Crohn's & Colitis Support Lancashire

30/10/2025

A brilliant meeting last night, thank you to all who attended and the biggest outcome was do not over work yourself, pressure and stress cause a massive burden on our bodies and therefore increases inflammation.

It’s important to know when to take a step back and take time for yourself.

Does your employer understand IBD?

We offer educational talks to local businesses for a better understanding of just how much IBD impacts daily life and how to support employees experiencing a flare or surgery.

Our next meeting will be our Christmas quiz and raffle with pizza on the 26th November 7-9pm and will be our final meeting of the year! Christmas attire welcome 🎅🎄🧑‍🎄

See you there 💜

28/10/2025

A reminder of our monthly meeting tomorrow in Euxton (see events) at 7.15pm 📆

At our last meeting one of our members asked 'what is a flare-up?' - the summary of our experiences below might be helpful 🧠

If you live with Crohn’s or Colitis, a flare-up means your symptoms are back or getting worse. It can last days or months, and might feel different each time.

Signs You Might Be Having One
- More frequent or looser bowel movements
- Blood in your stool
- Tummy pain, fatigue, or feeling generally unwell
- loss of appetite or energy

What Can You Do?
- Speak to your IBD nurse or GP
- Ask for blood and stool tests (like faecal calprotectin)
- Don’t stop your meds; some might need adjusting
- Seek urgent care if symptoms are severe

Top Tips
- Take your meds even when you feel well
- Stay active if you can and rest when needed
- Remember: you know your body best

24/10/2025

Invisible Disabilities Week 🌻

Recently I was invited to speak on the stand as part of my ambassador role for and at the ASCN Congress in Wales.

A fantastic day with people who get it 👌🏻

A huge part of my story is always how from the outside nobody would know what I’ve been through or the daily struggles we face living with an invisible disability and that’s what drives me so much to advocate for us all, to keep educating, to keep standing up to those who question if we do have a disability because we don’t fit the criteria of being in a wheelchair, to keep spreading the message of not every disability is visible and inspiring others 💪

12/10/2025

Liverpool ONE Official Introduces Stoma-Friendly Toilets as Part of Five New Accessibility Initiatives for

“Having access to stoma-friendly toilets can make the difference between someone with a stoma feeling confident to go out and enjoy life or staying at home through fear and anxiety.”

Read more: https://ow.ly/e0HK50X9BVv

10/10/2025

World Mental Health Day 🧠💚

I should be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with an amazing group of women to show what can be achieved with a stoma right now.

After a devastating new diagnosis and losing my Grandma who will always be my number 1 Queen, I was really struggling to lift my head off the pillow in the morning, never mind train to climb a mountain, every little thing felt huge.

After 8 years of building a business and a community organisation, whilst raising a child I realised I had been pouring so much into everything else but myself.

I made a huge decision to pull out of the hike which was major as I have never been a quitter but I knew I had to focus on my mental health as my future felt uncertain.

When you are constantly facing trauma after trauma it’s extremely difficult to focus on yourself, when you put so much pressure on yourself to keep achieving as a distraction.

I do however feel that I have climbed my own metaphorical mountain as after fighting to be under a centre of excellence and not taking no for an answer, I’ve finally been accepted at Liverpool Royal and I have a care plan going forward.

The level of care we receive is paramount to our mental health when dealing with chronic illness and I am proud to be flying the IBD and mental health awareness flag wherever I can 💜

It’s ok to step back when everything feels too much and pour into yourself 💪

04/10/2025

Read our group member Andy's story on World Ostomy Day 💪

I started with Ulcerative Colitis 7yrs ago. The definitive diagnosis was finally given following a second camera examination when I was having a flare at which point the disease was very obvious!

I have experienced all the usual unpleasant Colitis symptoms of savage incessant toileting including heavy blood loss.  After the diagnosis I was given steroids (prednisolone) in varying doses and then numerous different biological medications in an attempt to find a solution.  The steroids did control/lesson symptoms but only with high doses and sadly steroids come with their own issues. I tried every biological medical option which sadly did not work so I was referred to the colorectal surgical legend that is Mr Bhowmick at the Royal Preston.  He informed me that having exhausted the medicines route my only long term option was to have my large bowel removed and use a stoma.

I had the procedure in January 2024 which went well and was discharged in 10 days.  I coped pretty well with stoma but was quite unwell during 2024 which my gastroenterologist  said was a reaction to having been quite unwell for a protracted period with the Colitis and the heavy long term steroid use.

In January 2025 I was ready to put all the Colitis shenanigans behind me and start looking for work etc. Unfortunately for me and apparently very rarely I got a constricted hernia of the actual stoma itself which cut the blood supply resulting in an irrevocably blocked bowel which meant I had the procedure again!  The good news is that because I had not been on steroids for six months my surgical recovery was even swifter second time round and I was discharged  after 7 days.

To conclude Colitis and Crohn's can be very debilitating physically and mentally but even if a person eventually has to have surgery it is a battle that anyone can win and move forward into a happier and more comfortable life.

The support group is a real tonic for me and it's great to have a space where you can meet and share with people who have gone or are going through what you are. It just makes things easier 💜

Join us on Wednesday 29th October 7.15-8.30pm 💜

04/10/2025

World Ostomy Day 2025 💪

It’s been a love hate relationship over the last 11 years living as an ostomate.

Love it because it saved my life, hate it because it’s another full time job I don’t get paid for!

Living with a stoma has taught me so much about life, people, what I’m really capable of and a strength I never knew I had 💪

Here’s to celebrating being alive 🙌

03/10/2025

Wednesday morning breakfast show with 3 linked songs, great tunes including two new entries to the top 10 and am amazing chat with Victoria Danson from Crohns and Colitis Support Lancashire talking about here life with Crohns and the groups she set up to help others.

01/10/2025

A great morning with Sam and Graham at the Radio Leyland studio, sharing my story and raising IBD awareness across the globe 💜

30/09/2025

Tune in to Radio Leyland tomorrow morning at 8.15am, to hear our founder Victoria’s inspiring story ahead of World Ostomy Day 4th October 💜

30/09/2025

27/09/2025

We are looking forward to our canoeing and bushfire event tomorrow morning 10am-12pm at BB2 4DD 🛶

For those booked on please wrap up warm and bring a waterproof coat if you have one 💜

Refreshments included 💜

See you there 💜