Poo! There, I said it!

It’s a word most people avoid, along with anything gut issues (God I hate that word ‘GUT’. I will call them Tummy issues, sounds nicer) anyway. For some reason, stomach issues and tummy health are topics we’re all taught to whisper about. But staying quiet doesn’t make living with digestive conditions any easier. I’m speaking up as I want to spread awareness about my diagnosis and how I got here. Hopefully, raise money for more research! As to put it bluntly not many Drs know f*** all about it.

I want to tell my story, It all started in 1991, Joking.

I have always had ’tummy’ issues, I had to be careful what I ate, some foods didn’t agree with me, I would have multiple ‘toilet’ visits (Insert poo emoji here) I was diagnosed with the umbrella term ‘IBS’ in around 2017. I just lived with it, however I thought it ruled my life then, how I was wrong.

Back in 2022, I was having severe bloating and pain, my doctor sent me to a USS of the abdomen, they checked my liver, stomach, biliary system you name it. My results, Gassy abdomen (No shit sherlock I was constantly bloated) and was told I had no alcoholic fatty liver. One of my blood test results were very high and they just left it.

Fast forward to February 2024, i will put this in a nice way, I had poops constantly for 6weeks! Stool test after stool test, bloods etc Dr’s said there nothing wrong with you, let it run its course.

June 2024 everything I ate gave me severe stomach cramps; this would last hours. I would still be having the toilet dashes. I was nauseous most of the time (having emetophobia this wasn’t the best time) The pain in my stomach was constant. I had no choice but to go to see a doctor, Diagnosis ‘HEARTBURN’ I say this in capitals as I know what heart burn is and this wasn’t it!. 6 times SIX times I went back and forth to the GP and each time they said it was heartburn take these pills and come back in a few weeks if your not better. People who know will know this is true my exact words to this said doctor ‘I’m sorry but since when does heartburn give you diarrhea for weeks, severe pain and nausea, no appetite, laying in the foetal position in that much pain I was crying. this is not heartburn. His reply ‘These pills will work’ I left that DR room with no help. Spoiler alert...They didnt help.

One night I was in that much pain I couldn’t move I had to call 111! They emailed my DR, I called my GP the next day and, in their words, ‘Well because you rang 111 we have to do something I will send you for a USS’ Geeze thanks doc. Another fight as that was 6-8 weeks away, so another fight I managed to get a app in 2weeks. At this point I was popping ‘Codine Phosphate’ medication like they were skittles! I’d need a drug referral next.

The USS was done, next day I had my results, Gallstones! Funny heart burn aye! Stuck in the neck of the gallbladder, 2 weeks later I was in a private hospital for removal. 07/10/2024 was the day this organ was evicted. Turns out it was that scarred it had moulded itself to my colon and the bottom part of my stomach.

Fast forward again to November 2024 ALL my symptoms came back. Between November 2024 and December 2025, I went through…

- Around 20-30 blood tests

- Stool Samples

- Urine Samples

- USS on my operation sites (Biliary system)

- Small bowel MRI

- Biliary system MRI

- Abdominal X-Ray

- Sigmoidoscopy (For people who aren’t aware this is a camera up your bum up until the sigmoid colon)

- Gastroscopy (Camera down throat, to the bottom part of your stomach)

- Colonoscopy (Camera that visits the whole part of your colon)

This brings us up to January 2026 when I got my diagnosis of, BAM, Bile Acid Malabsorption. Dr’s don’t know much about it, It was recognised in around 1960’s so fairly new. For those of you who have never heard of it, I wish you don’t hear about it or get it. The only way I can described it easily, is its like chrones as everyone knows what that is, but without the huge amount of inflammation.

Science lesson: Bile is produced by the liver and is sent to the gallbladder; the gallbladder concentrates this and when you eat your gallbladder squirts some bile out to help digest fat. It is then sent back to the liver via the ilium to be processed and then sent to the gallbladder.

In a body like mine: Bile is made by the liver and constantly drips into the small intestines, the ilium fails to reabsorb the bile so it goes into the colon, This is were your colon thinks it’s an intruder and rushed water and electrolytes into your colon and well, causes the poop. However, this condition is not just diarrhea, I can tell you. Its bloating, pain, nausea, loss of appetite, fear of food, fear of every stomach gurgle or bubble.

Between October 2023 and July 2024 I lost 3 stone!

This condition has been diagnosed and I’ve been left to fend for myself. I have tried to commit suicide twice since 2024. I have cried until I have no tears left. I have shut myself away. I have distanced myself form friends and family. It has ruined my life.

I am still in a fight with my GP as the side effects of BAM and my medication can cause other issues. GP are refusing to test me. I am in a constant battle with my mind and body. I am in therapy and counselling, I have an amazing lady I go to who works with hypnotherapy, EFT, EMDR etc She has saved my mind from a lot.

I am not afraid to share this story, I want people to feel safe in their bodies and fight for your health, even when they refuse to see you. I could have died due to gallstones, people don’t realise how severe they can be. I’ve had a miscarriage at home with no medication and gallstones tops that pain!

Day to day life can be a battle sometimes, I now have a fear of food, but I am working through it.

Living with a invisible condition-and fighting to be heard takes a massive toll. I am sharing my story as no one should ever suffer in silence. or be ashamed of poo or ever be ashamed of wanting to end your life. There is help out there, you've just got to find it.

If you can donate even a price of a coffee or in my case a toilet roll! It would mean the world to me. Thank you for reading my story to the end and i hope i have not bored you!

Want to join me in making a difference? I’m raising money to benefit Guts UK Charity, and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

More information about Guts UK Charity: Guts UK Charity is the only national charity fighting all the diseases that affect the gut, liver and pancreas. Collectively these are known as digestive diseases. Guts UK supports research that leads to cures, better treatment and earlier diagnosis; we provide information to patients to enable them to take control of their condition; and we raise awareness so that nobody suffers needlessly from digestive disease.