Man, 26, covered in horror 'chemical' rashes diagnosed with incurable disease

10 October 2023 , 14:52

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Joe Squire has been left struggling financially since his health deteriorated

A man who initially thought he was suffering from food poisoning was left distraught to discover his horror rash was linked to an incurable disease.

Joe Squire, from Salisbury in Wiltshire, says his rash feels like "chemical burns" stinging his face and body, which is caused by a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The 26-year-old was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis last month which causes swelling in the gut and symptoms of inflammation. There is no permanent cure and Joe has been left needing the toilet for up to 30 times a day.

Joe said he dialled 111 after he noticed a “mug’s worth” of blood in his faeces on September 19. He was later handed a high dose of steroids, but shortly after, he began to develop red blotches all over his body.

Joe's face turned blotchy red after taking medication

He said he has become anxious over his condition

Joe does not wish to be a burden on his parents, who already care for his older brother who has cerebral palsy. Speaking about how it all started, he said: “I was fine 10 minutes prior, and you know, felt like I could eat anything in the world. And then 10 minutes later, that first time going to the toilet, that was the start of it all and then came the diagnosis. It definitely came completely out of the blue.” Joe began feeling unwell and having diarrhoea around a year ago, but thought it was just an upset stomach or a case of food poisoning. But it kept coming back and he was eventually diagnosed with colitis, a long-term condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed.

People with IBD experience what is known as “flare-ups” where their symptoms suddenly intensify, which can last anywhere from a few days to several months, according to the charity Crohn’s and Colitis UK. Symptoms can include severe diarrhoea, dehydration, feeling exhausted, bleeding from the anus and rapidly losing weight without trying. Joe’s first flare-up lasted between two and three weeks, during which time he did not leave the house and suffered diarrhoea 10-15 times a day. “I quickly realised that, you know, this wasn’t going away with your typical Imodium tablets,” he said. Describing his most recent flare-up, he said: “When I called 111, they asked how much blood loss did I have, was it enough to fill a mug and the honest answer was yes.“The amount that comes out, without being too graphic, is like someone has just cut you open."

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Joe was given intravenous steroids but then the same day, in a possible reaction to the medication, his skin began burning and he developed red rashes over parts of his body and face. He added: “I explained this to the healthcare professionals that it feels like acid burn. It doesn’t feel like sunburn, it doesn’t feel like any normal condition, it feels almost chemical.” The skin condition, which doctors suspect is linked to Joe’s steroid treatment, has also affected his mental health. “It’s definitely been a really, really hard one for me,” he said. "I couldn’t even open or close my eyes because the skin around my eyelids was so soar and swollen. You shouldn’t care about what other people think but it just puts so much stress on you and anxiety.”

Joe experiences painful flare ups

Joe said the condition is starting to take its toll

Each time Joe has experienced a flare-up, he has lost a significant amount of weight which then takes months to put back on. "I normally sit around about 11 stone three, which I’ve been told is a good Body Mass Index (BMI) and I’m healthy, I keep fit,” said Joe. "At my lowest, when I was in hospital, I was down to around 10 stone six.”

The condition has had a significant impact on his career, having just started a new job and has not finished his probation period. “It is difficult for an employer because every day is in the hands of a higher power,” he said. "I have basically used all of my allocated holiday pay so I basically have no holiday for the rest of the year. Legally obviously I’m not entitled to statutory sick pay, although I’m lucky to have quite a supportive employer and they are looking into this.”

He described the financial impact as "disheartening" and said the change has been an adjustment.“To go from an average salary of say around a couple of thousand pounds a month to nothing is a big shock," he said. Joe and his girlfriend Chloe Patterson, who have been renting their own flat since they were 18, have now moved back in with his parents.

Joe does not want to burden his parents, who care full time for his older brother who has cerebral palsy. “I’d never want to take the lifeblood out of anyone else you know, even though they would love to,” he added. "But I don’t know how going forward for the next two, three, four weeks, how am I going to pay for rent, how am I going to pay for bills, how am I going to pay for prescriptions. I realised, when I was in hospital, at the lowest of low and having genuinely nowhere to go and having no financial support, that I do need help in some way.”

He has since launched a GoFundMe to help him cover his living costs during this difficult time.“I’m very, very thankful for everyone that has helped even a small amount,” he said. It’s been a big relief just for people to even donate the smallest amount, just to know that I’ve got a bit of reassurance, if anything would go wrong.”

Monica Charsley