Are you struggling with symptoms of frequent diarrhoea or bile acid diarrhoea otherwise known as Bile acid malabsorption?

Michelle

I first started to have symptoms of Bile Acid Diarrhoea (BAD) when I was 18. At the time I was working in London as a student nurse. I used to have symptoms every two to three months and I'd have days of running to the toilet. At that time, I went to see my GP and I was told that I just had IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).

When I went to the appointment it was the first time anybody had actually, I felt, listened to me. My mum came with me and she felt exactly the same. He just said "I'm not going to read anything, you just tell me about you and about your symptoms".

Anyway, when I went in I was probably feeling a bit fed up, well no, I definitely was… and he said that they knew what it was and it was just the most shocking and amazing feeling because I couldn't get my head around it that actually, there was something wrong with me. I'd been told for 23 years that all I had was IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).

If I look back since the day I got my diagnosis, my life has significantly changed. I've been to loads of concerts, I've been on holidays. I quite happily go out all day long and don't even think about planning what I'm going to do or where the toilets are or anything like that.

I've joined a running group and I run regularly with them and go to running events. It's just life changing being able to do those things and do what everybody else does without thinking about it.