Sarah Reilly from Dundalk, who people may recognise as a Gogglebox Ireland TV critic, lives with Crohn’s disease

With World IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) Day coming up on Tuesday May 19, Crohn’s and Colitis Ireland is mounting a new campaign, ‘It Takes A Village’, to highlight the role that we can all play in supporting people with the condition.

Estimated to affect 50,000 people here in Ireland, the charity has developed a new hands-on guide, and is hosting a webinar on May 19.

Sarah, age 31, is married to David and works with AIB Life, and says her three French bulldogs are her life. She was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2017. Sarah said: “At the time, I had pain in my lower right side and attended A&E, where I was initially told it was ‘textbook appendicitis’ but which a scan subsequently found to be an inflamed ileum.

“After my mam and I begged a nurse for some information, we were reluctantly told that they thought it was Crohn’s disease but couldn’t say much else. I had never heard of it before and I was terrified. I wasn’t sure what it meant or how serious it was.

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“Eventually the doctors came and spoke to me. I spent a week in hospital, the whole time of which I had to spend fasting, while waiting for different procedures and tests to happen, before being discharged as an outpatient with a course of steroids.

“I was 22 when I was diagnosed, and I had no real idea what it meant. Initially, the support that I was offered was not great. The most information I received on Crohn’s disease was when my now husband printed out the whole Wikipedia page for me when I came home from hospital.”

For Sarah, the past couple of years have been quite tough: “My Crohn’s disease has been the worst it’s ever been which has been hard to deal with both mentally and physically. I have been referred for a bowel resection now, and I’m hopeful that this will help.

“For me the fear of what’s to come is always in my mind. I definitely struggle with the lack of control I have over the disease. I have worked really hard to try and improve my mental health and something that has helped empower me so much has been running.

“I started running in 2024 after going through a really difficult patch where I was completely consumed by my health. The stress I was under was making my symptoms worse and the symptoms I was having were making my stress worse.

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“I was caught in a cycle. I wasn’t bubbly anymore. I was unable to concentrate and be in the moment with the people I loved. I just wanted to survive rather than live.”

Sarah says it’s really important to let people know how you’re doing, and to accept help: “The impact on mental health that Crohn’s Disease has is huge. It’s important to speak up about how you’re feeling. I think that’s something that I struggled to do.

“I always felt I wasn’t sick enough to complain, that it could be much worse, and that I was fine. So much so, that I bottled everything up until it was too late. It’s hard to explain to everyone in your life what Crohn’s is and how it impacts you. It can be exhausting to even try.

“However, if those around you know and understand, it can really bring a lot of relief to you. I’m so lucky to have the support I have from my husband, friends and family.

“When I was first diagnosed, my husband and I had only been dating a few months. To come to terms with a lifelong disease at 22 and at this stage of a relationship was huge. My husband has always taken it in his stride, but me, not so much! It impacts so many elements of our lives, for instance where you can live as I need access to medication and healthcare. 

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“I’m always aware of the impact my disease has on those around me and it’s only recently I’ve started to accept the help that’s offered. I never wanted to burden anyone and that can be difficult for me and my loved ones to navigate.

“Whether it’s just someone coming along to an appointment to listen in and support, a friend offering to change plans to stay in rather than go out, or a family member picking up your prescription for you, it all really makes a difference.’’

“It Takes a Village to live with IBD. People with IBD simply can’t do it alone,” says Victoria Spillane, Chief Operating Officer, Crohn’s and Colitis Ireland. 

For every person navigating the ups and downs of IBD, a new campaign by Crohn’s and Colitis Ireland aims to highlight the fact that no one person with IBD lives in a vacuum. A new hands-on guide, It Takes a Village, has been published busting myths, advising on language to use, and to avoid, and offering guidance on how to be a great ally.

A major webinar is also taking place on May 19 from 7-8.15pm, featuring contributions from Dr Susan Brannick, a clinical psychologist with expertise in IBD, and clinical director with Aware, and Sarah Reilly.

Both Susan and Sarah will be highlighting the importance of having the support of the “village” when living with IBD, how to go about identifying support networks, and pointing to lots of real-world ways that we can all help.

It promises to be essential viewing for all those who can play a role in supporting people with IBD. To register for the free webinar, visit www.crohnscolitis.ie/ItTakesAVillage