TESTIMONIAL: Chloe’s Journey to Ulcerative Colitis, Steroids, Biologics and Back

I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in 2022, which came as a huge shock. I had no idea about the battle I was to face ahead, managing my condition and trying multiple different treatments provided by the NHS to help my symptoms.

Unfortunately, during this treatment I had multiple colitis flares, and extensive progression with my IBD, especially after the birth of my daughter. I had trialled, courses of Oral Steroids, Mesalazine, Azathioprine and then combined with steroid suppositories, all of which didn’t help. My symptoms worsened, and in the space of 18 months, I had 2 hospital admissions for severe acute flares, 1 admission for pancreatitis (caused by Azathioprine), side effects from the steroids, IV pain relief & anti-emetics.

I was told on my last Medical admission, that unfortunately this is the nature of the disease and one day I will most likely become that poorly, I would need bowel surgery for a colostomy. Therefore, I decided to try Biologics, a popular and often last resort medication choice for IBD symptom management. I received regular IV infusions of Infliximab and again, this medication doesn’t come without its side effects and unfortunately, it wasn’t clear how much the infusions were helping.

After experiencing, constant fatigue, bloody diarrhoea, urgency, abdominal discomfort and disturbed sleep due to bowel movements, I lost all hope. Most importantly felt robbed of my motherhood whilst trying to battle this cruel disease. I spent more time trying to manage my disease, than I did looking after my baby.

I started to research ulcerative colitis further, looking for other options and I discovered the functional health approach. I worked with Jack for around 12 months. He took an extensive history and we started the work from there. We ran a multitude of tests and started to identify the factors and results which were likely affecting and worsening my colitis. And even factors which could have been an initial cause.

Before we started the work, Jack made it clear that this wouldn’t be an overnight fix and it required consistency and effort. I was surprised at how many aspects of my life, if not all, we discussed. From food, to triggers, medication, environmental factors, relationships, stress chemistry, supplements, sleep etc, the list could go on. I never realised that all the above could be influencing my disease.

I made the choice, to stop my Biologics, and was able to smoothly come off this medication with Jack’s remit being to support the functional health side of things. We identified certain triggers over the last 12 months, the small flares within this time became shorter, faster to overcome and I was able to resolve these without the need for a course of steroids, which had never happened before.I finally felt like I was healing my gut. Making progress without the need to just manage it and with no medication required.

My inflammation markers, continued to reduce over the 12 months. I am now in a position, where I no longer suffer from my symptoms of 18 months ago. The extensive tests Jack ran, reflect the huge improvement in my gut health. The knowledge gained is invaluable. I will forever be grateful, for the help Jack has provided me over the last 12 months. I would recommend functional health to anyone struggling with their own health, as it has truly changed mine.

Thank you Jack