Shining a light on Crohn’s

LIFE-CHANGING...Cait Bailey was diagnosed with Crohn’s when she was 16. There is currently no cure.

AFTER battling a severe and life-changing inflammatory bowel disease for more than 12 years, an Oldham woman is sharing her story to raise awareness of the condition and help others affected by it.

Cait Bailey was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease aged 16, after suffering 18 months of intense abdominal pain, fatigue and weight loss.

Despite visiting her GP regularly during that time, she failed to gain a correct diagnosis and her family were told her symptoms could be a result of GCSE stress or even anorexia.

However, when Cait developed an abscess and was rushed to hospital, doctors conducted further tests and discovered she was suffering with Crohn’s disease – a chronic life-long condition that causes inflammation of the digestive system or gut.

Symptoms include abdominal pain and diarrhoea, tiredness and fatigue, feeling feverish, loss of appetite and weight loss and anaemia.

Shopping

Research is still ongoing in an attempt to find what causes the disease and there is currently no cure. However, drug treatment and sometimes surgery can give relief from the symptoms.

Cait, a care support worker at Salford Royal Hospital, said: “When the doctor told us it was Crohn’s, we didn’t know anything about it.

“The first words out of my mum’s mouth were “Is it cancer?” – that’s how little we knew about it.

“But even the doctor couldn’t tell us much more.

“I went shopping and looked for a book about it but could only find one.

“Its first line was ‘People with this condition very rarely reach their full potential’.

“I was shocked. It was the last thing I wanted to read.”

Cait, who lives on the border of New Moston and Chadderton, has since spent time in and out of hospital, as well as taking a variety of medication to deal with the condition and her symptoms.

At one point, she had to take 120 tablets a day and the condition left her so fatigued that she couldn’t even walk to the end of her garden path.

Cait said: “It affected my life completely.

“I couldn’t be a typical, care-free teenager or enjoy my 20s as I was restricted by my health.

“I couldn’t go out with my friends, I couldn’t leave home and go to university, I couldn’t even work for three years as I was so ill.”

After struggling from the age of 21 until the age of 25, Cait and her doctors considered an operation which would involve fitting an external colostomy bag to help with her symptoms.

However, she was encouraged to try one further drug – infliximab – which has dramatically improve her health.

Now 29, Cait has been in remission for over two years and has decided to give something back to the charity that supported her following her diagnosis. Cait said: “After struggling for a long time, my health is finally at the point where I am able to fundraise for Crohn’s and Colitis UK and raise awareness of the condition.

“When I was diagnosed there was so little information out there about Crohn’s but the charity were great in helping me understand the condition and how it affected me.

“They were also able to provide information and resources that I could give to employers to help them understand my condition and how serious it was.

“The lack of understanding of Crohn’s can cause problems for people who are diagnosed.

“I’ve had people who compare it to food poisoning or having a upset stomach when it reality it is much more serious.

“Some even believe it’s something I’ve brought on myself with a poor diet, even though it is completely out of my control.

“There is a lot of false information and myths out there and it is potentially harming those with the condition.”

Supported

Cait will be taking part in the Crohn’s and Colitis UK WALK IT campaign, a five to 10k run or walk through Manchester city centre to raise awareness and funds on May 14.

It is part of a national campaign featuring six events across the country in May, June and July, which is being supported by former “The Only Way is Essex” favourite Sam Faiers and TV presenter Rylan Clark-Neal, who both have personal experience of inflammatory bowel disease.

Cait, who hopes to train as a nurse soon, said: “There could be young girls going through exactly what I did over ten years ago.

“The more awareness there is, the greater the chance people will be diagnosed sooner, get the treatment they need and limit the damage caused to their bodies.”

To find out more, visit www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk. To sponsor Cait, visit www.justgiving.com/Cait-Bailey.