If you asked me 20 years ago what day it is today, or which disease has an awareness day today, I would probably say: “How should I know that?” 😅
But well… life changed after all the freaking diagnoses I have now.
I had to learn about my diseases, learn how to live with them, relearn how my body even works anymore, and meet people who are going through the same shit. Literally. 💩
A lot of people go through this alone, and honestly… it’s hard. I’m lucky because I have people who support me when I’m at my lowest. I also have a brother (and now my mom too) who has Crohn’s disease, so I don’t have to suffer in silence. I can always talk to someone who actually understands. Especially my husband...that man knows every little thing about me and can tell I’m not feeling okay before I even say a word.
But it wasn’t always like this.
At the beginning, talking about bowel disease was HARD. I mean… it’s literally a pooping disease 😭 Who wants to explain that they need to run to the toilet 20+ times a day? Or explain that your butt hurts because the diarrhea just doesn’t stop without the right treatment?
Some people try to understand, and some really do care, but unless you live it, it’s hard to imagine what it actually does to you.
The cramps.
Not being able to drink even water because the toilet calls you one minute later.
Going outside and immediately searching where the nearest toilet is.
Being scared you won’t make it in time.
Not eating just so your stomach can calm down for a few hours.
Sitting on the toilet and praying you still have enough toilet paper left. 🙃
And the exhaustion…
Trying to work without energy.
Being tired ALL the time.
Losing weight because your body has no vitamins left...no calcium, zinc, magnesium, folic acid, nothing.
And even when you take all the vitamins and supplements? Your body just says: “No thanks.” 😭 and one minute later: “Hello toilet, I’m back.”
That’s why it feels so good to talk with people who understand.
Talking about treatments, diets, stress, pain, hemorrhoids from hell, side effects, all the fun stuff nobody wants to hear about 😂
You don’t feel ashamed.
You don’t have to explain why you’re tired all the time.
I suffered a LOT, and it was exhausting trying treatment after treatment while nothing worked. And on top of that, dealing with side effects that caused even more pain.
Finding the right treatment took forever.
Like… FOREVER.
The first few years I was honestly ashamed to talk about it. I would rather lie and say I’m okay.
But the hardest moment for me was when one treatment caused such horrible side effects that I had to shave my head and could barely use my hands.
Still… I refused to hide at home and feel sorry for myself just because I had no hair and people kept asking what was wrong with me.
And then one day I heard people talking behind my back. Saying I was pretending, trying to look cool, calling me a nazi, and all kinds of stupid things.
That’s when I decided...Fuck all of them.
This is MY life.
I’m the one fighting this battle, not them!
If someone makes fun of people who are suffering, that says way more about them than about me.
And honestly? It just made me realize how much stronger I am.
What really gave me confidence was meeting other people with IBD. They shared advice, support, and most importantly ...they weren’t ashamed of their bodies.
That changed me.
I started talking openly about what I’m going through.
I stopped hiding.
So every year on World IBD Day, I proudly write about it. Because awareness matters. Some people need to see that not every illness is visible, and they have NO idea what kind of chaos this disease can cause inside someone’s body.
So on May 19th, we come together to show the real reality of living with Crohn’s disease or Colitis.
To raise awareness about this diseases, symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, and everything people silently struggle with every single day!!
This day matters because millions of people around the world are affected, and many stay undiagnosed for years. Years!! And a lot of us know what that means…
So, early diagnosis CAN improve quality of life and reduce complications. If we know the warning signs, like non-stop diarrhea, bleeding, weight loss, pain...it means people can get treatment sooner.
Also…awareness helps reduce the stigma around gut health. 💪😏
Because yes… poop problems are health problems too 😅
And maybe most importantly...Awareness helps people feel less alone.
With support, information, good treatment, and definitely less stress, life CANget better.
And also… it helps us proudly show the middle finger to people who make fun of something they don’t understand 🖕😌
And this year’s theme?
“IBD Has No Borders: Access to Care.”
Because where you live should NOT decide if you get diagnosed quickly, get proper treatment, or have access to specialists.
Good healthcare should be available to everyone!!! Fairly. On time. Free. Everywhere.
We are not alone.
And we can fight this.
It’s just easier when someone is fighting beside you for the same cause. 💜
So guys…
I hope you didn’t poop too much today, and that you can drink coffee again without needing the toilet five minutes later! 😉☕💩
Stay healthy 😘
