Shonda
Shonda kept her ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease a secret for years. In sharing her story, her hope is that she can help others avoid the loneliness she felt.
A silent struggle
Shonda’s symptoms began at the age of 14. Within a few years, she was finding blood in her stool every few weeks. Scared and confused, she wasn’t sure how to tell anyone; so she didn’t. Shonda suffered in silence for years—embarrassed, afraid, and hiding her symptoms and associated mental health struggles.
When Shonda became pregnant at the age of 23, she found that her symptoms were less noticeable. But after the birth of her daughter, that changed. In addition to bleeding, Shonda began experiencing severe stomach pain. She decided it was time to seek help, for her and her daughter’s sake.
Shonda’s doctor referred her to a gastroenterologist who diagnosed her with ulcerative colitis (UC). Still scared about how her illness might affect her and her daughter, but determined not to let UC rule her life, Shonda shared little with those around her and pushed forward.
I wish I would have known that I wasn’t the only person in the world battling IBD.
Stronger, together
After some time, the prescribed medications Shonda was using to manage her UC were no longer helping as well as they had. Working with her gastroenterologist, they adjusted Shonda’s treatment plan. But new symptoms eventually emerged; she was losing hair and having challenges with her eyesight. Shortly after, she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease.
Initially, Shonda was in denial. But with the support of her healthcare team, family, and friends who were also living with Crohn’s, she achieved remission. And Shonda is doing all she can to stay there as long as possible—from meditation and mindfulness to closely monitoring her health and staying on treatment.
Shonda now speaks about the importance of connection to loved ones, a positive mindset, and a good relationship with your healthcare team. She’s also an advocate for self-advocacy and started her own apparel line with inspirational and motivational themes.
I remember thinking to myself, I want to make a change in the world. I never knew what that change would be until now.
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IBD Glossary
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