IT’S WORLD IBD DAY

Good Morning and Welcome to World IBD Day! We were considering having an information point at the hospital today to increase awareness of IBD in general and our support group in particular…. maybe next year!

It’s been a funny old time and I thought it might be useful to take this chance to put some thoughts on paper – the thoughts that we would have had a chance to talk about at our next meeting.

Of course, there have been some truly difficult and frustrating times for all of us. I only hope that you and your families have not suffered and you have all my sympathy if you have.

There have been lighter moments too – how well I now know the Parcel Force, DPD and DHL delivery guys! The dustbin men were a bit surprised when I shouted “Thank You” from my upstairs bedroom window at 0710 last Friday. My hairdresser phoned a fortnight ago: “I saw in the Appointments Book that you would have been in today if we’d been open so I thought I’d phone to see how you are.” “How kind,” I said – and then paused. Should I confess that I’d finally had to take the kitchen scissors to my fringe and these annoying little straggly bits down the side and around the back?

There was a scary moment the other Thursday evening. The lovely Cockapoo doggy up the road got spooked by all the clapping at 8 p.m. and ran into the middle of the road in front of a car – the driver did not have his hands on the wheel because he too was clapping! However, we all yelled and the dog survived. Driver got a bit of a fright.

And there may have been some positives too. Before lockdown, if I’d agreed to meet up with friends/plan a day out/ have to go to a meeting/appointment, there was often a “niggle” at the back on my mind. Would I be able to go? Would there be a suitable loo? Would I have to pull out at the last minute and let people down? Lockdown – easy – no plans/ no outings – no worries! Have you felt the same? Perhaps you are working from home so don’t have the pressures of the daily commute? Has that helped you at all?

Could I just ask you please to have a look at the Crohn’s and Colitis Website and see if there is anything you can do to help them. I decided to put a table outside my house with some excess plants and asked for donations – very successful! I know that many of you are helping the hospital and supporting friends, neighbours and families at this time which is great. As a group, we surely understand how important it is to know that you are not alone.

FINALLY – I CAN’T END THIS BLOG WITHOUT SAYING THE BIGGEST “THANK YOU” OF ALL TO OUR IBD TEAM AT FRIMLEY PARK HOSPITAL………NOT JUST ON WORLD IBD DAY BUT ANYDAY AND EVERYDAY. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.