Top Travel Tips

For anyone travelling abroad, it can be a stressful time. Trying to make sure you don't forget anything, packing for all possible situations and remembering your passport! For people with a crohnic illness, this stress prior to travelling is ten fold. We have to think about ensuring our travel insurance will cover us should anything happen, if the medication we take is allowed in that particular country, do we need a doctors note to travel, is our special meal ordered on the plane, is our seat booked near the toilet, do I need a spare outfit in my carry on, the list is endless! So I wanted to share with you my top tips to travel!

1. Medication
The most important thing I think is to make sure you have all your medication. I (as many others) have to take about 10 different tablets throughout the day, so the best way I've found to not forget any it using pill pots. Every week I count them out and fill up the compartments with the correct drugs, this way I'm less likely to forget any when I'm in a rush in the mornings. The pots I use are from eBay and cost about £2 so a real bargain, but recently I found a super cute travel pill pot that I like to have in my bag when I travel. I bought this from TkMaxx and I believe they still have them in stock, not only is it lovely and sparkly, but it's perfectly compact for my handbag. I even use it to have in my handbag when I'm going to work, and fill the compartments with my daily meds along with anything else I might need, like pain killers, indigestion tabs or anxiety relief medication.
Another important thing to check with medication is that in some countries some meds are prohibited. It is best to do some research, and speak to the country's UK embassy to find out what is allowed in the country you're going to. If it's something you're not sure of, I advise travelling with a doctors note, and keep your medication in your hand luggage so not only if you need it during a flight you have it, but also so it can be checked by anyone should it be questioned.

2. Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance is something that I definitely used to overlook, but since being diagnosed I realise its importance. As Crohns is fabulously unpredictable, we never know when it will flare up, so it could very well be that when we are on holiday we could need some medical assistance. When I was looking for insurance, the first place I went to was the Post Office and was blown back by how expensive it was. As I had to state my condition, the medication I was on and when I was last hospitalised the price kept bumping up. I decided to go on compare the market and get a quote there and had hundreds of options that were much cheaper! I didn't just go for the cheapest one, as it's important to get good cover for what you could need. So I read through them all and went for All Clear medical insurance which offered a really good policy for what I needed. Luckily I haven't needed to use it, but knowing I am covered should I need, makes me feel more relaxed.

3. Sun Screen
Read all of your prescriptions carefully, as a lot of drugs can give you heightened sensitivity to the sun. Azathioprine in particular is one of these drugs. As the drug is an immunosuppressant, it makes your immune system really low, meaning you are more susceptible to picking up illness. As well as increasing risks of developing common colds and infections, it largely increases risks of developing all types of cancers but in particular skin cancer. It's important to protect yourself from the sun, and whilst vitamin D is good for our bodies, we don't want the harmful affects of UV rays. I like to keep safe in the sun by wearing 30 factor and sometimes 50 if it is particularly hot out. I also love a sunhat! Not only does it protect your head and face from the sun, but also looks super chic and glam on the beach. The feeling of sore burnt skin is not nice at all, and is really not worth the permanent damage it can cause to our bodies.

4. Flight Preparation
Preparing for a flight and packing your hand luggage bag can seem not too much of a big deal, but for us chronies it's very important what goes into our bags! My handbag essentials for travelling are :
- Medication (for any possible outcome! Pain killers, daily meds, sleep tablets, etc)
- Packet of Soft tissues
- Vaseline
- Wipes
- Change of undies
- Gluten free wrap/sandwich
- Crohns friendly snacks
- 2L bottle of water (purchased after security!)
Not all of these things I will necessarily use, but it makes me feel calmer to know I am prepared for any situation. I've found that drinking a lot of water during a flight really helps me as it keeps me hydrated and also helps avoid any toilet troubles after the flight. The air pressure can really mess up your digestive system, so drinking regular fluids helps to keep the system working. Now all that water can make you need the toilet, and due to my condition anyway I always like to be sat near a toilet. I would always advise to book your seat when given the option, for an isle seat and fairly near to the bathroom. That way you wont have any anxiety about disturbing anyone, or about getting to the toilet in time. If I'm on a short flight, I like to pack some snacks in my bag that I know I am ok to eat. Often on planes they don't have a lot of options for intolerances, so its great to plan ahead and not go hungry. On longer flights you have the option to book specific meals, so I have my Virgin profile set up with my special meal request so I never need to worry when taking a long flight.

M&S now do a super yummy GF sandwich collection, and M&S is at most UK airports too!

5. The language Barrier
When you're travelling abroad to a foreign country it is wise to get some words and phrases learnt in the language of the country you're travelling too. Especially if you are trying to explain to someone that doesn't speak English that you need a non gluten, non dairy, onion free meal! I found it really handy to use online translators to translate phrases such as 'I am gluten intolerant' or 'I need a gluten free meal please' just to make ordering meals out easier. I would advise to get the phrases before you travel and screen shot them to your phone, so you wont even need working wifi to explain to the waiters and waitresses.

The last and most important point is to enjoy yourself! Relaxing and recouping away from the daily stresses of life is truly amazing for the body. Be selfish and take time to heal your body by doing whatever makes you happy. I'll be being super selfish this week sunning on the beach in Barbados sleeping lots and enjoying yummy fresh sea food.

XOXO Crohnie Girl

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

There are thousands of reports and studies surrounding Omega-3 and its health benefits, particularly omega-3 helping IBD patients. Although determining a specific diet for IBD patients, a common food that always comes up is salmon and fatty oil fish. This is because of the amazing anti-inflammatory properties the fish (omega-3) possesses. In some cases, Omega-3 can actually be used as an alternative therapy for IBD patients. After being told I should be taking some form of omega supplement several times, I decided to do some research into what would be the best ones for me.

 

Immediately when I hear Omega-3 I think of cod liver oil capsules. I used to take them when I was younger, and although I cant say I remember any health benefits from them, I can remember them giving me fish burps! I'm told the way around this is to take them with food, but the burps alone were enough to put me off of them, so I did stop taking them. But since being diagnosed with Crohns, and after reading and hearing all the health benefits taking the fish liver oils have I decided I could withstand the burps and take them up again. Whilst researching what capsules I should take, I came across some very interesting information that shows cod liver oil in not the greatest of lights. Cod are 'dirty' fish in the sea and feed off of the bottom of the seabed meaning they eat other fishes faeces, pollution and even dirty metals. This means that if you are taking cod liver oil, it actually could do more harm than good. This is also why cod liver oil is often so cheap, as is isn't of a good quality. Boots own brand cod liver oil capsules, recently had to be taken off the shelves as metals were found in them, so it really is important to research any supplements you are considering taking. I know often most people prefer going for the cheaper option, as it can become quite costly when you are taking lots of different supplements, but it is important to be taking good quality ones. Especially as you are taking cod liver oil to help with your Crohns, not make it worse. When taking good standard fish liver oils, studies show that IBD patients are twice as likely to remain in remission as compared to those not taking it. So I didn't let the cod liver oil stories put me off of finding a good product that could really help.

It was actually my beautician that recommended me try another form of fish oil - salmon liver oil. Although this fish could still be dirty, and eat undesirable things, she could recommend a specific brand to me that produced very high quality fish liver oil. I have been seeing my beautician every month as since going on a lot of strong medication, my skin has been bad which has never been a problem of mine before. I often have a lot of dry patches on my face which are itchy, unsightly and uncomfortable. She said this could be because I am lacking in essential fatty acids, and although I eat salmon and other fish regularly, having Crohns means that I cant absorb nutrients from foods as affectively as non suffers so I would benefit from taking supplements. She explained that often what is going on on the outside of our bodies, signifies there is something going on inside our bodies. So taking the oil supplements would not only help my Crohns on the inside, but also my skin on the outside. I definitely wanted to give them a try! The product is from Advanced Nutrition Programme, and they produce Skin Omegas+ containing vitamin A, Omega-3 and Omega-6. They also hold a 'Friend of the Sea' certificate and harvest liver oil from clean salmon using methods that conserve marine habitats and resources - which I think is really important. The initial dose is to take the capsules twice a day and you should notice a difference within 2 weeks.

I have started the capsules this week and am really hoping to see the benefits from taking them. I will keep you all updated with my progress, and hopefully post a picture of my nice glowy skin!

XOXO Crohnie Girl

MediPen

For those that follow me on Instagram, you will have seen the latest product I am trying out; The MediPen. I am constantly researching and reading up on anything that will help me cope with having Crohns and the same thing kept coming up - Cannabis oil. At first I was very sceptical and wondered how 'getting high' would help with my problems. But after much research, I came across the MediPen and was eager to give it a try.

MediPen is the UK's trusted all natural CBD vaporiser. CBD (Cannabidoil) is one of the least active cannaboids found in the cannabis plant, which means it offers many medicinal benefits with no mind altering effects. MediPen claim to extract just CBD from cannabis plants in the Netherlands and combine this with pharmaceutical grade coconut oil to make the perfect medicinal blend. They also claim to have the best quality CBD as they use the highest quality plants and not just the stalks or seeds meaning they have created a much stronger oil. It was good to know this, as I was worried about buying a product online and not knowing if it was guaranteed, but the website is full of expert advice and the guys that work there are great at responding to any questions. So after a lot of consideration I decided to take the plunge and order the starter kit (costing £50 for the vape pen, 1ml oil and carry case).

The 'pen' itself is very sleek and rather small, pen sized actually! So it is perfectly discreet to fit in a zip purse or pocket. It is also odourless, so doesn't smell smokey or of anything at all actually which is one of the things I really like about the product. I am a non smoker, and never have actually smoked as it's something I really dislike. Of course I have tried it before, but didn't like anything about it especially the taste and smell. I did wonder if I wouldn't like the MediPen because of this, but it doesn't feel like smoking at all. You don't get that taste in the back of your throat at all, as the oil is really smooth and light. They also sell the oil cartridges in several different flavours, so I went for mint to really give it a fresh taste. I was so excited when I received it and wanted to try it out right away but I had to charge it up first which didn't take a long time at all. You plug it in and wait for the red light to turn green then are good to go. I wasn't sure how I was meant to be inhaling it and how long I should be for or how often and anyone I had spoken to just told me that there was no right or wrong way, everyone is different so I knew I was going to have to play around with it. I had been given some advice to take a few puffs in the morning, and another few before bed time. I was told it wouldn't help me go to sleep straight away, but it would relax me. I decided I would try to do it like that and see how I got on with it.

On the first try, I felt nervous and didn't know what to expect. I took a slow, deep breath in and then slowly exhaled out faint clouds of 'smoke'. I felt calm and relaxed straight away! As stress is my main trigger for Crohns, it's so important I keep my stress levels under control, and as much as I try I haven't quite mastered it. So the hope was that the MediPen could help me calm down, de stress and relax and on first impressions, it seemed to work! I don't know if it helps because it encourages you to take slow deep breaths, so you feel calmer anyway, but I could definitely feel the effects. I think to get real benefits you have to take it long term, so I am going to continue with it. At present, I have 10 puffs on my walk to work, another few when I pop out for lunch, some on my walk home and then before bed. As it's only my first week, I am trying to get as much in my system as possible to really notice the benefits. I've been going through a stressful time at work recently, so I feel like I am clutching on to the MediPen to help me. It even makes me feel better knowing it is in my bag so that I am reassured I can have something for comfort when I am experiencing heightened levels of stress or anxiety. Anxiety is one of the top conditions listed to be alleviate by CBD use along with acne, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, crohns/colitis, depression and even cancer. With the benefits list so long, I don't see why you wouldn't try it. It produces little to no risks, and pain specialist William Notcutt of James Paget University hospitals even said "The only way this could cause death to someone, is by dropping it on their head".

To me it seems so far so good! So I would encourage anyone researching CBD or interested in how it could benefit them, give it a go. https://medipen.co/

XOXO Crohnie Girl

R&R

Stress isn't good for anyone, but it is especially bad for IBD sufferers. Although stress doesn't cause Crohn's disease, it can heighten symptoms and can even trigger a flare-up. When you're stressed, your normal digestive process changes. Your stomach empties slower and secretes more acid, and stress can either speed or slow the passage of intestinal contents. In worse cases, dress can even affect the intestinal tissue resulting in ulcers. Although it's not always possible to avoid stress, you can learn ways to help manage it. I get stressed very easily and am always trying new things to combat it. I wanted to share my tips and what I do to reduce my stress levels! 

Hot Yoga 
I have always enjoyed yoga, and have practised from a young age but didn't go regularly. When I got diagnosed with Crohn's and was educated on stress being a trigger, I thought it would be a good idea to go back to it. I found a really nice hot yoga class in Leigh on Sea and started going with my sister on a Sunday morning. It was lovely as we would go yoga then go for brunch to a cute seaside cafe. I thought hot yoga would be really hard and uncomfortable but that wasn't the case. The heat of the room makes the muscles in your body relax more so you can go deeper and easier into the poses, and the best bit of relaxation at the end! Lying on your back with an empty mind focusing just on your breathing. I previously hadn't understood when people spoke about 'working with your breath' and 'listening to your body' but after going to yoga classes, I'm now getting the jist of it. The classes teach you to accept any thoughts but understand you can't do anything about it right now and letting it pass, then continue just focusing on you. It's great for mindfulness and I definitely find it helpful for my stress. It would be great to start every day with a yoga class! Leigh is quite far for me to go every day, so recently I found a new class local to me called Hot Pod Yoga and what is great about this class is that they pop up at various locations all around. So I'm able to go to a few classes during the week too! They have a great introductory offer also - £14 for 14 days as many classes as you want. I would strongly recommend this for a stress buster! 

Massage
One of my IBD nurses told me I should book in for a massage once every month as a good way to totally relax my body. As stress is bad for sufferers, a massage is a great way to unwind, de toxify and relax. My favourite massages are back massages and I love the feeling of just melting into the bed and totally relaxing. I enjoy massages as well as I feel they clear my mind and I'm just focusing on enjoying the treatment. I recently went to a new salon in Billericay for a facial and massage and it was amazing! For starters the salon was decorated so nicely which I think adds to the whole experience of making it a nice enjoyable treatment. The salon uses all Neal's Yard organic products which smell lovely so even for hours after the treatment I could still smell the relaxing scents. I had my treatment in the evening after work so it was the perfect way to unwind and I left the salon feeling ready to go to bed and get a restful nights sleep. Thank you to Beauty at Retreat
As well as massages, I do love a spa day. I think spending the day by a pool in a fluffy white robe is simply dreamy! And what better way to relax. One of my favourite pastimes is looking up spa deals. If only they weren't so expensive, I could go every weekend!

Holidays
Oh I do love a holiday! I'm always looking forward to the next one and I really do think that's what gets me through the year. I use my holiday allowance very wisely and make sure I have time off booked evenly throughout the year, that way you will always have something to look forward to! Being on holiday always makes me happy, you're away from all home and work stresses and have the chance to totally switch off. Holidays don't even have to be abroad, I even like going away for the weekend to somewhere new and exploring. Just getting away from life can be so refreshing and I love being in my little holiday bubble. My all-time favourite holiday destination is Barbados. I could never be unhappy there! Everyone is so smiley, friendly and relaxed as if they don't have a care in the world. If I lived there I wouldn't have a care in the world either with all of the stunning surroundings. Barbados is also good for me because they speak English, so I can easily explain dietary requirements. Although it doesn't seem like a big deal, it really is important for IBD sufferers and something that could cause a lot of anxiety. Also, as it is close to America, they are hot on the gluten free products so that is really useful too. Only 7 and a bit weeks till I'm back in my happy place!

Exercise
Exercise for me is a major stress buster. I love getting a sweat on and letting all of my stresses and anxiety leave my body. My favourite exercise to do in the gym is sprints as I can get on the treadmill and just go for it! It is not a pretty sight, but makes me feel so good. I also am a big fan of spin classes and when there is good music playing I feel like I could go all day. My favourite spin class I have ever done was Soul Cycle in San Fransisco earlier this year. The instructor had Beyonce remix's blaring out of the surround sound speakers in a dark room with flash lights and it was kind of like being in a night club but sweating on bikes! I enjoyed it so much I really want them to come over to the UK! When I'm not up to high impact exercise - which can be quite often thanks to my Crohns! - I really enjoy a long dog walk. I have two dogs at home and one is a naughty little puppy that needs to be walked to get rid of her excess energy! So I really enjoy a long dog walk around a country park, then tired cuddles on the sofa with a cup of tea. Oh tea! .. Tea makes everything better, so of course I love a cuppa when I'm feeling stressed.

Everyone has their own ways of coping with stress and it is really important to do what works for you. Stress is like the wind - you can't see it, but it does a lot of damage!

XOXO Crohnie Girl

DF, GF Chicken Nuggets

Who doesn't like chicken nuggets?! Not being able to have gluten or dairy makes meal times terribly tricky, but I try my best to get inventive in the kitchen and experiment with different foods to avoid repetition (chicken and rice, chicken and rice, chicken and rice!) I fancied a bit of a treat meal, so I set myself the challenge of making gluten, dairy free chicken nuggets and the end result was delicious


You will need...

• 1 chicken breast
• 1 slice gluten free bread - I used Genius seeded loaf as the seeds give a good crunchy texture!
• 2 table spoons soya yoghurt - I used Alpro soya yoghurt
• Gluten free flour (enough to dust chicken breast in) - I used   Doves Farm
• Salt, pepper, oregano for seasoning

Served with...

• Salad (whatever you like)
• Home made sweet potato wedges

Method...

• Preheat oven to 200C and line a baking tray with parchment paper
• Start by preparing the 3stations you will need for coating the chicken. Put flour on a plate, yoghurt on a separate plate then you will need to make breadcrumbs. Put the slice of toast in a food processor till the bread is broken and resembles breadcrumbs. Then place the breadcrumbs on a separate plate. To the breadcrumbs, add salt pepper and Oregon and mix through. You will now have three coating stations!
• Cut chicken breasts into nugget sized chunks
• Once cut, coat each piece in the flour by tossing the chunks on the flour plate
• After flour coat, coat in the yoghurt same as you did the flour
• Final coat is covering in the breadcrumbs
• When fully coated, place on the lined baking tray
• To serve with sweet potato wedges, peel 150g sweet potato and cut to your desired shape/size. Spread on a baking tray with a drizzle of oil and some salt and pepper
• The wedges and chicken nuggets can go in at the same time on the same heat for around 22-25mins 
• Once the nuggets have browned & crisped they are ready
• Serve with the wedges & salad and enjoy!!

This dinner does generate quite a lot of washing up, but if you bulk cook it isn't so bad. This recipe is worked out for one person, but can easily be doubled, or made bigger to feed a family or for left over lunches!

B for Brighton

When I got diagnosed, I knew my life had changed forever and I found this really hard to accept. I was 21 years old and enjoyed going out, socialising, clubbing, drinking and having a laugh but things would have to be different now. Maybe I could do things like I used to once in a while, but not every weekend as I had been doing before. I felt like my life had been robbed off me and like I said, I found it hard to accept. My family and boyfriend are all big socialisers and I worried how this would affect their relationship with me. They wouldn't want to sit in every weekend, or go for dog walks and have early nights but how I underestimated them. They rallied round to think up new things we could do together instead of going out and drinking and this was when we came up with our A-Z challenge. Driving to places in the UK from A-Z in the alphabet and spending the day exploring something new. So after Aldebrugh, was Brighton...

I'd only been to Brighton once to look at a University before sitting my A levels. I never ended up going to University as Crohns robbed me of my good grades and I wasn't able to sit the exams. At the time this was upsetting for me, but now I'm in a great job and in a better position in life so everything does happen for a reason! 

It was nice to be actually exploring Brighton as I never had before. Me and my boyfriend packed up the car and drove down Friday after work. We even packed little Nelly our dog in the car as we had found a hotel that was pet friendly. I was excited to be taking her and also nervous as she is a complete nutter.

Lots of beach walks needed to wear her out!!! When we arrived we parked up and got out the car to be greeted with high force winds and rain - oh the great British weather. I didn't mind the weather too much, as it was just nice being away. We dumped the bags down and headed out for dinner to a place called The New Club on the seafront which was also dog friendly. It was a really cool restaurant with New York City vibes and shortlist magazine had rated it one of the best burgers in the UK so my boyfriend was eager to try. We battled the winds and rain with a tiny umbrella and walked to the restaurant. I'd bought Nelly a hard chewy bone to act as a dummy to keep her quiet, and it did the trick. The staff were so friendly too her which made me feel relaxed.

JJ had the 5* burger and I made a very random choice and ordered the vegan burger. It came in a gluten free bun, and was a butternut squash and cashew pattie which was actually delicious. Places are getting so much better now at catering for dietary requirements and it is so nice to be able to enjoy a meal and not worry about being upset by it afterwards. 

After dinner, we wandered out in the rain and found an ice cream parlour and as ice cream is my boyfriends favourite thing in the world, of course we had to go in. Much to his delight they had a 'Nutty-Ella' flavour which was of course chocolate Nutella flavour. He licked the bowl clean!! They had sorbets in there which meant I could enjoy too. So I had a scoop of mango, which Nelly really tried to share.
The ice cream lady told us there was a nice pub down the road where they welcomed dogs, so we thought we should try it out. Everywhere was so dog friendly it was lovely. The pub was so warm and cosy inside, Nelly snuggled straight up on my lap clearly worn out! And me and my boyfriend enjoyed a Hendricks gin and tonic while playing heads up. Yes we did feel like a middle aged couple, but we didn't mind, we were having fun. It was nice to spend time together too as we'd both been away on seperate holidays, so being together was lovely.

Cosy in the Pub du Vin

After a distributive nights sleep with Nelly barking at any passer by the hotel room, we woke up to a sunny Brighton and was desperate to get out in the sunshine. I wanted to take Nelly to the beach as she hadn't been before, so we went for breakfast to a beachfront cafe. It was a cool quirky place which served all the foods that were a bit of me and not so much my boyfriend who just wanted plain scrambled egg on toast. I ordered avocado on gluten free toast with bacon and it came gorgeously displayed with rocket, seeds and even edible flowers! J got fried eggs on toast which came equally as gorgeously displayed with seeds and edible flowers much to his disgust! I know my boyfriend would much rather go to a standard cafe and have a fry up, but he goes to these special places and eats different food just for me. And I love him for that xxx 

Breakfast at Lucky Beach

After breakfast we wandered down to the sea to see what Nelly would make of it, and it's safe to say she wasn't too keen and she just wanted to be carried. So we left the beach and went to explore the Laines which I had heard were very cute shops. It was so lovely to be outside just walking around and enjoying being somewhere different, and I think the sea air just does something to you. It feels so good, fresh and clean. I felt energised being outside and enjoying the fresh air. We wandered around all the shops and noticed a sign for a Vegan festival, JJ said we should go as it could be really good for me and he'd be happy to wait outside with Nelly. So we did walk round to find it, but the queue was all the way down the street, so in the end we didn't bother. Plus I knew it wouldn't really be a bit of him, he would just be doing it for me (the cutie!). 

So after a bit of shopping, we got a bag of chips on the seafront which was the perfect end to our lovely trip. We headed back to the car with a broken Nelly who couldn't keep her eyes open any longer and went home. 

I had such a lovely time, and by doing fun different things like that, it makes me realise I can still enjoy myself and me and my boyfriend can still enjoy time together. Next on the list is C, so maybe we'll be taking a mini road trip to Clacton!  

XOXO Crohnie Girl

Return of the Flare

I haven't posted in a while, and it's because I've had a lot going on lately. A couple of months back my company were having a restructure and I was made to re-apply for my job which was a very stressful process. Each day was up and down, I didn't know if I would be staying or would have to work elsewhere and this really took an affect on me. As we all know, stress is one of the worst things for Crohns/IBD and can even affect IBS sufferers so I always try and keep my stress levels under control, but this was unfortunately out of my control.
All sufferers of any type of disease are often determined to carry on with their 'normal life' and for me, being able to work gives me that normality and routine I need. With all the changes going on at my company, it disrupted my normality and soon had an impact on my health. I was worried about every possible outcome, and at the thought of having a new manager. One of the hardest things I have found with IBD, is that it is invisible and people can't see what is going on so find it hard to understand. When I went back to work after diagnosis, it was important to establish a good relationship with my managers and colleagues to ensure that all parties were understanding of the disease, what it entailed, and how it would affect my work. I felt the panic of having to do this all over again and it sent my stomach into overdrive.

A couple of weeks ago, I ended up spending my Friday night in Basildon A&E after being sent in an ambulance after an emergency doctors appointment. The doctor worried that I could have a perforated bowel due to the significant pain I was in and the swelling of my stomach. I looked 7 months pregnant and was screaming like I was going into labour. The pain was so bad it frightened me, and I know I had frightened my family and boyfriend. When I was in the hospital, I had blood tests and an X-ray and it just showed my bowel was blocked. So nothing major to worry about and it could be sorted without any surgery. I was put on a liquid diet and prescribed medication to help get things moving. I felt so upset to be back in a flare. I had worked so hard to get myself to where I was and I felt like I had just taken 10 steps back. The stress of everything that had been going on at work all caught up with me and resulted in another flare. I was so frustrated, but that would only make it worse. It was important for me to think of this as just a side step, not a step back.

I had a lot of appointments with the doctors to check how I was doing and what I could be doing to get better. My doctor signed me off of work for a few weeks which initially really upset me, as I was panicking that I wasn't around to 'prove myself' especially under all the new circumstances and changes that had been going on. It made my anxiety even worse! I could rapidly feel myself  spiralling as I had done before, but fortunately for me, I can now notice this behaviour so I was able to quickly pull myself together. I threw myself into getting healthy and experimenting with my liquid diet and relied heavily on my therapist for support. It's been two and a half weeks now since I was rushed into hospital, and I can see an improvement in my health. Although I am still absolutely exhausted, struggling to sleep, still on a liquid diet and suffering flare symptoms I am in a better place than I was a couple of weeks ago. This gives me hope and makes me feel positive to overcome this blip.

So for now I am working from home, whilst I can't handle the commute and it is good to have a routine again and some normality. I am still sticking to a liquid based diet where I can, as I have really noticed the benefits. I've been having lots of juices, soups, shakes all made from organic fruits and vegetables. Crohn's Disease sufferers often don't absorb nutrients properly so by having liquid it means it is easier to absorb so I plan to continue having juices when possible every day. If you want to check out some of my recipes, follow my Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/xoxocrohniegirl/

It does upset me that I am only 22 and have to spend the majority of my day in bed and not able to do and enjoy the things other young people are doing, but my health is the most important thing. So if I have to miss out on somethings for now, in the long run it will be worth it.

XOXO Crohnie Girl

Straying from Sertraline

Like I said in the previous post, it is mad what can happen in 12 months. I am in a totally different place now to what I was even 8 months ago. Being diagnosed with a chronic illness at the age of 21 really did take it's toll on me, but with the help of medication, therapy and a strong support network I feel in a much more stable place now. So I am taking the plunge to come off of anti-depressants...

I've been on Sertraline since October, after being in a really dark place. I felt desperate and in need of help whatever way I could get it, so I agreed to go on the anti depressant drug. At the time I didn't think much of it, I think I was in a state of no emotion. I felt so low and to be honest, like nothing would work for me. I had already given up, I didn't have the energy to fight anymore. It was my doctor and family that pushed me to try them, along with therapy, and I just did it to please them. I didn't have any faith in anything working, but for the sake of my family I was giving it a go. If I'm honest I had noticed the warning signals and sometimes the way I felt and things I thought scared me. The low self worth I had... I wanted to hole myself indoors and not speak to anyone. Even the thought of bumping into someone as I walked down the road filled me with fear, dread and anxiety. I knew the longer I'd left it to leave the house, the worse the anxiety would get, but I just couldn't face it. I didn't want to hear the 'how are you?' 'you look well' 'you're a strong girl' comments from people, because I didn't feel well or strong and frankly I was sick of talking about my Crohns. But people aren't mind readers, they don't know what to say, so I know it's as hard for the people around you to know what to do as it is as hard for you. I heard a MIND advert on the radio a while ago, and it was advising people to just 'be there' for mental health sufferers, and that's all I wanted. Not someone to talk to, or go out with, distract me, but just someone to be there to help me not feel so alone. Depression is a very isolating illness, and I don't think you could describe the feeling, you would have to go through it to understand. I believe I was pretty ignorant before suffering, and when I heard about people being depressed I'd think, 'how can they be depressed?? They just bought a new car!' But I was so far off the mark, I didn't even understand until I developed it myself. The irrational thoughts totally take over your brain, and it slowly wears you down and down until you're not even you anymore. You're someone you don't even recognise yourself, and that just makes you feel worse. It is a feeling of drowning; you're struggling so much to keep afloat, but it feels so easy to just give up.

I'd say I noticed a change around December/Christmas time. I had started to go back into work for a few days a week, and I didn't have such anxiety about leaving the house. The first time I obviously did, but I realised it wasn't so bad. It was actually nice to see the faces I had missed, and speak verbally to people face to face. I started to see a glimmer of hope that I could get back to 'normal'. I really don't think I could have got to a happy place without Sertraline, but I did use other tools to help. I saw my therapist weekly and at first I hated going, I would cry before I went in, with my dad forcing me to go through the doctor's door, but when I saw the positive impact it had had, and how it was helping me, I started enjoying going. It was my hour a week I could rant to a stranger and have a moan up without getting a retort or being judged. Like I said, my support network massively helped and I think that my boyfriend buying me a puppy played a major part in my recovery! I don't think anyone could be sad with a cute puppy around. Even though she was sooo naughty, she was the perfect distraction. And I loved it that when people came over to my house, they just fussed over her and it wasn't my crohns being the main event anymore. It didn't feel so much like it was ruling my life, but that maybe I could rule it.

I've now been on the drugs for 9 months and although they have massively helped me, I am keen to get off of them. I feel in a place now where I am more stable emotionally and am also aware of the trigger signs, should I feel I am slipping back into a depressed state. Whilst speaking with my doctor, we decided I could come off of the tablets gradually and reduce the dosage slowly so as to avoid any withdrawal symptoms. The main thing that Sertraline does is to increase the serotonin levels in your brain. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that regulates mood, learning, sleep, sexuality and appetite. So it is a pretty hard core drug! With it affecting the chemical that controls so many things in the brain, there is a risk of side affects and whilst being on sertraline I have noticed I have put on 10lbs. I found this pretty bizarre, as given my clean diet and regular exercising I couldn't work out where the weight had come from. When speaking to my doctor about this, she said that a side affect of Sertraline is weight gain, and the reason I have only put on 10lb is because I eat well and am active. So now I am in a better place mentally, I am keen to get off the tablets. But I am aware of the side affects and withdrawal symptoms... to combat this, I have decided to up my exercise. Exercise is a natural way to generate and increase serotonin in the brain. So I'm hoping that if I keep on top of my exercise routine, I can slowly come off of sertraline without noticing to much change. I'm not saying I will be lifting heavy weights and sprinting every day, but just trying to do something to get my heart rate going. I am a big fan of dog walks, and enjoy getting fresh air (when the UK weather allows it!) and it is nice to be outside noticing the sounds and sights as you walk around. If it rains there is always yoga classes, spin classes or indoor swimming.

Even though I am nervous and scared at what could happen to me when I am off the Sertraline tablets, I am trying to take each day as it comes. I wanted to write this post to encourage and reassure people that feel reliant on antidepressants that there are other ways to combat your feelings of depression and anxiety. And if coming off of them doesn't feel good for you, then stay on the tablets. There is no shame in that. Even if you try to come off and it doesn't work, go back on them and try again at a later date. Never be ashamed of needing a little help, and remember - everyone loves a tryer!

XOXO Crohnie Girl

My First Year as a Crohnie

Today has been a whole year since I got diagnosed with Crohns Disease. Wow. I don't normally look back, as I am always focusing forwards and being positive but sometimes it is important to realise how far I have come. I remember when I was first diagnosed, people told me this was just a flare, and it wouldn't last forever and I would be living a near enough normal life, and to be honest hearing that wasn't helpful. I didn't believe anyone who told me it would get better, but I can honestly say to any sufferers out there now, that it will get better!

I remember being told I had Crohns disease on this exact date last year. It was actually during my colonoscopy. I was semi awake and watching the camera on screen go over a whitish/yellow ulcerated patch and I knew that was it. After the procedure the Dr came round and told me she had found I had Crohns and would start me on a course of steroids beginning intravenously, then she left. I laid in the bed waiting for a porter to collect me and felt numb. I was still under some anaesthetic so couldn't really understand how I felt, but I know that my eyes filled up with tears. I think this was just because I was alone and overwhelmed, but once I was back in the ward I felt totally fine. I told all my bed neighbours my diagnosis and I surprised myself with how chirpy I was. The initial feeling was just relief, and then thinking that I would be discharged after a long 3 weeks in hospital. I freaked myself out with how 'OK' I was I began doubting I did actually have Crohns and maybe I made up the diagnosis in my knocked out state?! My mum came up to the hospital and I was still fine, sat on my bed reading through the information I'd been given by the IBD nurses and speaking about the next steps. I would say it took 24hours for it to actually kick in. I remember my nan & granddad came to visit me and my nan gave me a hug and all the emotion I had held in came pouring out. I burst into tears and it was in that moment I realised I had a lifelong chronic illness.

After diagnosis came steroid courses which were a joy in themselves!! Luckily I didn't experience the moon face or weight gain but I suffered really badly with not being able to sleep and feeling agitated. After 3 weeks sleeping in a hospital bed I couldn't wait for a good nights sleep in my own home, but this just didn't happen. I would be up throughout the night, waking every hour which made me so fed up, restless and angry. It really affected my moods and I wasn't myself at all. I then had a family holiday booked which should have been a week of fun in the sun, and I just wasn't up to it. I couldn't drink, I could barely eat, I couldn't sleep, I didn't feel like talking, I had anxiety about near enough everything and I just felt like I was not me. It was like I was trapped in this body I didn't want to be in and I couldn't do anything about it. At this stage I was still in denial about what was going on, and was forcing myself to be normal. If only I knew then that it was ok not to be ok. I didn't have to put on a front, it didn't matter what anyone else thought, I was going through a tough time and it was ok.

The first steroid course finished, and my symptoms came flaring up with a vengeance. Back to Basildon hospital to be put on another course of steroids. This happened 3 times in total and each time I just felt more fed up. Each time it was a reminder that I had Crohns. Each time a reminder I wasn't on top of it. Each time a reminder it controlled me. It totally wore me down. I had just turned 21 and was meant to be having the best summer of my life, and as much as I pretended I was fine and having fun, I was crushed inside. I hated myself for what my body was doing to me. I hated waking up every morning and having to fight through another day, plaster on a smile and be 'Daisy'. I didn't want to be 'Daisy', I didn't want to be anything. Being so poorly and hardly eating anything left me with no energy to fight anymore and eventually my moods became so low, it resulted in my depression diagnosis. This was the lowest point of my 'Crohns journey', my rock bottom. But if I'm honest, I didn't even want help and I wouldn't have asked for it, it was only my family that must have been so desperately worried, that picked me up and took me to the Drs to get help. Even though I hated them for it then, and just wanted to be done, I could not be more thankful for their help. I know if it wasn't for my family, I wouldn't be here today.

So with a strong support network and some help from medication and a therapist, I was able to turn things around. Anything that got thrown my way, I tried my best to make it into a positive. I started this blog to help and encourage other sufferers and for me this has really been a lifeline. It's been a purpose, and when I have struggled through something, my thoughts have been 'well now I can share this and help others'. Really, as nasty and negative my Crohns has been, it has been positive in many other ways. One being I have some real, true, solid friendships. When in times of need, people prove themselves to you. They step up to the mark or they walk away, and even though the ones that walked away have hurt me, I am so lucky to look around and see all the amazing friends I do have and to know they are true friends. It has also encouraged me to have a healthier outlook on life. I now exercise regularly, and this really makes me feel good! Don't get me wrong I love a night in on the sofa, but not being able to go out and drink and eat all the time has encouraged me to do other things like exercise. It's also meant I have got really into cooking, because everything nowadays is processed and has a million ingredients added, the best way to make 'Crohns friendly' foods is to start from scratch and really it has been fun getting stuck in in the kitchen. My mum is amazing at finding things I can eat and tweaking recipes so really it has been a bonding thing for us too. I also like sharing my recipes, when I have made something that tastes good I feel proud. I want other people to taste it and know that not everything I eat tastes plain and boring (a lot but not everything! Ha). I have even took up the challenge of doing the Sunday dinners, and managed to cook a couple of six-men roasts which has made me feel proud!

Even though I am still on a large amount of medication, have to watch what I eat/drink daily, and don't always have the energy to behave like a 'normal 22' year old, I am still alive and kicking. I can still go on holidays, I can still socialise with my friends, I can still go to work. If you would have told me all these things in October 2015, I would not have believed you for a second. I thought my life was over, but now my outlook and perception on life has totally shifted. It has made me realise what's important and what's not. It doesn't matter if I missed out on one night at the Sugar Hut, what matters is I have an amazing family, amazing friends and that means Crohns will never beat me.

Here's to many more years of kicking Crohns in the fucking arse!

XOXO Crohnie Girl

World IBD Day 2016

My first 'World IBD day' being an IBD sufferer and to be honest, the first world IBD day I've ever known about. Which is crazy really considering how big irritable bowel disease is and how largely it affects so many people. Before I was diagnosed with Crohns Disease, I didn't really know what it was and with poor knowledge comes ignorance, so it is so important to spread awareness of IBD and to get people talking and learning about this horrible disease.

IBD stands for Inflammatory Bowel Disease which people often confuse with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) but the two are very different. IBD means an actual infection and disease of the bowel where as IBS is just bowel irritation, no infection or disease. Although IBS is still not nice for people, it can mainly be controlled through diet and  when people can work out there food intolerances and what upsets them, they can often get on top of it and control their symptoms.
For IBD sufferers this isn't so simple. The two most common diseases that come under the IBD umbrella are Crohns Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Whilst the cause of IBD is still not determined, it is believed to be caused by genetics and cases show that you are more likely to develop IBD if you have a close relative with the condition. This means that it isn't just caused by eating something dodgy, it is a legitimate disease. Also there is evidence to show IBD can be caused by a disruption to the immune system and the intestinal inflammation can be caused by the immune system attacking healthy tissue inside the intestine whilst fighting off a bug or virus. There are so many theories and explanations doctors have investigated to discover the cause of IBD but there is no known proof as such. Some theorists believe it is caused by people being on antibiotics often as a child, and some have theories it was caused by diseased cows that were buried in the ground and not cremated. You can spend just a few minutes on Google and find thousands of theories and ideas about IBD causes!

Whilst there are many theories and investigations, there is still no known cause and there is no known cure. Being diagnosed with a disease and having to come to terms with there being no cure is an incredibly hard thing to get your head around and if I'm honest I still don't think I have done so yet. Knowing that your life has completely been turned upside down and will never be the same is going to be hard at any age, but at the age of 21 it seemed so much harder. I was faced with a lifetime of hospital appointments, medication, drug trials, blood tests, injections, colonoscopies, possible surgeries and a highly increased risk of colon cancer. So all what I had thought of it being just an upset stomach, was so wrong. The things IBD sufferers have to go through on a day to day basis is crazy, and all the things they do just to try and live a 'normal' life. Just because someone may present themselves well and the look 'fine' that often isn't the case. Like everything in life, everyone is fighting their own battles and we often aren't aware of those. That's why awareness for IBD is so crucially important. It is estimated that 620,000 people in the UK alone are living with IBD. Living with no cure. Living with this crippling disease for the rest of their life, and quite frankly this isn't good enough. We need to get people talking and thinking and aware of IBD and how much it affects people and how many people it affects. We need to find a cure, and I believe we can do that together.

 

 

 

Give an IBD hero a hug today and show them your support.

#WorldIBDDay2016

 

XOXO Crohnie Girl

 

PS. If you want to show your support even more and get involved with the big charity fund raiser this year, then sign up to the Crohns & Colitis Big Walk. I am walking 10k in London on the 4th June. Sign up here - https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/get-involved/fundraising/filter/Walks

Feeling 22

April 23rd 2016 - My first birthday as 'Crohnie Girl'. Quite a weird thought really to think that as well as being a year older, I am now an owner of a chronic illness. An awful lot can happen in a year, and I think it is sometimes important to look back, but only to see how far you have come. Even though I seem to get on well with my illness on a daily basis and not let it stop me from living my life, I still don't feel I am at the stage of acceptance. I get very frustrated when I feel it's presence and it is easy to slip back in to the thoughts and feelings I had earlier on in my illness. I still grieve the life I used to live, and especially at this time of year when I think back to it being my 21st. How much fun I had, how I could do whatever I wanted but now things are so different... But different doesn't necessarily mean bad, and a positive attitude can turn things around. Now I like to set myself little challenges of different, fun things I can do and one thing to think of was birthday celebrations.

My mum had the task of making me a gluten free, dairy free birthday cake and I have to say it was delicious!! And everyone in my office agreed

For my birthday, I would usually go out with a big group and head to a London club for a night filled with vodka, dancing and usually Macdonalds chicken nuggets! But I can't really do this now, without being shattered for a good week and being able to hold more than one drink and I definitely can't eat chicken nuggets (crying face!). So I wanted to think of something equally fun and special that I could do and enjoy. I've always loved dressing up and going to nice places so I thought I could go for afternoon tea in London with my girlfriends and began researching places to go. Afternoon tea was a perfect idea apart from two issues - I am gluten & dairy intolerant - so cakes and sandwiches could be a problem! However, I came across the 'Pret-a-Portea' afternoon tea at the Berkley London and they advertised catering to dietary requirements so I got in contact to see what they could do. They offered me the private dining room as there was a big group of us, and said they could make all my food gluten and dairy free which sounded amazing to me! I booked it straight away and couldn't wait.

The day came and I got all dressed up and headed to London with my friends feeling excited to celebrate. The staff at the Berkley were lovely, and had personalised our menus and even made cute name places which was a really special touch. It was so nice to have everything done and not worry about being difficult, or fussy and just enjoy the day. I absolutely loved it. People say the birthday after your 21st is never going to be as good, but I can honestly say it was one of the best birthdays I have had and my friends and family made it. When you go through a tough time, you really get to know who your true friends are. The good friends will step up to the mark and be there for you. The ones that don't, just show their true colours and as hurtful and upsetting as that can be, it is their problem (see The Third Party!)

So turning 22 was a success, and I am starting to feel like a real life grown up! I think last year was a bit of a funny one for me, as half of it was spent being unwell, so this year I am going to focus on total happiness and letting nothing pass me by. If I want something I am going to go for it and not let Crohns, or anything else for that matter hold me back. I am going to focus on doing everything I want to do and be happy doing it. I may be feeling 22, but my Crohns isn't even 1! So I'll be having to have another 'birthday' for that on the 23rd June. I can't believe it has been a year... but then again, look how far I have come in that year, and I'm going to keep going.

XOXO Crohnie Girl

The Third Party

Nowadays, everyone's business can be seen at the click of a button. As amazing as social media is, it's also taking over our lives in not such a positive way. People can be instantly involved in your lives, and this means they think they can have an opinion on it also. Now it's up to you what you do with that opinion...

Being a sensitive person, I have always overly worried about other people and this has caused me such unnecessary stress over the years. As I have said before, I could eat a perfect diet to keep my Crohns at bay, but if there was one thing I got anxious or stressed about it could set off a full blown flare. So it really is important for me to keep calm and happy as to not trigger any symptoms. The problem with this is I still have to live my life... No day is going to be 'perfect' and 'happy' all the way through, so it is about learning to adapt and how to cope with stress and anxiety. I myself, always try to be good person and do the right thing but things are sent to try us. Other people for example. No two people are the same and that means that you are not going to like and get on with everyone. I think I sometimes find this hard to get my head around, and find it hard to understand how other people think. When you put yourself out for someone and don't receive it back, it is hurtful. By no means do you give to receive, but when you go out of your way for someone and it isn't reciprocated its hurtful. And being a sensitive person anyway, it really affects me. I struggle to understand why someone could just be plain nasty for no reason, but this says so much more about them then it does about you. You are only responsible for oyur own actions, you cant control what other people do. If someone doesn't like you, its their problem, not yours. This is what I need to accept. If someone has something bad to say about you when you have done nothing wrong, that's their prerogative but I'd be lying if I said it didn't bother me. It is something I am working on with my therapist who I still see once a week. Even though my Crohns symptoms are in a somewhat controllable state at present, I'm still not 'there', just 'getting there', so seeing my therapist really helps. She advises me with coping strategies and ways to minimise stress, and not letting other people in and letting them bother you. The main thing to solve this would be to be confident and strong enough in myself to not let anything else phase me. But this is much easier said than done.

I could think and think and think about a passing comment someone said and totally over analyse it and work myself up about what they meant behind it. But where does that leave me? Upset, anxious and most probably in pain! So to avoid anything like that, you have to shut off. Just do you. People are always going to talk and have something to say, but you have to pity them that they are not satisfied in their own lives that they have to cause trouble in yours. Instead of letting it bother you, you have to find ways to out the bad feeling. Lately I've found working out really helps me. As much as I sometimes can't be bothered, afterwards I feel amazing. I literally feel like I have sweated out all the bad emotion and feel new again. Reborn, like nothing could touch me or hurt my feelings. So as well as being exercise for my body, it is exercise for my mind. But if I really cant be bothered, a bath cuppa and rant to my mum often helps :)

XOXO Crohnie Girl

Courgetti Bolognese

Bolognese is a staple week night dinner in most peoples diet and since being diagnosed with Crohns and being on such a restricted diet, it is one of the dinners I have really missed. But I am so lucky to have a mum like I do who is prepared to play around with ingredients and make new recipes safe for me to eat. I wanted to share my 'Bolognese' recipe with you because it is so so good.

You will need...

• Turkey mince
• 1 Carrot - grated
• 1/2 carton of passata
• 1 clove garlic crushed (I can tolerate garlic but for those who cant, don't include)
• 1 table spoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 table spoon stevia
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1 cal oil spray
• 1 spiralized courgette (or can use pasta if would prefer)

I used half a pack of turkey mince so I had enough for two meals. One for dinner and one for lunch the next day!

• Spritz a frying pan with 1 cal spray and warm it up
• Once oil is hot, put turkey mince into the pan and using a wooden spoon break it up. Stir it round and brown
• Add the grated carrot in and keep stirring, mixing the carrot with the mince
• Once turkey has browned, add in the passata. I used half of a carton so it was nice and juicy. Then add in the garlic, stevia, balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper and keep stirring till warm through
• For the courgetti, spiralize the vegetable then place in boiling water for 4 minutes so it is warm through and soft. I peel my courgette before spiralizing as I cannot tolerate vegetable skins. If you don't like courgette, you can always use pasta.
• Drain the courgetti/spaghetti and place half in a bowl (save the other half for lunch!) then spoon on the Bolognese
• I grated a bit of Lactose Free Cheese on top of mine to serve

 

XOXO Crohnie Girl

Crohns in California

I'm back! After an absolutely AMAZING two weeks in the crazy place that is California. It's been so long since I last did a two week holiday, and before I was going I felt incredibly anxious. I was worried about being so far away and having a flare, about being away for a long period, all things were running through my mind but I didn't need to worry at all. The USA is so much further ahead then we are here in the UK with dietary requirements plus California is such a health conscious community so every day was active and filled with activity. I'd previously been used to booze filled party holidays so this was a real change for me! And now being home, I feel amazing for being away and am feeling so much stronger and healthier in my self (albeit a little jet lagged!).

Before me & my boyfriend went, I had made a little itinerary for us. This could've been my anxiety and I wanted to feel prepared, so I planned things for us to do whilst we were there that I had researched. Also, we were travelling around during the two weeks so it was important to know what was where at each place. This may sound dramatic to some, but I always wanted to know where the nearest hospital was in each location just for peace of mind really. I think the hardest thing is to be calm and rational with Crohns. So much of it is psychological, and I know if I wind myself up and get anxious about things, it upsets my tummy, so I was just doing everything for peace of mind so I had no worries. I was even anxious about flying. It was going to be the first time flying on my own as I was meeting my boyfriend out there, and I was winding myself up about it. The best thing for me was just to not think about it, so my boyfriends mum drove me to the airport and we chatted all the way which was the perfect distraction, then once I was in the airport I sat in the first class lounge which made it a nice experience and I was enjoying that instead of worrying about time and where I had to be. The only issue at the airport was having to pay £60 for my heavy bag... I'm sure this was because of my many medicines and not the copious amounts of shoes!!
Once I was on the plane I was seated in the seat right next to the toilet, so even if I didn't need to go, I had peace of mind that I was close if I did need it. And the flight attendants were all so lovely and caring too. At the time of booking I had added my dietary requirements so all the food I had on the plane was 'safe' and not having to worry about what I was eating was a god send. I had my dinner, then bedded down and ended up sleeping for about 5hours which was pretty good. I knew I needed to sleep as much as possible to try and combat the jet lag. Once we'd landed I was so excited to see my boyfriend all thoughts and worries completely disappeared.

Our first stop was San Francisco which was like nowhere I'd been before. In many ways it reminded me of London with the tall buildings, banks and offices but then also like a little town with cute houses on hills. While we were there I hadn't adapted to the time zones so was waking up really early. We made the most of our time and headed out to gyms, walked round the streets and found new places for breakfast which was really cool to be able to get out and make the most of the day. On our second day we went to Alcatraz which was incredible. I am obsessed with prison programmes on the TV so being able to go inside a real prison was pretty much a dream come true (no joke!) but all the walking up hills and stairs had totally worn me out so I wanted to have a nap before we went out for dinner in the evening. I went to sleep about 4pm and didn't wake up till 7am the next day!!!


Crazy! But I obviously needed it, and after that long sleep the jet lag was pretty much sorted. I woke up with bundles of energy so decided I wanted to do a 'Soul Cyle' class. I booked the 8.30am session and felt nervous/excited/overwhelmed when I walked into the studio. I've done spin classes at home but nothing like this, I had to wear the special spin shoes, was given a towel, assigned a bike, it was all very professional. The room was so dark and the music so loud, it was a bit like being at a club. They were playing Beyoncé club mixes while everyone walked in and the instructor then informed us this was going to be a 45minute Beyoncé through-the-ages session and I was buzzing. If anything was gonna get me through this hard as hell class it was going to be Queen B. I was absolutely dripping, it was so hard core but I loved it. I am desperate for a 'Soul Cycle' to open in London!!
On our last night in San Fran we had dinner in Hakkasan and I have been to the one in London before so I am familiar with the menu and know what I can and cant eat. I had an amazing sea bass dish which was completely plain but cooked so well it was perfectly flakey and delicious. I went to bed with a very full tummy that night and excited for our drive down to Monterey.

 

Monterey is such a cute sea-side town with a lovely feeling community. We had booked a bungalow/studio to stay in on Air B&B and it was the cutest thing ever. Little vaulted ceilings, a sunk in bath, quaint curtains and a little fire. Because we were self catering, we walked down to the local shops to see what we could buy and there was an amazing free from section. I got Udis gluten free granola and managed to find lactose free yoghurts too! The ideal breakfast for me. Of course we also bought mini bottles of champagne!
Being right by the sea made me want to be outside all the time. Breathing in sea air is just amazing. It makes you feel so fresh, so healthy. In the morning we woke up early and went for a beach run and I was going so slowly purely because I was enjoying soaking everything in. I was listening to the sounds of the waves, the sounds of birds singing, the sound of my breath, the sound my steps hitting the ground and I felt so appreciative of life in that moment. I was living in the moment. This is something I've never understood when people have told me before.... 'enjoy the moment'. I am always thinking ahead of what I've got to do this evening, or remembering what I need at the weekend instead of thinking about what I am doing right now. And that was the first time in 21 years I've actually found myself doing that. The crazy thing was that I felt more awake too. For actually getting up and out and doing things I felt like I had more energy compared to usual. I think as well because I didn't have any stress or worries, my tummy chilled out. We enjoyed really nice dinners here too and nice fish dishes which was nice for me. I love eating fish now and really need to have it more at home. It's such a nice change from chicken!

The next place was West Hollywood. Party party party! This is the same place we went to last year so I was excited to go back, but we were staying in a different hotel. The hotel was amazing. It was right in the middle of everything, but tucked down a residential road so you felt like you were away from the craziness of Santa Monica BLVD.

Our room had been upgraded to a suite and it was so lovely I easily could've stayed in the room for the five days but there was so much I wanted to get out and do. We got to do a hike up Runyon Canyon and just in time as well because it has now closed for water work to be completed. That was so much fun, although I think we made up our own route and some paths were near enough vertical drops! We also did some sunning on our hotel's roof top pool, which was nice to have some down time and do a bit of reading.
 I read the Khloe Kardashian - Strong looks Better Naked book and loved it. My boyfriend jibes me and says I'm obsessed with the Kardashians and copy everything they do, but this book wasn't necessarily about 'them'. It was more about healthy lifestyle and I actually found it really helpful. She shares a lot of tips and an insight of how to work on a healthy mind and I found it really helpful. As soon as I came home I gave it to my sister to read and was also sending screen pics of the pages to my mum! I want everyone to join my health band wagon ha.
So most mornings were fairly active and healthy, but of course the whole time wasn't like that.
We enjoyed a CRAZY Easter brunch at Bagatelle on Easter Sunday which consisted of scrambled eggs and lots of champagne; equalling scrambled brains! But it was so much fun, and as it was during the day time we were in bed by 10pm! So it still meant I got a good night sleep. I probably slept more out there on holiday than I do at home. Which was crazy really.

We also enjoyed lunch at the Ivy which is one of my favourite places in the world. We had lunch there on Good Friday and we hadn't realise that it was 'the place to be' Good Friday lunch time, so there was lots of people there with a great atmosphere.

Another great thing about the Ivy is there champagne bar where they give out free glasses of champagne. It was the absolute perfect place for me!! Sitting outside in the sun enjoying lunch with a glass of bubbly was perfection. After lunch things went slightly downhill and we ended up in a Gay bar at happy hour. It was our first experience in a Gay bar and it was crazy fun, but full of party animals and we couldn't quite keep up. The night ended with chips for room service at 9pm, and two fuzzy heads the next morning. That day we chilled out and then went to the Gove Shopping centre in the evening. We tried to balance out the partying with chilled out things too.
The shops in West Hollywood were all fabulous. Everyone is so health conscious there, there are Trader Joes and Whole Foods shops everywhere and I got so excited each time we went in one! I was stocking up on vegan chocolate, gluten free pretzels, and even bought a gallon of Aloe Vera gel. I drank a cup of this each morning and it made me feel amazing. I really think that helped my health whilst I was away, even though it was a pain lugging it from place to place (sorry JJ!)

 After the craziness of West Hollywood, I was looking forward to chilling out at our next stop - Laguna Beach. But before that, DISNEYLAND. I was so so excited to go to Disneyland I think my boyfriend thought he had adopted a child for the day. As soon as I was in there I was skipping about, singing the songs, wanting to go in every single shop and buy every single thing with the Little Mermaid on, it was just too much! I think just being in Disneyland is good for the soul, it just makes you happy and is good for everyone. It was so busy there though with it being half-term (spring break as they say in the USA) so I did feel slightly panicky about moving around the park, but Disney land have an app in the app store where you can find toilets, restaurants, queue times for rides and it tracks your location so can find where is nearest to you so that was fab. Another fab thing was the free from section in the Disney sweet shop. I managed to get a bar of Vegan chocolate made from rice milk whilst my boyfriend got an ice cream. I couldn't just stop at the chocolate though, and bought a bag of Cherry Sours (my new found favourite sweets) but we had been walking about the park so had earned the treats surely?!

Laguna Beach was stunning. Much like Monterey, with chilled out beach vibes. We enjoyed really lovely dinners there, and I ate more sea bass which I think has become my new favourite fish (sorry monkfish). There were also hiking routes there and we were able to do a couple of different ones. One was along the beach and up high hills and the views were breath taking. If I lived there I would have to make the most of it and would be out soaking it in most mornings. The sea air is just amazing. I swear breathing it in gave me some sort of high! I just felt so happy, calm and relaxed. This is how I know my mental mood affects my stomach so much. When I felt calm and chilled out, I almost forgot about having Crohns. How amazing is that. The only thing reminding me now was taking my tablets of a morning and afternoon, but I was actually being able to enjoy a 'normal' life. One night I even got to eat Pizza!!! Pizza in a restaurant!!! We went to BJs which is a big pizza chain and they made a gluten, lactose free pizza without onions etc especially for me. It was so nice to enjoy a meal about that and not worry about having an upset stomach afterwards. I also got to try the famous 'Pizzookie' which was delish.

Back up to Santa Monica, and it felt like the end of our trip was coming close :( But there was still so much to enjoy. Before we went away I booked a Malibu Wine Safari tour which I had seen the Kardashians go to on Instagram (yes ok, maybe I like the Kardashians!) and it looked so cool. When I told my boyfriend I booked this wine tasting the Kardashian's did I don't think he had too high hopes for it, but it was beyond what he expected. It was amazing, it was both our favourite days out of the whole two weeks. We turned up to this gorgeous vineyard out in the hills of Malibu with the sun shining and safari trucks parked all around, we were both so excited. When the time came for the tour to start we jumped on these trucks and headed to the ranch. The ranch was owned by a family who loved and rescued animals so there were animals everywhere and we got to feed them!! We fed zebras, donkeys, horses, yams, lamas, all sorts and it reminded me of being a child and going to Old Macdonalds farm and I loved it. The sights all around the ranch were just breath taking, I couldn't stop flitting my head side to side of the truck not wanting to miss anything, and the guys doing the tour were so lovely, which made it really. The actual wine tasting was such a small part of it, the whole experience was just so cool. I can't drink white wine as it is too acidic for me, so my boyfriend had to drink mine as well as his which meant he had a nice nap in the taxi back to our hotel!
That afternoon we had a late lunch at the beach and went on some of the rides at Santa Monica pier which was very funny after our wine tasting! We also tried to win stuffed teddies on the stalls but weren't successful, but it's the taking part that counts hey. The evening was nice and chilled and we got an early night and watched TV. My favourite channel was A&E playing back to back prison programmes of course!!


Our last full day holiday we wanted to make the most of so got up early and rented bikes to ride along Santa Monica beach. I was doing my best to look at my surroundings whilst trying not to fall off my bike as I accidently rode through sand patches - at times disastrous. Then for our last night away, we had booked a table at Nobu Malibu which I can now say is the most unbelievable restaurant I have been to in the world. We sat at an open table on the beach listening to the loud waves crashing, with lots of people all around us and cool house music playing.

The setting alone was amazing, and the food was something else.I have been to Nobu before and they were so great with accommodating my requirements, but Nobu Malibu has another menu with dishes they do only at this branch as well as the standard dishes so of course I had to try something new.
As well as getting black cod (of course!) I got a Chilean sea bass dish which was totally on par with the black cod (told you sea bass was my new fave) but knowing that I only can have it at the Nobu in Malibu, means I have to go again. It will be an expensive date night flying out to Malibu for Chilean sea bass lol. It was the perfect end to a perfect two weeks away.

 

Having proper time off of real life made me realise how important it is. To actually RELAX and switch of and enjoy the moment did me the world of good. I am feeling so much healthier and stronger than before I went away, and the issues I was having before my holiday and flexi-sidmoidoscopys, blood tests, stool samples all seemed so far away. I was refreshed, in control, happy and healthy. The only thing to tackle now is my jet lag!!

XOXO Crohnie Girl