A WOMAN who lost 6th place after pooping 30 times a day initially attributed her symptoms to excessive pizza consumption.
Matilda Crome, 24, was diagnosed with bowel disease Crohn’s disease – which causes inflammation in the digestive system.
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Her symptoms, which included “stomach gas,” began at age 14 while on vacation in Italy, so she assumed they were caused by eating too much local food.
But at home, her problems continued – even though doctors thought they were menstrual pain or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
When Matilda found blood in her poo, she feared it was something more serious.
Her condition became so serious that she sat her GCSE exams in bed at her home in Manchester, with an invigilator sitting beside her.
At worst, Matilda missed out on a surprising sixth place and almost died after developing sepsis – a life-threatening reaction to an infection.
But new medication meant that by October 2023, she was healthy enough to buy a van and go climbing alone.
She traveled to Spain and Morocco, returning home in February this year.
Matilda then underwent surgery to remove her colon and reattach her small intestine to her rectum, and she now hopes to travel again.
Matilda, who is unable to work due to her condition, said: “I was going to the toilet up to 30 times a day.
“When I saw blood in my poop, I thought I had cancer and was going to die.
“I was passed from pillar to post and they said it was all in my head.
“When I finally received my diagnosis, I cried with pure relief.
“During my recovery, I started climbing and quickly got hooked.
“I can safely say that climbing was a big part of what helped me — it made me feel again.”
What is Crohn’s disease?
CROHN disease is a lifelong condition in which parts of the digestive system become inflamed.
It is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) which, along with ulcerative colitis, affects almost half a million people in the UK.
Symptoms usually begin in childhood, but the disease affects people of all ages. These include:
- Diarrhea
- Stomach pains and cramps
- Blood in your poop
- Tiredness (fatigue)
- Weight loss
There is no cure, but treatment can help reduce or control symptoms.
Some people take medication to decrease inflammation in the digestive system, while others may have surgery to remove a small area.
The exact cause is unknown, but genes, immune system problems, smoking, stomach problems, and gut bacteria imbalances are thought to play a role.
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Matilda started going to the bathroom more frequently while on holiday with her parents in Rome, aged 14.
They assumed she might have gluten intolerance from eating pizza, but her symptoms continued to worsen at home.
She then noticed blood in her stool and two years later was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease.
Along with colitis, another type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the disease, which can cause abdominal pain, diarrhoea, weight loss and fatigue, affects one in every 123 people in the UK.
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Matilda battled severe symptoms while taking her GCSE exams in 2016, aged 16.
She said: “Part of me was happy to know what was causing it, even though I knew I faced a life ahead with a chronic illness.
“I was determined to do my GCSEs despite feeling unwell.
“We had a note on the front door that said ‘exam in progress,’ which was really funny.”
My parents were called urgently to come and say goodbye and prepare for the worst.
Matilda Crome
Despite receiving several medications, including steroids and monthly injections, Matilda said she was in “constant pain”.
She was stuck at home and couldn’t go anywhere unless she knew there was a bathroom nearby.
Her weight dropped to just over 5st and she made frequent trips to the emergency room.
In 2020, when she was 20 years old, she was admitted to Manchester Royal Infirmary hospital and “almost died”.
“I truly owe my life to my IBD doctor, who fought for a hospital bed for me,” Matilda, who shared her journey on TikTokhe said.
“Without her, I believe I would have died.
“I remember one night I was sure my body was going to give up and I wouldn’t wake up.
“My parents tell me now how lucky I was.
“They were called urgently to say ‘goodbye’ and prepare for the worst.”
‘SPARK’ FINALLY STARTS TO COME BACK
Fortunately, Matilda was given strong antibiotics and her health began to improve.
After a few years, she was back to a healthy weight and was able to start “living life” again.
“I was finally starting to see my spark come back and reasons to live and it was amazing,” she added.
“I bought a van and went on a solo climbing trip to Morocco and Spain, something my Crohn’s disease had prevented me from doing previously.”
However, in March 2024, she received an email from the hospital and doctors revealed that her large intestine was still inflamed.
She underwent an operation to remove her colon called a colostomy – but luckily she didn’t need a colostomy bag.
Now, four months after the operation, Matilda’s recovery has been up and down, but she is hopeful for the future.
“I was shocked that I needed surgery because it was the best thing I had felt in years,” she said.
“I try to keep up with the good days, because I know how bad the bad days can be.
“You can still live your life with a chronic condition, it may just alter the path your life takes.
“I have a long road to recovery ahead of me, but if it means I can live a semi-normal life and travel the world, then it will be worth it.”
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
