My Journey

My battle with severe Crohns disease, depression and anxiety. You will always find me with my head in a book and a cup of tea in my hand.

[izzyreadswithibd]

College

I cant believe this college year is coming to an end. 

I started college in September 2015 after being home schooled from year 9 onwards due to my health. I started my level 2 health and social care course and loved it, even though it was absolutely terrifying going into such a big place and not knowing a single person, i enjoyed being back in a routine and coming home at the end of the day feeling like id accomplished something. But only 10 weeks into the course i suddenly went into a big Crohn’s flare up and i ended up in hospital and was told that i needed surgery to form a temporary ileostomy. 

This hit me so hard, i felt like all the effort i put in was a waste and i felt completely knocked down and defeated. I tried desperately hard to keep up with al the work at home but my tutor was useless and she wouldn’t send me any of the work, after a while i knew it wasn’t going to work and i had to focus on my health and get ready for a big operation.

After waiting 3 months to see the surgeon, somehow my gut had completely turned around and looked the best it had ever done in all my 9 years with Crohn’s, i think this is when my mental health started going downhill, again, i felt like id wasted so many sleepless night and cried so many tears for nothing. 

But once September rolled around i decided i was going to try one more time, i enrolled in level 2 health and social care again and i got the most incredible tutor. Right from the start she supported and encouraged me, i managed to get in almost everyday for about 6 months but then i felt like i hit another brick wall. This is when my anxiety and depression peaked and i couldn't bring myself to go into college. I carried on all the work at home and got A*’s in every single assignment despite missing so much. I know for sure that if it wasn't for my tutor, i would of given up and i wouldn't of managed to keep up at home, i’m so thankful for all her help.

I feel a bit bittersweet knowing that i’m finished. I havn’t decided what i want to do next year, i think i might go for something completely different.

Overall this college year was amazing, i met amazing people, went on amazing trips and had amazing support from everyone 💖

[wordsnquotes]

Nothing can compare to books and writing while it’s raining.

C.S. Lewis (via wordsnquotes)

[izzyreadswithibd]

My Bookshelf

My bookshelf is my prized possession, not sure if you can really say that about a bookshelf 😂  I have always had a love for reading and collecting books, whenever i went to the supermarket with my dad he would treat me too a new book. I feel like my bookshelf represents me as a person, its bright and bubbly, this isn’t my only bookshelf, i have one along the length of my ceiling but its not as pretty. I will always take pride in my bookshelf 💖

[typedbookquotes]

[izzyreadswithibd]

“She reads books as one would breath air, to fill up and LIVE.” 💖

[bookmania]

What a blessing it is to love books. Everybody must love something, and I know of no objects of love that give such substantial and unfailing returns as books and a garden.

Elizabeth von Arnim (via bookmania)

[penship]

ID #77891

Name: Melani Age: 14/15 Country: Belgium Hello, I’m Melani. i live in belgium (with turkish roots). i love reading and drawing even tho im not that good at it. i started skating recently (suck at that too). i like to talk about deep stuff :) Preferences: i dont really have any preferences 😇

[izzyreadswithibd]

Id love to become your pen pal! i’m 18 and i’m from the united kingdom, i also love reading! i’m always reading, i’m not that great at drawing but i love to colour! 📚

[izzyreadswithibd]

Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.

Mason Cooley 

[izzyreadswithibd]

“Fighting Inflammatory Bowel Disease Together.” 💜

[izzyreadswithibd]

Where do i begin?

Ive wanted to start a blog to document my struggle with Crohn’s Disease and mental health, and i figured here would be a good place to start.

 My name is Izzy and i’m 18 years old. When i was 9 years old i was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis but it later changed to Crohn’s Disease. Ive escaped emergency surgery 3 times now and a few years ago i was given 24 hours to live after developing toxic mega colon, my organs were shutting down and no one knew if i would pull through, somehow i did. Crohn’s has definitely shaped the person that i am today, i couldn't imagine living without it now, its become my ‘normal’. 

Im just about to finish my second year at college, i had to leave my first year after 3 months because i started a big flare up. I would love to be a paediatric nurse someday, i want to give to other children what i had when i was incredibly sick. My family are my whole entire world, were a very small, close knit family but actually i think that makes us even closer. My nephews and niece mean more to me than i could ever describe. Watching their little personalities grow and develop is such an amazing thing to watch. 

My biggest hobby is reading, since the day i could read i have loved books, for me reading is like escaping from reality, i don’t leave the house much because since being poorly I've lost contact with all my friends and my anxiety has become very bad. I get paranoid about people looking at me or people walking towards me, i also have something called Chronic fatigue Syndrome so i’m often too exhausted to leave the house.  When i read i feel like i’m out and exploring, you can travel all around the world whilst staying in the comfort of your own home, and that i think is magical. 

I really hope this is a place that i can connect with others and share a little bit of my story, as well as share my love for books!

My bookstagram account is @izzyreads

Izzy 💜