Podcast has helped raise awareness
A CLAREGALWAY man, living with severe Crohn’s disease is hoping to raise awareness of the burdens faced by IBD patients in Ireland.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease is a chronic condition that causes inflammation in the digestive tract, which can result in structural damage to the intestines over time.
This can also lead to serious complications, such as bowel obstruction, ulcers, and an increased risk of colon cancer.
The condition not only impacts an individual physically and mentally, but also puts a considerable financial strain on them and their families due to the lack of state support.
IBD has several variations depending on what part of the gut has been affected. One variant is Crohn’s disease which can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract.
Currently, more than 2,500 patients are attending University Hospital Galway for treatment for IBD, 50 per cent of whom are diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease.
Thirty-one-year-old Jonathan Healy has been living with Crohn’s disease for more than 20 years and has already been through three surgeries to control the symptoms.
“It started with some red rashes around my lips, which looked like cold sores, and then I started feeling very tired. These were the only physical symptoms until my bathroom episodes became more frequent,” explained Jonathan.
A condition like IBD is often hard to diagnose. In Jonathan’s case, it took almost two years of seeing specialists, keeping an eye on symptoms and maintaining a diary to receive a diagnosis from Crumlin Children’s Hospital.
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