Hi, I’m Calum’s sister Cara. I am 16 years old and was diagnosed with Crohns disease in 2016.
It was June and I was on holiday when I first started having symptoms. These consisted of ulcers in my mouth and going to the toilet more than usual, wasn’t the best holiday I’ve ever had. After heading home, the symptoms started getting worse and I had severe stomach pains.
After being treated much the same way initially as my brother and being told there was nothing wrong with me my parents were not convinced and managed to get me to see a specialist where I was tested and was diagnosed with Crohns disease.
I was put on modulen for 8 weeks which had amazing results and I finally felt normal, there were no more pains and the toilet and I drifted apart fortunately. But after the end of the 8 weeks of not eating anything and drinking disgusting shakes the flare ups started again and I was reunited with the toilet. I was put on steroids for almost 3 months which helped but they made me gain weight amongst other horrible side effects. I am now on azathioprine daily and infliximab infusions every 8 weeks which has had great results and I am now symptom free.
My IBD journey has been scary and at times I asked myself “Am I ever going to be normal again?” The answer is yes with everything I’ve been through I can face anything now with the support of my family and friends. I went on to sit my Nat 5’s the following year and passed them all. I’m still a normal teenage girl and whenever I can I help raise money to help find a cure for this awful disease.
We both feel quite lucky that our condition is responding well to the medication however neither of us know what the future holds, but isn’t that the same for everyone?