Hello my name is Leanne, thank you for stopping by to read my story.
In the blink of an eye I was informed I have Crohn’s Disease and woke up from emergency surgery to a body I sure as hell do not recognise.
This blog is for me to document my ups and downs, for family and friends to understand what I am going though and to make new friends who may understand my situation or my just be sympathetic to it.
Regardless of why you are here, I am glad you are, I have been inundated with support from family and friends and would love to share that with you.
My Latest Posts
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- Navigating A&E with a Chronic IllnessWhen you have a chronic illness like Crohn’s disease, you get to know your body in a different way. You learn to read the subtle signals and recognize when something… Read more: Navigating A&E with a Chronic Illness
- Dear me … from me.How incredible would it be to send a letter to your past self?! The shortest of messages that just says – it will be ok. A year ago today, I… Read more: Dear me … from me.
- AutopilotIt’s funny how quickly you can find yourself in a pattern or a routine. Normal happens without much thought or planning. You blink and that’s it. My normal has changed… Read more: Autopilot
- Infliximab Round 1 – Here goes 🥳Infliximab | Round 1 – Here we go! ✊
- More good days than bad 🧡Finally more good days than bad!
- ‘Not my circus, not my monkeys’ just makes you a clown 🙈Imagine going to a coffee shop and being unable to physically get through the door …
- Goodbye 2022 and Looking forward to 2023Saying goodbye to 2022 – a rough ride of a year but funnily enough, not all bad. Lessons have been learnt and changes made for the better!
- I feel a bit … normal …For the first time in 6 months, today I have felt a bit normal! Background – Friday I saw my old hospital cell mate Liz (Hi Liz!) during a hospital… Read more: I feel a bit … normal …
- I’m dreaming of a Crohn’s free Christmas… just like the ones I used to know! 🎄 Today we realise the obvious. I have no control over what happens next! This week I have been told I… Read more: I’m dreaming of a Crohn’s free Christmas
- Tired and Dramatic …My problem is that my brain is fine, it’s just my body that is not always cooperating.
- What a difference a week makes …… so far the world made me shave my head, get a tattoo and now dye my hair pink … I think I just need to buy a camper van and that will be my transformation complete! 🎉
- This ain’t no Fairytale …This ain’t no Cinderella Fairytale … Mental Health struggles will not disappear at midnight alongside the strike of 00:00 on a clock. #WorldMentalHealthAwarenessDay2022 can only mean something today on Monday 10th October 2022 if it also means something on 11th, 12th, 13th and every other day, of every other month … otherwise it means nothing.
- Good times ahead!This is a once in a life time opportunity. I would never have CHOSEN to cut my hair short, let alone this short! But this is where we are so we might as well have some fun! and now it’s done 🥰 … and I actually kind of love it!
- Because I can, can, can 💃Going from I can’t to I can’t ‘yet’ has been so powerful!
- I am not ok – but I will beIf you know me, you know that I am not ok. If you ask me, I will smile and be positive and say all the right things. But I am… Read more: I am not ok – but I will be
- How are we doing?Asking for help should be encouraged and welcomed for those who need it … why is it proving so hard?
- Weekend Vibes 😎Checking back in after a few days back at the world of work … I’m so pleased to be back! (Such a Weirdo!😂) Genuinely though, having the routine set, get… Read more: Weekend Vibes 😎
- Heading back to the real world … ishHeading back out into the real world … well a baby step at least.
- Waiting for a life on the outsideAs I wait *patiently* for my new normal to begin, it feels like the world is on fast forward around me. I am sitting still in a world of weddings,… Read more: Waiting for a life on the outside
- Calling on Dr Google and Social Media once more!Please note, yes, I have NHS rage … but my rage is at the current state of the NHS not the NHS itself … If you, like myself are bored… Read more: Calling on Dr Google and Social Media once more!
- Tears and Timelines“Coping with a long-term condition can have a big impact on your mental wellbeing too – research suggests that people living with Crohn’s or Colitis may be twice as likely… Read more: Tears and Timelines
- Update: 15th AugustThursday Nurses Nurse Nurses … First nurse of the day is Monica the Stoma nurse. Where I used to see Lisa and Nav in the hospital, Monica and Debbie will… Read more: Update: 15th August
- Update – 11th August ☀️Monday I was so bored … no one came round, nothing to do, I potter from seat to seat trying to find somewhere to comfortably wait until …something. I go… Read more: Update – 11th August ☀️
- Insta vs RealityTo counteract the poor sleep caused by EVERYTHiNG, I have decided to try and take control. At the moment I am living between two Options – I fall asleep and… Read more: Insta vs Reality
- Tantrums to Sunflowers 🌻This morning was tough. Mornings are generally slow. Issue is, when I sleep, if I stay in the same position for too long, my back muscles seize up and I… Read more: Tantrums to Sunflowers 🌻
- In the darkest places, you will find the brightest lights ⭐️ A Bear named ButtonyImagine being 4 years old and waking up as I did? Waking up in Pain, surgery, pain, stoma bag, do’s and don’ts … and your only little, you don’t understand.… Read more: In the darkest places, you will find the brightest lights ⭐️ A Bear named Buttony
- Dr Google will see you now … no one else will 🥸I have been patient but is anyone actually going to tell me what Crohn’s is or is Dr Google and Professor Instagram the way forward? I am irritated. Actually, no… Read more: Dr Google will see you now … no one else will 🥸
- Happy New Hair DayRubbish nights sleep blah blah … found my comfy spot about 6am blah blah slept until about 10:00am… but nobody cares about that, it’s new hair day!!! 🥳✂️💆♀️ Pain killers,… Read more: Happy New Hair Day
- Adapting to Home 🏡 Day 2 = grumpy (mostly)Day 2 – Thursday I could not get comfortable and had a very disrupted nights sleep… ☹️ … Which did lead to grumpy Leanne this morning! Sorry Lana, Sorry Mother.… Read more: Adapting to Home 🏡 Day 2 = grumpy (mostly)
- Adapting to Home 🏡 Day 1 = HappyDay 1 – Wednesday … A bloody good nights sleep! No beeps, no lights, no blood pressures, no screaming, nobody trying to find ‘the front door’ 🥰 Morning Boring 🥰… Read more: Adapting to Home 🏡 Day 1 = Happy
- Can I go home now? Spoiler – I am home now 🥳Updated throughout the day of discharge … Tuesday 26th July ~ 6 weeks and 6 days after admission 05:09am Just got up went to the toilet … too early …… Read more: Can I go home now? Spoiler – I am home now 🥳
- The road to home … and a tour of my new but temporary stomach landscape.4 out of 5 of the teams looking at after me gave me the green light to go home last week. Doctors – bloods and obs are good, have been… Read more: The road to home … and a tour of my new but temporary stomach landscape.
- My Mental HealthAfter Wednesday nights shock horror of the hair situ ‘Hair today, gone tomorrow’, I have added an image for anyone who was not aware of the fabulous hair vibes delivered… Read more: My Mental Health
- Let it go, let it gooooooooChange the headline 👆 Literally that is what the template says and it is correct. Let’s change the focus up. I am was so upset on Wednesday and I own… Read more: Let it go, let it goooooooo
- Hair today gone tomorrowAuntie Lorraine and Mum came for a visit 🥰 Lorraine is just back from holiday and is all tanned and fabulous! I did ask Mum to help me do this… Read more: Hair today gone tomorrow
- Bored nowToday I have been bored. Oh so very bored. I woke up … no I didn’t, I was awake all night. *Vera the Vac was playing up and calling out… Read more: Bored now
- Just a bit sadThe sadness, the tears, the emotions do not come at set times. There is no schedule. I can feel fine all day and it might catch me in the evening… Read more: Just a bit sad
- Thank you – The power of your kindnessI have been absolutely overwhelmed with the kindness that I have received since being in the hospital. Each and every person who has messaged me, called me, visited me, sent… Read more: Thank you – The power of your kindness
- It’s always darkest before the dawnI am an emotional person and very empathetic. You will see me shed a tear or two at most things 😂 happy or sad or ‘Look how happy she is’… Read more: It’s always darkest before the dawn
- A bad night brings a good day 🥰After a terrible night last night, a good day began. I awoke in pain (not the great bit) which is not unusual. The key to a good or bad day… Read more: A bad night brings a good day 🥰
- At what cost …A 06:00 post is never going to be good really is it. Laying here staring at the ceiling, having spent all night fighting for the painkillers I am prescribed, at… Read more: At what cost …
- Know you are lovedTaken at Mudeford Quay, July 2021. I knew this was a special stone and would loved to have brought it home but couldn’t, I imagine it would have meant something… Read more: Know you are loved
- Please can you just hold my handThis is the first post that I am writing in real time. I still have more of my story to add to get us to this point so this will… Read more: Please can you just hold my hand
- Life on the Surgical ward … the new normal – 22nd June 2022Morning comes around, my first back on a real ward since ITU and with it, the madness begins. We Meet the Squad From 8am Breakfast there’s a constant stream of… Read more: Life on the Surgical ward … the new normal – 22nd June 2022
- Emergency, Intensive Care and BeyondI wake groggy and confused, in the weirdest room I have ever been in. There is only one bed that I can see and I feel like I am tied… Read more: Emergency, Intensive Care and Beyond
- The scariest day of my lifeBeing discharged from hospital on the Friday was the happiest I had felt in a long time. 🥰 The Sunday the world changed fast. On the Friday during discharge chat,… Read more: The scariest day of my life
- Finally going home … very briefly 😬Everyday for 10 days the Doctor came round. Everyday for 10 days they talked more and more information at me. Everyday for 10 days they asked if I had any… Read more: Finally going home … very briefly 😬
- Life on the medical ward …I am in past tense still and am going to share my highs and lows of the 10 days I spent on the ‘Medical Ward’ directly after admission. Thursday 9th… Read more: Life on the medical ward …
- Death is everywhere …Each night, alone in the dark surrounded by fear, pain and emptiness, my brain flitted off to two popular locations – 1) Is this it, is this the night that… Read more: Death is everywhere …
- Hospital Admission 🏥 – take one …So after seeing my new hero 🦸♀️ the Urgent GP at the hospital who really saw me and listened to everything I was saying, Mama dearest had her lioness/take no… Read more: Hospital Admission 🏥 – take one …
- How it began – Is anybody listening to me???So going back months, years even, I have had a sensitive stomach … lactose intolerant aka eat pizza at home or with friends and family only 😂 Having a close… Read more: How it began – Is anybody listening to me???
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My unwilling journey with Crohn’s Disease 