Overview

• She first noticed blood in her stool at age 16 but avoided colonoscopy referrals for a decade because she was terrified of hospital procedures.
• Periods of remission led her to downplay returning symptoms until, at 26, a severe flare-up and low blood levels forced urgent blood tests.
• During filming she was rushed to A&E after tests showed critically low blood counts, which triggered her formal diagnosis and initial treatment.
• On the podcast, she described how fear delayed her seeking help and said she hopes her story will reduce stigma around invasive diagnostic tests.
• Ulcerative colitis affects more than 300,000 people in the UK and is managed through medications like corticosteroids or immunosuppressants, with surgery as an option for severe cases.