"Colitis has had a huge impact on my life, but this charity is imperative" – Hend’s story

Six months later, my symptoms starting to come back and the medications I was on were no longer working. There were so many ups and downs and it was decided that it was time for me to try biologics. Sadly the first one I was prescribed resulted in me catching multiple serious infections. The treatment just didn’t agree with my body, and the result was countless A&E visits over a three-month period. I ended up in hospital, where multiple specialists worked together to try and figure out how to treat the antibiotic-resistant strain of bacteria. After what felt like a lifetime with this severe infection taking over my body, I was discharged and then had to deal with the fallout. I spent months trying to adjust to my ‘new normal’. 

I feel like I’m too young to be this tired and unable to achieve what I want to in a day. The exhaustion I’ve felt when I’m flaring is indescribable. This has been hard on the wider family as well: I’ve sent my parents videos in Arabic so they can watch them and understand what Colitis is. They are abroad and had to fly back and forth to the UK to support and help out. I’ve had to lean on people more than I could have ever imagined and I’m so grateful for the ones who have been there. 

Living with Crohn’s or Colitis can be intensely lonely at times: you feel misunderstood. This charity is absolutely imperative to people who have just been diagnosed. Crohn’s & Colitis UK leaflets should be handed out as soon as you hear the news that you’re living with one of these conditions because honestly, it could really help ease the stress and burden. Everyone I’ve met through the charity has been so relatable and truly understands what it’s like to live through this.  

Now I’m in a much better place. I’ve started on a new medication and, touch wood, it’s been working well. My body has responded positively and things are looking up for me. Crohn’s & Colitis UK has given me a sense of belonging and a real community that understands me and that is really powerful. I’ve connected with other people on Instagram too and I’m using my social platform to document my experiences in the hope it might help someone else who’s going through what I did. It might sound like a cliché but these last few years have been a true rollercoaster. Hopefully things are on the up.