent because it was heartbreaking to see x x
I'd never heard of UC until this video, so thanks for educating me hannah! I can sympathise with being ill just after finishing exams though. I've just finished year 11 and due to the stress of exams I got CFS again(I originally got it when I was 9 and recovered by the time I was 10) and I agree, it's rubbish being ill for ages and it disrupting your life.
I can relate to this Soooooo much. I am 12 and I have had it since 2012. People never really believe you when you say you don't feel well because it is a invisible illness. Keep strong fellow IBD sufferers. YOU'RE AMAZING!!
I have IBS but all I can do to suppress it is avoid gluten and limit my dairy intake... needless to say I'm no longer phased by diarrhea
same lmao
IBS gal here, i've had it for 7 years, i'm on medication that i take 3 times a day before i eat, same about diarrhea and any bad shitting experiences haha
jory728 Try Low Fodmaps diet or SCD. It worked for me. Now I'm looking to test for SIBO, because they connect it with IBS.
jory728 I relate
My dad took antidepressants and his IBS improved so much and is now able to sleep properly, i advise anyone to try it if your doctor suggests it! These illnesses are highly linked to stress and anxiety
My mom had ulcerative colitis and an ileostomy. You are a brave lady for sharing your story! I was 12 when mom had her surgery and vividly remember seeing her stoma for the first time. Keep up the cool blog!
I was diagnosed with UC yesterday, been trying to find some videos like this to see others experiences and to reassure myself I’m not alone x
Same yesterdsy...
Same last week! We'll be okay guys!:)
Dear Hannah, you are a complex, brilliant brave woman! You've been through something few can imagine. Years ago I had a strange bought of chronic diarrhea that lasted close to five-six months. While I was commuting to a job via Rail & Shuttle bus in the large office building. Bloody awful.
So happy that I'm subscribed to you, because you don't bullshit. You get to the real talk, and you don't beat around the bush when it comes to typically 'embarrassing' things (that can sometimes just be normal bodily functions dammit society). You really help people who are going through the same stuff, with videos like this and The Hormone Diaries.
LOL "you don't bullshit", but she DEFINITELY does ;) Sorry, couldn't resist >.
So, I just stumbled across this, but I’ve had Crohn’s for almost 10 years now. Even though it’s different from UC, I still relate to a lot of your experiences/symptoms you talk about here. It’s really cool to see you be so open about it, because it’s something I’ve struggled talking about to people because they’ve treated me differently in the past because of my Crohn’s, and I hate that. I see you have other videos on the topic, so thank you for being so open about it and showing people that daily life is different for some, and that’s completely fine and normal.
My mother has ulcerative colitis and has been suffering for some time now. Thank you for talking about it, I found it informative and hopefully others will too 👏
I never knew this existed and I feel so bad for anyone suffering with this
petition for more people to talk about poo openly? like seriously i have ibs and it used to really rule my life and i just wish poo was more acceptable to talk about, luckily i'm more comfortable with it now but i still wish more people would talk about their poo related problems and just poo in general, thanks for making this video
(i'm only halfway through the video) speaking of triggered by stress oh my god i had my last college exam today and i was actually late to it because i couldn't get off the toilet literally i got up and had to sit back down four times before going sobbing to a teacher because i didn't want to poo myself in the exam that i was already 5 minutes late for i was scared they wouldn't even let me in it was traumatic
which is another reason we need to talk about poo more :)
I have IBS but wasn't diagnosed till I was in my thirties after some really nasty flare ups. Colonoscopy, colonography, upper endoscopy, all suck but I'm thankful for them. Still get flare ups but manage to keep them to a few days now down from weeks. Still abdominal cramps, repeated diarrhea, blood and mucus, and the pain of needing to go when there's nothing more to go definitely make it difficult to socialize. Just watched you in another vlog of how your not an artist, maybe not but you do have a flare (no pun intended) for bringing these topics to life. Love how you gesture and make it seem so silly that we don't talk about these things more. You are awesome.
Hahaha. Just realized this video was 3 months old. Need to pay more attention to the date! Have a great day.
I had a colonoscopy for the first time recently and can no longer drink orange flavour cordial as it just reminds me of Moviprep, it took me so long to drink the first dose that I ended up drinking about 1 and a half doses all together.
I recently got diagnosed with Colitis after years of suffering and almost a year of speaking to various doctors, my GP and other specialists before they actually decided to give me a colonoscopy. I'm definitely glad for the NHS, but it can definitely be difficult to get appointments and diagnoses. The first doctor I saw gave me some tablets that mostly made my usual symptoms worse as well as making me tired and gave me strange mood swings. I also tried a diet which involved eating no gluten, dairy, sugar, potatoes or red meat. Luckily when I was properly diagnosed the doctor told me that if the diet wasn't helping I might as well eat a regular diet.
I'm not really supposed to eat red meat, ice cream etc but I do anyway, and it's all good. It'll probably be different to you, so just stick to the recommended diet for now or do whatever you want I guess.
Oh my God it's so good to hear someone talking about problems like that and to know I'm not the only one!!! I have these problems more or less all the time, espiacially the I-always-need-to-know-where-the-toilets-are. No doctor knows what is wrong with me, which is really frustrating, so at times I almost wish I would just have colitis so I could get treatment, because slowly but surely it scares the shit out of me that no one seems to know what's going on inside my body
I just got diagnosed with UC last month and its been a really difficult process. Currently in the hospital for 2 weeks and taking steriods really puts a toll on my body.
same here friend I was diagnosed with it last month too well in 2023... but anyway same here the steroids have been awful and disgusting but the masasaline is ok to take with milkshake I prefer it that way cuz I'm 10 so I don't like ti swallow tablets so we got it in liquid form lol
Had UC for 10 years...then had a J Pouch operation, and after 6 months of healing, everything is totally normal now, no pain, no nothing.
i love that you can talk about this! also you're looking good as always, hannah!
eden i love ur name :)
I love that you unashamedly talk about things that people are normally too scared or embarrassed to. Love your videos!!
I haven't figured out what my exact stomach issues are (already diagnosed with acid reflux but there's definitely more going on than that.) It makes me feel better when people speak out about their gastrointestinal issues though :)
marinashutup me too! I am going through the same thing. I am so scared I have UC because I have all the symptoms and am a 1 candidate for it. One of my blood test comes back Monday so wish me luck
marinashutup same, I have an undiagnosed stomach condition aswell but I’ve been told I have low grade atrophy??? But medication doesn’t work for me. If you don’t mind me asking what symptoms do you get
Faye Nelson Maybe check into gastroparesis 😊
be aware of GERD, or hiatal hernia.
marinashutup Amen for people speaking out. I wish had found this a few yrs ago when my flare ups started. They still don't know what is exact trigger. But I have learned to go into recovery, ice cold watered wash cloth on tummy, keep warm. And now on terrific med that keeps flare up manageable. I'm 70!!!! And did not start the ailment until 64, can you believe. Thx to everyone keep speaking out it helps so so much.
I have had Ulcerative Colitis since I was 12 and it absolutely sucks! I get IV infusions of remicade (infliximab) every 8 weeks and my immune system is complete shit, I am sick ALL THE TIME and have extremely low energy. Although I'm not doubled over in pain and constantly shitting myself, my UC still has a huge impact on my life. Autoimmune disease have become an epidemic and affect 1 in 5 women now!!! (I think that's in the US). It's super frustrating that scientists still don't know what causes UC and other autoimmune diseases and the main treatments are immunosuppressants. The emotional toll of having a chronic illness is really difficult, I feel like I have lost parts of my identity to this illness and I am still struggling with feeling SO ANGRY at my illness. Sending you and all the other sickos out there tons of love :) thanks for being honest with us!!!!! UC sucks and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy (also it has contributed to me having anxiety and depression so that sucks too)!
hey Hannah! i met you in your creator's chat at Vidcon and i just wanted to say it was SO NICE talking to you and getting TH-cam advice 💕
I was diagnosed with UC about a year ago, luckily the flare ups I have had since then have only ever lasted a couple of weeks. Thank you for making this made me feel a little bit better about it
Can you Please tell me if Gluten free and Lactose free Diet has worked for you?
'I could have had a few more inches in me' couldn't we all Hannah 🤣
I'm so happy I found this. In literally 5 days time I'm going to see a gastroenterologist and I've been terrified of the prospect of potentially dealing with my horrible symptoms for the rest of my life. Although I haven't been formally diagnosed, it is looking like IBD. I've struggled with it for 9 months continuiously and it's nice to see a real person talk about their experience and how it differs to mine.
Hey thanks so much for sharing your story. I have UC but with very different symptoms as you. Currently going through a flair and I found your video. It really helps to hear your story
Hannah I love that in your book you are open about having a break up and can be honest about how upset you were as from TH-cam I would have never guessed you were going through that and it made me realise that although all those exes I've cried over weren't worth it, I wasn't weak or dumb to get that upset!
Thank you for talking about this and being so honest. x
Omg I didn't know you had UC😱! I subscribed to you because you are very honest and funny and I honestly had no idea! There Is basically no one that talks about UC on the internet unless they are moaning about how awful it is but you seem very positive even though you have dealt with all the horrible stuff!💕I'm so happy that you can talk about this so openly because I find it very difficult as it is quite embarrassing . I was diagnosed last year (ish) at 13 and have just come out of a flare up. It is very encouraging to hear that you haven't had a flare up in a long time because that random aspect the disease really scares me. I also had an issue with the horrible laxative (PICOLAX) I had a lemon flavour one so now I can't go near Lemonade without throwing up😂 I was on steroids as well, I had them through an IV for a week but then I was on tablets for a month and I ate at least 30 packets of crisps a day😂 I definitely think my disease is worsened by stress so I am extremely apprehensive about my GCSEs. I currently take azathioprine and mezavant, I did take azacol at first though, i am also gluten free. I am pretty sure I am managing my symptoms quite well but you never know with UC🙄 Also God bless the NHS!
I have IBS and when I went to get my colonoscopy, I literally could not swallow the prep that they gave me because it was making me gag so hard. I called my doctor and he told me to take an entire bottle of miralax dissolved in Gatorade which did the same thing as a prep but was sooooo easy to drink. Thought I'd mention it in case anyone else had a terrible reaction to the prep and wanted to look into alternatives!! (Obviously contact your doctor before trying it, I'm not pretending to know exact dosage information)
Thanks!!
Erin T also tips- gummy bears dissolve at body temp so they're like liquid so you can eat them during the prep. i took them and they gave me a good taste after the bad tasting prep.
also its better if the drinks really cold and use LOADS of double strength orange squash or squash your choice it seriously helps- it made ot taste like Lucozade rather than vomit 😂
That's what my doctor gave me too! Though, she had me take two Dulcolax a few hours before then I had to drink the whole thing of Miralax in a bunch of Gatorades. I'm so thankful for this new way
Definitely refrigerate it before drinking- it still tastes awful, but marginally better if it's cold (and given it tastes like some kind of puke/pain/suffering mix, marginally better is worth it)
this is all such great info I am absolutely dreading my next colonoscopy, the first one was horrnedous :((((
I have ulcerative colitis too and it's so nice to hear a mainstream person talk about it. Thank you. xx
My condition is quite mild compared to others but it is still annoying and I had to miss school for 8 weeks.
And I feel you on the steroids. I used to eat like 6 meals a day and I looked like a chipmunk.
If anyone reading this is taking azathioprine, PLEASE be extremely careful with taking it, you really shouldn't immediately stop taking these tablets because your immune system and liver can go into shock (if you're on a high dose of azathioprine for a long period of time then you should be going for quarterly blood tests anyway to test your LFT levels). Just a warning in case anyone was unaware! Like Hannah said, they'll drop your dosage and wean you off them gradually over an extended period of time.. it just gives your immune system a chance to build back up again :)
+
I went off it suddenly... but that's because it gave me acute pancreatitis! So that's another consideration for anyone thinking of taking it, I had been on it for 8 months and it was helping me until suddenly, I had to be rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. It happens to an estimated 1-2% of patients on azathioprine. Everyone should carefully consider any heavy duty medication and talk to their doctor/s about the pros and cons.
Laura Parrish oh wow I had no idea I will be careful yesterday I forgot to take mine!
I have to take it.....
It also gave me pancreatitis!
I have colitis and am currently going through a flare up that has lasted a little over a year now. It really really sucks. Especially when you have children who need things and have to go places and be involved in things and you’re pretty much tied to the toilet. Also not being able to work is a whole fight in itself. You can’t work because you’re always in the bathroom and when you try to reach out and get assistance your denied because you still are capable of taking care of yourself. Please send me good vibes.
Hannah: "I will be due another colonoscopy in 2020"
Those of us who know she no longer has a colon and what happened in 2020: HA nope
I don't have UC but it made me so happy that you're talking about digestive system problems since they're so often skirted around. I have severe anxiety and have for the majority of my life (I'm 18) so I experience stomach symptoms like upset nausea and intense cramping which we think is down to the levels of adrenaline in my system damaging me. It sucks that a mental illness has such an impact on my physical health but when I'm particularly stressed and anxious for long periods (exams especially omg) my stomach suffers. We all need to talk about poo more!
It's an interesting video to watch knowing what happened six months later. Hope you're feeling better and that we will see you again soon.
I've had IBS since I was about 12/13 (I got diagnosed with PCOS at the same time - Super fun!) and I've basically been taking Mebeverine ever since (I'm 21 now). I had to 100% take it every single day until I was about 17 or I would feel horrendously sick/have cramps/constipated or diarrhoea each day - sometimes I would still get the cramps even when taking medication - but thankfully it has started to become less severe in the past 5 years, I've been able to get away with only taking Mebeverine when I can tell my IBS is flaring up and I feel sick/get diarrhoea. One of the main things that has affected me this whole time is gluten, specifically pasta and bread - so I've had free from for about 10 years now and I love it - but I've noticed that anything can make me get cramps/diarrhoea, including coffee, some vegetables, processed meat until I became a vegetarian, different snacks and so on!! So basically it was really difficult knowing what to avoid and I just had to play it day-by-day sometimes.
I think I'm still really lucky nowadays that I'm not as reliant on Mebeverine any more and have been able to eat wholegrain pasta and brown/multi grain bread the past few years, as long as I'm being careful and not eating too much. Being vegetarian has actually made me feel so much healthier - I'm not sure what it was but red meat could just make me feel so sick so I decided to cut it all out and it's been great! It might not work for everyone but 100% the best lifestyle for me. My boyfriend is also vegetarian and happily eats/buys gluten free food so we can eat it together :) I've got a whole lotta love for the NHS, GPs and all the accepting people in the world who making living with something rather inconvenient a lot easier
Thanks for this Hannah, I've actually just been diagnosed with Crohns disease today (strange timing!) and I've been having a little cry to myself about it, but you've made everything seem so normal. Time to stop feeling sorry for myself I think! x
I hope you are better today
As someone whose had alot of issues with my bowels and intestines this is very reassuring, I had surgeries and loads of medication to deal with it and spent most of my life being scared of telling people I had it. Recently I have become more confident and open about it and videos like this are honestly very inspiring so thank you
I am lactose intolerant and have ibs I don't know if its anything more serious because I haven't been to a doctor about it because it has made my anxiety insane. I never leave the house anymore. its so hard but it's great to hear you talk about real issues and give us inspiration to keep going!
I had a Crones disease scare a year back, gosh I was scared... I remember one of the things that got me trough it mentally was that I knew Hank had UC and still had a good life, so thank you for making this video, it really can help
for some reason, i thought it the title said ulcerative clitoris, how wrong i was
Lilac Blues same 🙈
I had colitis but managed to completely overcome it. Have been off all meds since 2008, and haven't had a flare since 2012 when I finally gave up dairy. That's what triggered it for me. Vegan diet is what helped me.
th-cam.com/video/XcnRmt6hxyc/w-d-xo.html
My daughter was just recently diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and I'm so depressed I wish I could take it away I feel like this is my fault. You are right about how it takes alot away because she's missed so much school her grades have dropped she's on 6pills a day. To go from completely healthy never missing a day of school to now the unknown waiting by my phone to ring because I know the school nurse is going to call. This is all new to me and all I ever wanted was my kids to live a happy healthy life and now my daughter has this disease. Thank you for this video made me cry but it helps me to know that others are going through the same and the information is def beneficial so thank you and I'm praying for you and everyone going through this debilitating disease.
I'm 26 and I got diagnosed with UC this year. According to statistics each year there are more and more young people getting IBD. However it is not something publicly discussed much in my country. In fact one of the doctors even advised me to keep it a secret from my coworkers and friends...which i didn't. Anyways it is easier to hear from people fighting the same battles. :) Thanks for sharing
"I could have had a couple extra inches in me"
dead
Really applaud this 👏🏻👏🏻 my sister has UC and had an emergency ileostomy 4 years ago, so I really empathise with what you've been through. It's so unpredictable and I think stress is definitely a factor! Keep looking after yourself xxx
My dad had colon cancer and had part of his intestines removed so he has much of the same symptoms in terms of having almost no warning when poop is coming or even just sometimes not having much control over his bowels period. So my brother and I have to have colonoscopies early. In my house we try to laugh about all of this because if we don't it's just too depressing. We call the special drink "colon blow" because it just makes it a little funnier to deal with.
This is such an interesting video. I feel like we should talk more about this kind of stuff that actually really affects a lot of people.
I’ve had six anal surgeries due to grade 4 hemmoroids and fissures. I’ve had symptoms all my life but they were greatly worsened with each of my pregnancies. My doc calls it chronic constipation due to a slow gut. I’m so sorry you have suffered so much pain and discomfort. It’s like my mom says, “if your booty’s not working nothing else in your life can.” I stumbled across this video and I quite like your attitude and take on things. 👍😊
I've had IBS for around 10 years. I recently found the low fodmap diet and it changed my life! Really great you are talking about this sort of stuff it doesn't get talked about enough.
I wish I wasn't so late in discovering your channel! I've gone through similar stuff with your hormone diaries and going off the pill, and I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis about the time this video was posted. I'm currently dealing with bouts of debilitating fatigue, brain fog, and acne of all things, and it does feel good to know I'm not alone in dealing with the ups and downs of chronic illness. Thanks for doing what you do!
Thank you for this video. My genetics mean that it's fairly inevitable that I'll develop gastrointestinal issues someday, so I'm finding it really useful to learn as much as I can beforehand.
I just hope I don't follow in my dad's footsteps - he was fine until he was about 25, then developed very severe Crohn's. He now has roughly three feet of small intestine (I think it's normally about 20 feet), and nearly died in intensive care after getting pneumonia after an operation, because his immune system was basically nonexistant. Autoimmune diseases are shit.
I have what my doctor called a "minor ibs" it's mostly anxiety induced, and I can generally control it pretty well without prescription meds but I'm in the midst of my worst episode of it ever. I don't know how people with worse digestive issues than I have deal with the world. Kudos to all that do.
This is such a good video, I've been fired before due to UC because no one knows what it is
SparklesBooks wow, that's really evil - firing you for being ill?! :( I hope it's better controlled now, and you found a better place to work!
That's messed up! So sorry 😐
Chelsey Vasquez
and also BS.... employers can't terminate solely due to documented illness, so either their 'illness' wasn't documented (or self-diagnosed) or they made it up completely
Are you from the us?
thats what im worried about. I just found out a couple weeks ago that i have UC
I was diagnosed with UC this past year. The symptoms weren't great but my mental health was a disaster and I didn't feel like myself at all. Thanks for sharing
Thank you for addressing difficult subjects with such maturity and respect for others. You are doing a great thing online for educating many people about things they don't feel like they can ask others! I love you, keep on doing what you are doing
Great video. Not a lot of people talk about UC and in my personal experience Crohns is a lot more well known then UC. I got diagnosed 5 years ago, after I finished my A-Levels. I also had a flare up in November and had to change my meds again. All good now. Thanks for sharing your story. :)
i have followed you some time now and this is the first thing relevent to me.
I don't have UC or ibs or anything visibly wrong but I am allergic to every single thing I consume including tap water and bottled water. I have a (marked) gastrocolic reflex. witch mean I have a very fast reflex to food meaning it goes in and 6 minutes later the exact same food comes back out the other end all chewed up but not digested. I go to the loo 30+ times a day and have the worst sore bum you can possibly imagine. I also suffer from (visceral hiypersensitivity) it means that I can feel the food in my tummy and every single inch of my gut as it moves and churns and gargles and dosnt digest while it races through me to ultamitly end up in the loo less then 10 mins later. I am on 13 medications to slow my gut down which can go as low as 15 out of 30 so 50% slower and less often but i am crippled with the pain and the medication leaves me feeling like and looking like a drug abuser. my life is ruled by the toilet but because of the condition I have I am not able to have a colostomy or iliostomy as it would make things worse! I worked on the oil rigs. I was engaged to a lovely girl who I loved and I had my own home. then I got (post infectious gastroenteritis) while off shore and was medivac back to Aberdeen where I was admitted and went from 10st to 6.⁴lbs in 9days. I have been suffering for 4 years now and have lost everything from my independence and my hone. car. friends. job. career. to the love of my life who decided that she needed love from someone who didn't shit them self or didn't weight 6.4stn but hey. she loved me when I had it all and when I lost it she got her love from someone else.
anyway that's a little bit about my story hannah. it's pretty grim. I am house bound and do not socialise as being 31 male and incontinent isn't a very attractive thing in a friend or partner. if anyone wants to know more I am happy to talk about it. it's really rough and nasty and keeping a poo diary with pictures and videos isn't exactly the content I like on my phone but its doctors orders. anyways. happy to enlighten anyone who asks.
thanks for sharing hannah
Al James
Hope u find the happiness nd peace tht u deserve in your life bless u
Take care
Are you anywhere near Peterhead??..i have some family up there..i love Scotland :)
I was diagnosed with UC very recently. I’ve been freaking out. This helped quite a bit so thank you
I have ibs so can kinda empathise but as you say the different diseases are all different and they affect people differently also. I find mine is worse when I'm stressed or really tired. when mine flares up the pain is horrendous and I take buscopan which thankfully does work but it takes up to a week to settle down properly xx thanks for sharing your story , it makes other sufferer feel less alone xx
one of my best friends had UC, and i spent days in the hospital with her when she was addmitted. I love this video, so informative and so interesting as someone who doesnt suffer from it, but has spent tiem around people with UC
This makes me so happy that i'm not alone!! I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis when I was 12. Doctor's didn't really know what was wrong for about 3 years. After a colonoscopy, they diagnosed me then tried using steroids and anti inflammatory infusions but nothing worked. The last resort was a temporary ileostomy surgery and it totally changed my life. My entire large intestine and all of the ulcers were removed. One year after the ileostomy, they performed a reversal surgery and everything inside was reconnected with the small intestine. After that, it was like I never had colitis at all. If this operation is available, I would highly recommend it.
Thanks for sharing your story Hannah x
A reversal surgery?
My aunt has chrons, my mum has allergies to lots of food, I'm positive for coeliac markers, and I'm currently waiting on my letter for the hospital for an endoscopy and colonoscopy! They have no idea what's wrong with me so I'm just waiting to go through the awful colonoscopy process and see what happens haha. I want to say thank you for making these videos about UC as it's a) very likely what I have based on symptoms and investigative process, and b) makes me feel MUCH better about having a colonoscopy. THANK YOU
I suffer with quite bad IBS and my dads suffers with Chronns disease and its such a pain dealing with it, having to constantly manage what I eat because it might flare up and having to know where I can find a toilet can be exhausting, so glad that you've made this video and are raising awareness of IBD and IBS so people don't just turn around and say 'it's only a little stomach ache, get over it' (which I've had in the past) and actually become educated about things like this, love you're videos as always, much love xx
I was diagnosed with IBS when I first started secondary school the pain in my stomach was excruciating, mine is a constant thing but seems to get worse through stress. Recently the pain has been getting bad again and my stomach swells so much I look about 6 months pregnant. It's a serious pain in the arse. (Pun not intended) I'm so glad you made this video because I'm now wondering if I should make an appointment to check if I could possibly have colitis, I know my auntie suffers from it and my IBS symptoms have changed some what In the past few months. X
It's nice hearing more and more of people stories about thier Crohn's or Colitis and people should not feel embarrassed having a conversation about poo! I was diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis in April 2013 age 18 and I've gone 27 months living without on steroids. Great tips and love hearing your story Hannah!
Thank you so much for sharing Hannah. I have UC and it is a good feeling to hear other people's experiences with it.
thank you for showing awareness bc I had no idea before this video!
If you appreciated this video, you may also want to know that Gut health is so important for overall health! A survey from 2018 of 71,000 Americans found that 61% had at least 1 bothersome gut issue! The most common gut symptom was acid reflux or GERD, then abdominal pain, then bloating.
I feel so much better knowing that other people have UC as I do. I was diagnosed in 2015 after a whole weeks international camp with guides and thousands of others. I obviously had to use the public toilets and I honestly don't know how I survived. It was before I was diagnosed so I was on no medication for it whatsoever therefore I was literally running to the toilet between 15-20 times a day (and the toilets were really far away from our tent too) I then had a colonoscopy and an endoscopy and got put on the right treatment. I have had about 3 flare-ups since then (I'm having one now) AND its my GCSE year. People don't really understand it at my school (not even the teachers) and I sometimes miss lessons because of the extreme pain I experience all the time. The teachers get annoyed at the fact I miss lessons because I'm either at hospital appointments or in the medical room or can't leave the toilet. Even my friends don't fully understand why I don't come out. I have developed some sort of social anxiety where I don't want to go anywhere because there may not be a toilet. I am also on the maximum dose of my meds but I just feel like they aren't working:(
I love this so much! I don't have OC but have IBS. I went for a colonoscopy twice now and the prep is grim 😷 it's really difficult to try to describe the pain to others when it's really bad and the fact that if I don't get my meds right I'm either bloated- which family member decribe as my "6 months pregnant belly" or I'm running to the toilet. Thank you so much for bringing up this topic. I feel like it's such an "Ewh subject" for some people but at the end of the day it's a medical condition and if it effects your life then I don't think it should need to be hidden away
Hey! Fellow bloater here! I too have IBS. I use VSL #3 which is really expensive but the only pills that have truly worked for me. They have been a relief! But everyone is different. I just haven't met a lot of people who bloated to the same extent I did so I'm excited to see I'm not alone!
LauraMon Try the Low FODMAPs diet, it works for me. Be careful with probiotics, because if your IBS is provoked by SIBO it'll only make it worse (from experience).
I also am an IBS gal with bloating and diarrhea. and the low FODMAP diet helped, but didn't completely get rid of my symptoms so I also take tummy fiber and probiotics. This was after loads of trial and error with probiotic brands and fiber sources and elimination diets. So basically have to find what works for you! I still have it flare up when I am stressed or overly excited. So still working things out in this body of mine. Good luck to all my tummy troubled friends.
LauraMon hahah my best friend and i also have a running joke about my "5 month pregnant belly"! What makes it a bit better is that i can claim a seat on the bus if i am already feeling bad.
LauraMon try activated carbon :) it's basically the only thing that works for me
I have crohns disease, i got diagnosed november 2016 and i am 16, not fun not fun xxx love you hannah
How didn't I find you sooner? I was diagnosed with UC when I was 12, so 5 years ago. No one speaks about it or knows about it so it was great finding this video, hearing about your similar experience, similar meds etc. This is really comforting
I dont have what you mentioned in fact Ive never heard of this until now, but i recently found out that I had triggered two genetic conditons(Eczema and Keloids) which no one else in my family ever has a history of and I have to live with them my entire life... Yay
That line from the Beatles, "The girl with colitis goes by".
This is interesting to learn about.
I got diagnosed with ibs (irritable bowel syndrome) this week, yayyyyy, currently having tests to try to find out exactly what it is that is affecting me, but it's nice to hear someone talk openly about bowel issues
This video is so important. I have IBS, it is linked with my anxiety and even though it's not as bad as UC or Crohn, I can relate to a lot of things you mentioned. This is a topic that needs to be talked about, we still have a lot of taboo around it, especially women. Thanks for the great content. Keep up the good work. Poopers of the world, unite! :D
I was diagnosed about 3 months ago, I’m already in my second flare up and it’s quite severe, on my last resort before back on steroids and I hate them, I’m 12 but it’s so nice to see someone else with it too
"Having colitis is just shit" Hannah Witton 2017 - No truer words were ever said
This is incredible! You're the only TH-camr I know of that has spoke about this. I have colitis too but I think a bit more advanced than yourself. Over the next few days I'm actually going to be vlogging recording my story And my time to fight back against the disease, I dont know if you'll see this but please if you do any tips would be incredible I'm trying to think of the best approach without sounding like I want everyone to feel sorry for my it's more I want people to be able to understand more about IBD.. also anyone that can see this if its something you're intrested in more than welcome to view once it's up:)
Was diagnosed with UC when I was 17! Life has been crazy because of it, but somehow I’m stronger since I was diagnosed. I plan on making a TH-cam channel dedicated to it soon!
Take indian ayurvedic medicine , you will be cure...i am not a bussiness man for it..but i have seen people who cured their uc