I was diagnosed in 2009 with Crohn's disease of the terminal ileum,

for the first couple of years 2009 - 2011 I was Hospitalised twice when I had a flare up and treated with Steroid tablets and also a full liquid diet.

2012 - 2015 I was symptom free of Crohn's and continued to enjoy and get on with my life whilst this was the case.

2015 I took a turn for the worst I lost over 4 stone and was down to just under 8 stone in weight, I was unable to keep any food I eat down, they tried me on all different treatments and I did not respond to any treatment, so I then begun numerous test to which they found I had Fistulas ( Small channels off leaks on your bowel attaching to other organs in your body) and told me I would need surgery sooner rather than later, I was then told on the Monday that the following Tuesday I was going to be admitted into hospital for 10 days to be giving a full liquid diet injected into my vein as I was not currently well enough to fight the recovery after the operation during the 10 days I gained just over 5 pounds which they said was still not ideal but they were going to go ahead with it anyway. I then had the operation 7 hours long and i woke up with a colostomy bag and was told It was possibly one of the worst cases the surgeon had seen.

He said if I would of waited a couple of weeks more the consequences may have being fatal. 48 hours after the operation things started to take a turn for the worst I woke up 6 am to a bed full of blood I nearly collapsed in shock the surgeon was sent for and I had my vital signs checked it had came clear that there was a slight bleed and I had lost a considerable amount of blood and would need a blood transfusion, I then had an increased resting  heart rate of over 140 beats per minute  and was monitored on an ECG.

My bloods were tested everyday and I was then told I had developed a post op infection if things could not get any worse they just have.

then 2 weeks later things started to get better and I started to get my strength back. I was in hospital for just over 4 weeks recovering and of course getting used to my Colostomy bag.

after 6 months and numerous checkups  I was told that the bowel was looking very good and the operation was successful and I would soon be able to have a reversal and have full function of my bowel again.

I am now 100% back to doing everything including my Refereeing which I was out for just on 8 months.

to date I have been in remission and no longer have the colostomy bag.

I look back on the first 72hours of the operation which at one point I thought was the last 72 hours.

Thanks