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 […]
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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 […]
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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… […]
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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 […]
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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. […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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When my gastroenterologist said she needed to stick tubes down my throat and up my butt, I wasn’t exactly overjoyed. Over the years I haven’t had a good relationship with scopes. I’ve had: 1 colonoscopy; where they look at the whole colon. Countless sigmoidoscopies. This is a mini-colonoscopy, where the doctors look at the left part […]
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For those who don’t know, I’m undergoing investigation into a severe iron deficiency. For some reason my body has suddenly decided to call in a sicky and stop working as well as it was. I was seeing a haematologist for iron infusions, but he has passed me onto to my gastroenterologist for more tests to […]
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Some people look at the glistening buildings of Canary Wharf, or the hustle and bustle of soho with the hope of joining the thousands of people who pace in and out each day. And I suppose I was one of them. From as young as I can remember going to London was pretty regular, and […]
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