My #GetYourBellyOut story: Stacey

I only found out a few years ago that I had Crohn’s Disease after my appendix ruptured causing me to need a few operations and a stoma for a year. All I had been told before this was that what I had was Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

Since finding out that it was in fact Crohn’s Disease (IBD) and having my stoma reversed my life has completely changed. I feel older, weaker, more tired – Stomach pain, diarrhoea, bloating, fatigue, joint pain and brain fog are now a daily part of my life.

After having enough, towards the end of last year I went to my GP where I was diagnosed with depression, low iron and B12, which was what was making me feel so bad.

I am now currently awaiting tests so that a treatment plan can be decided for me, however everything has been put on hold due to COVID-19 so for the time being I’ve been temporarily put on Budesonide which do thankfully give me some relief. I am hoping that once this is all over I can finally get a long term plan so I can try and get my life back!

GetYourBellyOut CIC does an amazing job at bringing people together and helping people to feel supported. I really struggled at first, both when I had my stoma and then after my last op when I had all my scars, but joining #GetYourBellyOut has helped me to realise that I’m not alone, that my scars are something to be proud of, and reminds me I’m lucky to be alive!