Two years ago I was a (very) healthy 49 year old. I am an ex international athlete, I was riding horses regularly and enjoying hiking the Scottish hills around my new home most weeks. Then I became ill. Very ill. Stomach cramps, nausea, bloating and diarrhoea. Not the usual tummy upset diarrhoea, this was incredibly violent, watery and came without warning between 20 and 30 times a day and at least 5 or 6 times overnight. 

It was debilitating. It got to the point that I couldn't leave the house as I couldn't be more than a few metres from the toilet. I couldn't go out, I couldn't socialise, my diet was extremely limited and I certainly couldn't do any exercise. It started to affect my mental health and self image. I mean, it's not normal for a middle aged woman to shit herself. 

As a registered nurse with 20 years experience I did everything I knew to try and resolve my symptoms. I was living on painkillers and anti diarrhoea meds and stomach cramp meds and anti depressants. I was pretty sure that I knew exactly what was wrong and I told my GP on my first visit - which was 4 months after I first rang to try and make an appointment. It took another 8 months to get a diagnosis of microscopic collagenous colitis and another 2 months after that to see a specialist. 

The specialist treatment, along with a controversial and unrecognised diet plan, finally has me in remission. I will never take the opportunity to get into the hills for granted again.

I'm doing this hike and (over) sharing my very personal and embarrassing story to raise money specifically to speed up the diagnosis for any future sufferers of this disease. I lost more than a year of my life to a disease that is simple to diagnose and has viable treatment options. No one else should.