A YOUNG Wrexham woman has opened up about the "hidden" disease she suffers with.
Catilin Jones, from Garden Village, is looking to raise awareness of Crohn’s Disease - which she has suffered with since childhood.
The 22-year-old said she had been "back and to" to the doctors since the age of 11, but wasn't diagnosed until she was 18.
"I was told it was everything but Crohn’s and it was never looked into," she said.
"Eventually we went private and I got diagnosed at 18, but still to this day we haven’t found any medication that has controlled it."
It led to her recently having major surgery to remove part of her large and small intestine.
Crohn's is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes chronic inflammation of the GI tract. It can be a very debilitating disease, causing diarrhea, fever, fatigue, severe abdominal pain and cramping, bloody stool, mouth sores, reduced appetite and weight loss.
MORE NEWS:
- "Ashamed" woman fined for abusive behaviour outside city centre pub
- Person asked homeowners about missing dog before forcing their way in, police say
"I get extreme abdominal pain, loss of appetite because I always feel sick, weight loss, constant urgency to rush to the toilet and fatigue," Caitlin said.
"If I didn’t ignore so many of my symptoms and pushed for this to be checked earlier, I could’ve lived the past few years in a lot less pain and wouldn’t have needed surgery," Caitlin said.
"However, I also class myself as very lucky to be in this position, as it could be much worse, and also I have the best support system around me."
She added: "Crohn’s and colitis is a disability that can’t be seen but felt, so I’m hoping this will urge others to not ignore the signs and get it early.
"There are many signs to look out for, such as diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain, fatigue and so on.
"Crohn’s and colitis will affect everyone in different ways, some may not experience some signs/symptoms.
"I would recommend everyone looking at the Crohn’s and Colitis UK website, they list all symptoms and signs, even offer a survey for you to take, and at the end will tell you what your next steps should be.
"If you are living with these issues, get answers and don’t stop until they’re fixed."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here