A day in the life of…

A lot of people don’t really understand how Crohn’s can affect your daily life which can impact on all aspects of your health. I had a bad day yesterday so I thought I’d document EXACTLY what a bad day, for me, entails. If you don't like toilet talk I would advise you not to read but I don't apologise - I want to break the stigma of the disease.

4am - there’s another 4 o’clock in the day? Why, oh why has my gut decided now is a good time to disturb my peaceful slumber. I’m now wide awake having stumbled to the bathroom with my eyes half open and spent 30 minutes upon the throne.

6.17am - my alarm is set for 7am but what is the actual point of lying in bed. I’m so restless and my stomach is beginning to sound like a washing machine…again!!

6.30am - another 20 minutes spent in the bathroom!!

7am - fed the cats, had some cuddles and instantly feel better. Lie on the couch whilst the cats have their morning zoomies and sink a pint of water! HYDRATION IS KEY PEOPLE!!

8am - decide I should probably eat something as my stomach is making grumbling noises…gluten free cornflakes and lactose free milk it is (I’ll save a post about the diet for another time)! Jump in the shower to get ready for the day.

8.30am - log on and begin work…attempt to be bright and breezy for the team call at 10.45am when my stomach is doing more flips than Tom Daley coming off a dive board!

11.30am - third trip to the bathroom - I’m treated to a short 5 minutes this time how lucky am I?!

1pm - seek out cats for cuddles and force another pint of water down my neck…don’t feel hungry but make sure I eat some soup!! Would usually go for a short walk round the block but I have less energy than a non-duracell battery!!

2pm - back to work…feel like I could fall asleep stood up. More water…keep that coming!!

3.40pm - fourth trip to the bathroom - add another 20 minutes to the tally today! I may as well set up my office in here!!

4pm - Keep up the momentum till 5pm and have to log off. I usually work later than that but today it just doesn’t feel like I can. The heating is on and the thermostat says 20*c but my hands are like ice, my nails have a slight blue tinge to them and I feel so cold.

6pm - feed the cats and play with them. Call one of them a 'little shit' as she runs up my curtains (again!!)

6.30pm - eat my tea. Sausage, potato, parsnip and carrot one pot wonder. I force myself to eat it.

7pm - lovely catch up chat with a friend, put the phone down and next minute wake up on the couch after - when the hell did I fall asleep?!

8.30pm - washing up can wait till the morning. I’m feeling so rubbish I’m off to bed.

9pm - my gut had other ideas. Fifth bathroom trip but thankfully only 15 minutes and I’m back tucked up in bed with a hot water bottle.

So there you have it. Crohn’s…affecting my sleep, work life and activities since 2020!! This isn’t every day, the majority of my days are so much better but it’s a good snapshot of what a bad day looks like at the moment for me. And this isn't the worst of it, before I began medication I could be visiting the bathroom up to 20 times a day. And if you don’t believe me, you can try the “in my shoes” app which lets you live a day as though you suffer with IBD - link here.

I do know one thing though...

Feel free to comment and share - once again thank you for reading. Until next time…L xx