What happened: My symptoms (losing blood, rushing to the toilet, pain and rapid weight loss) started in March 2016. After a misdiagnosis and time spent in hospital after I collapsed at home, it was confirmed I had severe ulcerative colitis. I was given hydrocortisone through an IV drip along with other drugs to help me recover. After being discharged and no real solution found I was moved onto the strongest drug they could give me. This is called ‘Humira’ which I would inject into myself every 2 weeks, this would then be changed to weekly to see if there could be any further improvement. Unfortunately, there wasn’t.

Why write a blog? September 12^th 2016 saw me readmitted to hospital and within 3 days I was preparing myself for surgery. After I was told surgery was needed I went into panic mode! Do I have to have it? What is a stoma bag? Will my wife still find me attractive? Can I ride my bike? Can I still teach? Thankfully, after a quick look at what a stoma bag was, I found some blogs on my phone. First of all ‘the cycling stoma’ (http://thecyclingstoma.blogspot.co.uk/) made me realise that cycling was possible. She led me to the ‘Gutless Cyclist’ (http://gutlesscyclist.blogspot.co.uk/) in America, this led me to believe that I could train, ride and race pedal cars again (www.pedalcarracing.info) when I had recovered. Having a stoma bag was not going to be the end of my life, it was going to give me my life back. On September 27^th 2016, I underwent surgery to have my large intestine entirely removed. This means that the ulcerative colitis will never return, however I am left with a new ‘normal’.