billieanderson1

Guest Blogging Series: Cara talks about the impact of being diagnosed with UC & having stoma surgery within 5 months.

My name is Cara, I’m 22 and this is my stoma story! I started feeling unwell in July 2019. The first doctor I saw didn’t take me seriously and just handed me laxatives. I knew something wasn’t right but didn’t think much of it to start with. That was until I saw blood in the […]

A Guide to Managing Chronic Illness & Disability in the Workplace: For the Employee & Employer.

Managing chronic illness and/or disability in any space is daunting, but the workplace can be particularly tricky to navigate. As someone with a chronic illness and disability, I wanted to share my employee experience and hopefully impart some advice. *At the bottom of this page is a downloadable guide for you to give to your […]

My Tips for Managing Fatigue.

Fatigue is normal for someone with Crohn’s or colitis; 1 in 3 with IBD will experience it at some point. Fatigue isn’t like normal tiredness. Some days, getting out of bed can feel like you’ve been on a 5k. You can even start the day like Tigger and end it feeling like Eeyore. It impacts […]

Guest Blogging Series: Clemmie talks about how J-pouch surgery inspired her to become a nutritional therapist to help people with IBD & IBS.

Clemmie was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 1999. In 2001, she had a total colectomy and ileostomy. Eight years later and aged 18, they took away her stoma and formed an Ileal Pouch Anal Anastomosis (IPAA) or J-pouch. Now Clemmie is a Qualified Nutritional Therapist, to help improve the quality of life of people with […]

#NotAskingForIt.

TW: Some may find what I’ve discussed in this post triggering. I started sharing my journey on social media five months after my diagnosis. Pre-IBD, my Instagram was a toxic underbelly of peached bums, abs and diet fads. I used it as a tool for self-hatred; wishing I could be taller, fitter and slimmer. I […]

“Well you don’t look sick” & other annoying things healthy people say… Happy World IBD Day 2020.

To celebrate World IBD Day and give us all a giggle, here are top 10 annoying things healthy people say… The following are real comments, idiotic advice or downright ridiculous things people have said to me or those who submitted their own via my instagram. “You don’t look sick” You don’t look like an idiot… […]

The Mental Side of a Physical Illness: Collaboration with This Talk.

This is a freelance piece I wrote for This Talk. Below I discuss the mental implications of a physical illness. Hello, I’m Billie. I’m 23 and I poo into a bag! Three years ago I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis; a chronic autoimmune condition that affects the large intestine. In a matter of […]

Self Inflicted Isolation.

Last week the UK government extended the lockdown by another three weeks. For most of us, being stuck indoors without any idea of when life will resume, isn’t normal. However, for those with a chronic illness this can be all too familiar. Imagine you’re in lockdown – but just you. You can’t leave the house. […]

The COVID-19 Effect.

I think it’s safe to say, COVID-19 has effected us all. I can’t remember a time when we didn’t talk about Corona-the-virus instead of Corona-the-beer. When it all started I had no idea a virus could disrupt the world this much. And even us Brits have forgotten what Brexit feels like. Who knows when flour will be […]

Today I Do Not Have My Sh*t Together.

Let me paint you a picture. I’m sat on the 7.15am train on my way to work with a hundred other rats in the race; packed like sardines into an 8 carriage train; with poo on my stomach and there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m trying not to act weird but it’s […]