Four years ago, 29-year-old Iris Verheijen from Rotterdam was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestine. That causes hellish stomachaches and a social life limited to a minimum. She has now learned to deal with it and gives an impressive glimpse into her life on Tiktok. “I want to show others the impact of this disease and make sure that going to the toilet becomes a topic of discussion.”
Iris has been suffering from severe abdominal pain and intestinal complaints for almost seven years. “I was turned away by five hospitals and was initially diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. But I just knew that this was not the right stamp. ” Iris eventually ended up with a doctor who wanted to examine her further and it was not until 2019 that she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease.
About Crohn’s Disease:
In the Netherlands there are approx 40,000 people with Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory disease of the bowel. In most patients with Crohn’s disease, the small intestine, large intestine, and/or rectum inflamed, but there can also be inflammation in the rest of the digestive tract (from ‘mouth to ass’). The inflammation can spread slowly and cause scar tissue in the intestinal wall. Complaints are mostly abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, diarrhoea lasting more than four weeks, general malaise and tiredness.
toilet fear
“People are often mistaken about the pain and say that everyone has a stomach ache from time to time. But the attacks I have sometimes feel like contractions.” The extreme complaints therefore have a huge impact on her life. “You are going to avoid certain things to prevent yourself from ending up in unpleasant situations. I’m afraid to go somewhere and then I have to go to the toilet. Which may not be possible, such as in public places. As a result, I have no social life, can’t go on vacation or simply do fun things. Not everyone understands that.”
In order to still be able to live somewhat ‘normally’, Iris has purchased a small portable toilet to take with her in the car. “That way I can still go on the road and if I really have to I can sit on the roadside for a while. You do get creative with all those obstacles.” There is also a toilet pass for people who ‘can’t hold it for a while’ and can’t stand in line at a public toilet. “But it is still difficult.”
I couldn’t be the only one who was in so much pain, could I?
Fellow sufferers on TikTok
Once Iris knew what she had, she started looking for tips. “I couldn’t find anything myself, while it is a common disease. I couldn’t be the only one who was in so much pain, could I?” That’s why she decided to get a TikTok account to find fellow sufferers and help others. “In the beginning I had to figure out everything myself and that was terrible. I hoped that with my videos I could make it a little easier for others and that I could also share things with people who really understand.”
Listen to body
That wish came true. Iris receives a lot of questions, positive comments and tips in the comments below her videos. “There is now even a group app with more than a hundred participants, in which we can share things and support each other.” With her videos, she mainly wants to tell fellow sufferers that they should follow their feelings. ,, Don’t let yourself be sent away and listen to your body. You are not alone and you are more than just the disease.”
There is also a lot of misunderstanding and a great taboo surrounding the disease and its associated symptoms. “Everyone poops and pees, but it still remains a strange subject. Let’s talk about it and try to understand each other.”
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