Exeter City footballer backs NHS study into IBD
Devon's NHS say 'delays in diagnosis are common, often because people feel embarrassed or worried about seeking help'
Researchers in Devon are trying to recruit more people for a study aiming to speed up diagnosis for inflammatory bowel disease.
It's backed by Exeter City Football Club defender Jack Fitzwater and his bold 'know your sh*t' campaign.
A spokesperson for Devon's NHS said: "Inflammatory bowel disease is an umbrella term for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, affecting 1 in 100 people in the UK.
"Sadly, delays in diagnosis are common because many feel embarrassed about seeking help. To tackle this problem, the RAPID-IBD study is calling for anyone aged 16 to 49 in the EX postcode area who is experiencing abdominal pain, diarrhoea, or blood in their poo to take part by requesting a free test kit."
Earlier this year, Jack Fitzwater said: “It was everyday life, constantly going to the toilet. It affected me in football, outside of football, and in my relationships with friends and family. I became irritable, and until I got the right diagnosis and medication, I was stuck in a cycle of trying my best to feel well while never really being well at all.
"Speeding up diagnosis will massively help people get the right treatment, especially younger people. I know how hard it is to face that fear of seeking help for something so uncomfortable. That’s why a campaign like this can only benefit everyone.”
"Unfortunately, delays in diagnosis are common, often because people feel embarrassed or worried about seeking help. Around one quarter of patients experience debilitating symptoms for more than a year before diagnosis. "
Funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research and the national patient charity Crohn’s & Colitis UK, the study explores whether directly providing people with a simple test can help them take greater control of their health.
Dr Tariq Ahmad, Consultant Gastroenterologist at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust added: “Reducing the time to diagnosis and earlier treatment could reduce emergency hospital admissions, limit the need for surgery, and improve quality of life.”
Catherine Winsor, Director of Services & Evidence at Crohn’s & Colitis UK said: “We know that people are waiting too long to be diagnosed with Crohn's and Colitis, and one of the big challenges is that the symptoms overlap with those of other conditions. Simple, accessible stool tests have the potential to be a game-changer for people who are in pain and in need of answers. The sooner someone is diagnosed with IBD, starts on the right treatment and gets back to living the life they want, the better it is for everyone."