Living with Crohn’s disease

Some 300,000 people in the UK suffer from the distressing and painful effects of incurable inflammatory bowel disease. Jake Borrett is one of them

Crohn's disease causes debilitating ulceration in the intestines (Voisin / Phanie/REX Shutterstock)

I often remember myself as the nine-year-old boy crouching over the living room sofa in pain. I would ask my Mum, "What is wrong with my stomach?" My Mum tells me that I need to be taken to hospital to find out what is causing my abdominal pain, recurring diarrhoea, severe vomiting and stunted growth. The doctor we went to see unfortunately branded my symptoms as "imaginary" and a product of an "over-anxious" mother. It took four years of blood tests, poo charts, laxatives and arguing to receive a second opinion. I was 13 when I had a colonoscopy, which showed I have Crohn’s disease.

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease, both of which are incurable and have no current cause. It is difficult to come to terms with that my small intestine is covered in ulcers that want to attack my body. However, like others it is something which I have grown to acknowledge. I am 22-years-old and in semi-remission. I still have abdominal pain and diarrhoea but my flare-ups are relatively stable with the support of Azathioprine. Nevertheless, since being diagnosed I have been on a variety of medication, undertook a liquid diet for nine weeks over the Christmas period and had surgery to remove a section of my inflamed small intestine.

I have been in and out of hospital, but each time I like to think it has made me a stronger person; perhaps because I do not want to think about the alternative. There is a lot of discussion about the physical side to inflammatory bowel disease but my Crohn’s disease also impacts me socially and emotionally.

Jake Borrett's doctor initially branded his symptoms as 'imaginary'

There is still a stigma attached to bowel conditions such as poo, diet and the preconception that only older people are affected, which is not actually the case. It can be challenging to talk to strangers and friends about my hidden disability. It has made me more self-aware and I find myself having to plan days out, such as making sure I go to a location with accessible toilets.

This need to be organised incidentally juxtaposes with my dyspraxia. I also experience anxiety partly out of fear others will judge me, but I have to remind myself to forget about those judgemental people and focus on the wonderful people who are willing to listen and understand.

I have had some tough experiences with my Crohn’s disease, but like my dyspraxia I believe it has made me a determined, empathetic and creative individual. One example is when I had to defer my second year at university in October 2013 due to a severe flare up that hospitalised me. I spent about a week in hospital due to bleeding from burst ulcers. Due to stress and anxiety I decided it was best to defer my second year.

I wanted to finish my degree so a year later I re-joined a new year of students to do so. I met some incredible people, and have recently graduated with a first class honours degree in English literature and creative writing. I hope to have shown that people with inflammatory bowel disease can be courageous and inspirational, and it makes me proud to be part of their community.

I have a website called Jake Borrett’s Writing Blog found online at jakeborrett.blogspot.co.uk. Here I post articles about my experiences with Crohn’s and dyspraxia, but also short stories and poetry that often start from a memory taken from an aspect of living with hidden disabilities. If at least one person comes to realise they are not fighting their battles alone or a taboo or silence is broken then I will never stop writing.

Having Crohn’s disease has made me realise there are amazing people out there willing to help others make it through dark days and to celebrate success too. Crohn’s and Colitis UK is a leading charity that helps support the community and aims to make life better for the 300, 000 people in the United Kingdom living with inflammatory bowel disease. I hope to continue working closely with them over the coming years.

I cannot conclude this article without thanking my friends for the shared laughter and to my family for the hugs along with the way. A special thank you should go to my Mum for all the times she spent in hospital waiting patiently as a drip entered fluids into my arm, for reading my blog posts even when they are sure to embarrass her just like this article, but also for when she believed the nine-year-old boy when he said he was in pain.