Student, 20, thought she had fresher's flu - until she noticed worrying symptom
A student who thought she was suffering from the flu turned out to have a serious health condition - with life-threatening complications.
Erin Griffiths, from Kent, ended up "confined" to her house shortly after moving into the shared accommodation at the start of her second year at Sheffield University. She noticed a change in her appetite and a constant feeling of fatigue during her first week, but brushed it off as fresher's flu. However, when she noticed blood in her stool, she feared it could be more serious. The 20-year-old was eventually diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
Before her diagnosis, she turned to Google for answers, a decision she now admits was a mistake as it only made her more panicked about what could be wrong.
Erin's parents had to support her 'remotely' (Erin Griffith)Describing her ordeal, she said: "I almost felt like I had food poisoning that just wouldn't go away. I soon got to the point where I was pretty much confined to my house for fear of getting 'caught short' in public because I just had no idea when I would need to go to the toilet. I virtually stopped eating and that probably made me feel even worse."
Several doctor's appointments later and stress, constipation, birth control side effects, and piles had all been mentioned as possible causes, reports Wales Online. Erin still had no real answers, and she was becoming more and more unwell. "It wasn't until a doctor at the health service sent me for a blood test that things started to fall a bit into place," she said. The doctor even called Erin in her own time, expressing concern over her symptoms and advising her to visit A&E if there was no improvement within 24 hours.
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Following the advice, Erin found herself in A&E the very next day. She recalled: "I had been flaring for about three weeks at this point. I wasn't eating or drinking and was the most ill I have ever been." After an agonising eight-hour wait, Erin was admitted to hospital where she underwent further tests, including a colonoscopy. Eventually, she was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. The condition can lead to more severe symptoms such as a perforated colon, bone loss and inflammation of joints and eyes. Over half a million people in the UK live with IBS, primarily manifesting as Colitis or Crohn's Disease. These lifelong conditions currently have no cure, but treatments such as medication and surgery can help manage the symptoms.
Reflecting on her diagnosis, Erin said: "Finding out I had colitis was almost bittersweet. I realised this was something that wasn't going to pass. But after a month of trying to diagnose myself on the internet, I just felt so relieved, which is almost strange after being told you've got a chronic illness. I was also really glad it was treatable. I had answers and I could begin trying to manage the condition, instead of being confined to my bed, struggling to eat, drink and do the most basic of tasks."
Erin credits her support network with helping her come to terms with her new diagnosis, saying: "I was surrounded by my friends who had visited me in hospital, as well as my family who dropped everything to come and be by my side."
Sarah Sleet, the Chief Executive of Crohn's and Colitis UK, weighed in on the matter, stating: "It can be really hard to know how best to support someone who's living with Crohn's or Colitis. The good news is that, as Erin's story shows, there are lots of things you can do to help."
Sleet emphasised that grand gestures aren't necessary when supporting someone with these conditions. "You don't have to come up with grand gestures or always know exactly what to say. It could be something as simple as making them a cup of tea, filling a hot water bottle or offering a lift to a medical appointment. Everyone's experience of Crohn's and Colitis is different, but you're not alone. Crohn's and Colitis UK has many resources to support those living with the conditions, and those closest to them."
For more information about Crohn's and Colitis, visit here.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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