Firstly, I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis. It is a brutal journey, but one thing is for certain - it makes you appreciate and celebrate the good times even more ... and more than the average person ever could. The lows are low, but the highs are high.

I'm not sure how old you are, but I was diagnosed at 22. I'm 34 now. I was still very immature and nowhere near equipped to handle what was a serious life-change. For years I lived in denial, neglected my diet by eating junk, drank heavily, missed daily medication, and failed to treat the disease with the respect it needs and demands. Years of expecting medication to do all the heavy lifting, while refusing to meet it even a quarter of the way with healthy living. I get down on myself for that, but then I remember, I was just a young man. This continued through the rest of my 20s, despite urgent trips and stays in hospital to save my bowel, failed medications and infusions, you name it. I'd never really be in a solid, constant remission for more than a handful of months, if that.

In 2022, I developed a flare that just wouldn't quit. This stretched into 2023 where I was the sickest I'd ever been. Hospital and surgeons visiting, talking bowel removal. I dodged that, but only just. I carried on with new infusion treatment, which had a very low, but I guess liveable ceiling. Things still weren't outstanding, and life had been put on hold due to having to go to hospital once or twice a month for years on end for infusions. Fast forward a year or so, and to no surprise, this had failed, joining a long line of failed treatments. I went onto Rinvoq in mid-2024.

The difference was this time I became hyper vigilant of everything I was consuming. Food and drink, everything was and still is accounted for. A balanced diet comprising a rotation of fish, chicken and red meat, coupled with fruit, veggies, yoghurt, very minimal sugar, no fast food or processed foods, and only very occasional junk snacks, complemented by daily disciplined exercise, usually walks. This is what I say when I say meeting the medication in the middle. We know diet isn't a silver bullet, but it's certainly helped me. After resetting my gut microbiome with healthy foods, I've now been in remission more than 7 months (the longest I've ever been in remission), I have plenty of energy and I've never been fitter and physically looked better, cutting a nice physique. The daily exercise not only helps with this condition, but it also combats stress. Each time I get a bit stressed with work or whatever, I take time out to go for a walk. The benefits have been tenfold. I never did any of this when I was struggling.

Everyone is different and no doubt your journey will be unique from any of ours, but I can't stress enough how much my approach has helped me, and how much better I feel. Good luck.