Guts UK Charity

🌟 Your guardians of the gut are about to take a short break for the festivities. We will close on Tuesday 24th December at midday and will re-open Thursday 2nd January at 9am. This will mean we will not be available to take your calls or reply to your messages and e-mails during this festive break. If you have urgent medical questions or concerns, please contact your GP or phone NHS 111 or 999 if it is a medical emergency. Thank YOU for championing our cause for another year. We wouldn’t be here without you. We'll see you in 2025! 👋 #GutsUK #GutHealth #DigestiveSystem #DigestiveHealth #Gut #Liver #Pancreas #FestiveSeason #HappyHolidays

You’re never alone 💚 Whether it’s the festive period or otherwise. Samaritans are open day and night, 24/7. Living with digestive symptoms and conditions can feel particularly isolating at this time of year, but 365 days of the year you deserve support.

The festive season can bring big changes to our guts. Whether you celebrate or not, many of us find our diets and routines look a little different this time of year. Social events often revolve around food and drink, which can feel both physically and emotionally overwhelming. 💡Did you know? In the UK, 58% of people feel embarrassed to talk about their digestive condition or symptoms. It’s time to change that. Our guts deserve better. The role our digestive system plays contains some of the most natural processes on the planet, and it’s high time we gave our guts the understanding and acknowledgement they deserve! Know your ‘normal’! Your poo can give you clues about your health. Our Poo-Torial is a great place to start if you’re curious about what your poo might be telling you. Check it out via the link here: https://lnkd.in/eRVjkbdh This season, whether you’re indulging or taking it slow, listen to your body and seek help if something doesn’t feel right. Together, let’s get to grips with guts!💚 Please note: These tips may not be suitable for those with digestive conditions. Always follow the medical advice of your doctor, who knows you and your condition. #Tips #GutHealth #Guts #Festive #Constipation #Diarrhoea #Bloating #Heartburn #Reflux #GutsUK

There’s still time to have your say! 📢 If you have diverticular disease, it’s vital that your voice is heard when it comes to deciding the future research priorities into the condition. With more than 50 important questions identified by the first survey, we need your help to whittle them down to around 25, which we’ll take to a final workshop in February. We’re delighted to have joined forces with the medical research charity Bowel Research UK to reach as many people as possible for this Priority Setting Partnership. Together, we can decide the top ten research priorities for diverticular disease. 💚 Take the survey now at: https://ow.ly/L4VM50Up2IV.

The deadline is 17th February 2025… what are you waiting for?! 📣

Do you live in the UK and have a digestive condition? Natalie has Crohn’s disease, a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and is passionate about raising crucial awareness for IBD. She kindly joins us this Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week to explain a little more about our ‘This Can’t Wait' cards, which you may find useful. Designed for people with a digestive condition who might need to use the toilet urgently when they are away from home, our cards are FREE. You can easily slip one of our cards in your pocket, purse, wallet or even between your phone and phone case to take everywhere with you. They can be shown to people in public spaces where you may need to use a toilet urgently. To get your hands on your free card today, please fill in the form on our website: https://lnkd.in/gXhjE95v Please note: Our ‘This Can’t Wait' cards do not guarantee access to a toilet, but can help. It’s vital to remember that not all disabilities are visible. Together, with fellow supporters like Natalie, we can make much needed noise for our guts and create a world where talking about our guts in everyday conversation is a reality 💚 #IBD #InflammatoryBowelDisease #CrohnsAndColitis #Crohns #CrohnsDisease #UlcerativeColitis #Colitis #MicroscopicColitis #CrohnsAndColitisAwarenessWeek Video description: Natalie-Amber is holding a Guts UK “This Can’t Wait” card explaining what it is, who is it for and how can you obtain one.

"I reached a point where I said: ‘Take my bowel out. I don’t want it anymore.’” This Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week, we’re sharing Sian’s story. “My symptoms started around Christmas 2017. I started passing out a lot, but I thought it was just the flu. I’d come home from work and fall asleep on the sofa for hours. I tried to brush it off, thinking maybe I was just overdoing it. By March 2018, I noticed blood in the toilet, and I thought it would go away.” She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in October 2018. "I was shocked. My first reaction was: ‘I don’t know what this is.’" After years of trying various treatments and 13 different medications, Sian reached a breaking point: “I had daily bleeding for a year and a half. There was so much blood that I remember telling Matt: ‘Make sure I’m awake in the morning because I’m not feeling good tonight.’ It was a scary thing to say, but that was how bad it got to.” Today, Sian is in a more stable place: “It’s been a whirlwind journey, and we’re still figuring things out. Right now, I’m stable thanks to infusions, but it’s the last option. I wish people understood how much we have to adapt. It takes extra effort just to look ‘normal.’ People think when I start treatment, I’ll be fine. But the reality is, within six weeks or less, I’ll be really poorly again, and it’s exhausting explaining that every time.” Sian now uses her platform to raise awareness about ulcerative colitis: "I started my Instagram (Sian.IBD) two years ago to share my journey. It has made me more open. Nothing feels off-limits anymore. I talk about anything, even the graphic details, because I believe it’s important to raise awareness." Thank you, Sian, for sharing your journey and for helping to raise awareness for those living with ulcerative colitis.💚 👉 To read Sian's full story, head to the link here: https://ow.ly/wXLH50Uc3iy #UlcerativeColitis #Colitis #CrohnsAndColitisAwarenessWeek #IBD #BowelDisease #InflammatoryBowelDisease #Crohns #CrohnsDisease #CrohnsAndColitis #MicroscopicColitis #Awareness #Guts #GutsUK

For Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week, Nikita, Ziyad, and Ant are here to share their experiences living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Through their words, we’re shining a light on the challenges they face, the myths they encounter, and what they wish others understood. They answer the questions: • What’s one thing you wish people knew about living with IBD as a person from the BAME community? • What’s one myth about IBD that you often hear? • How is your life with IBD? IBD doesn’t just affect the gut. It impacts every part of life, from physical health to emotional wellbeing. IBD doesn’t look the same for everyone. For those in Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities, living with IBD can come with extra challenges. Misunderstandings, stigma, and cultural barriers often mean these voices are underrepresented. By sharing these powerful voices, we hope to spark conversations and build understanding. Help us spread awareness this Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week by sharing this video, talking to someone about IBD, and helping us break the stigma surrounding our guts. Together, we will get to grips with guts.💚 #CrohnsAndColitisAwarenessWeek #IBD #BowelDisease #InflammatoryBowelDisease #UlcerativeColitis #Colitis #Crohns #CrohnsDisease #CrohnsAndColitis #MicroscopicColitis #Awareness #Guts #GutsUK Video description: This video is a compilation of three clips. Nikita is wearing a black jumper, with her hair down, and standing in front of a white door. She answers the question: “What’s one thing you wish people knew about living with IBD as a person from the BAME community?” Ziyad is wearing a Guts UK t-shirt and stands in front of a white wall. He answers the question: “What’s one myth about IBD that you often hear?” Ant is wearing a black coat and speaking to the camera, answering the question: “How is your life with IBD?”

We’re pleased to be attending the launch of The IBD UK Report this week, to hear more about what is needed to better support people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD UK is a partnership of professional bodies, royal colleges, and patient organisations working together to improve care and treatment for everyone affected by inflammatory bowel disease. The report presents the findings from the biggest-ever survey of people with Crohn’s and Colitis in the UK. People living with IBD have reported a decline in the quality of care received over the last five years, and the report highlights how over-stretched and under-resourced IBD services are in the UK. The impact this has on people living with IBD is significant. The report provides key insights into diagnosis, treatment, personalised care, and workforce pressures. Check out Crohn's & Colitis UK's posts for more information and read the full report on the IBD UK website: https://lnkd.in/eBTaGW3z. #InflammatoryBowelDisease #IBD #CrohnsDisease #UlcerativeColitis #MicroscopicColitis #Awareness #Gastroenterology

This Giving Tuesday, let’s make a difference for our guts! 🌟 Giving Tuesday is a global day of generosity and kindness, where people come together to support causes that matter to them. It’s a day to show that small actions can make a big difference.   Why not make this Giving Tuesday the day you take action? Sign up for one of our exciting fundraising events. Whether it’s a bake sale at work, a sponsored weekend walk, a quiz night with friends, or a personal challenge that pushes you to your limits, you can help us get to grips with guts. Every donation, no matter the size, helps us drive change for the millions affected by digestive conditions and symptoms in the UK. Together, we can create a world where digestive health is better understood, better treated, and everyone gets the support they need. Have an idea or need help getting started? Our friendly fundraising team is here to support and help! You can visit the link in our bio for our events pages or reach out at [email protected]💚 Want to give in a simple and tax-efficient way? Payroll Giving might be for you! It’s a hassle-free option that lets you donate straight from your salary before tax. You decide how much to give, and you can adjust it anytime. A little goes a long way, and it’s a consistent way to make a big impact. Sign up today via our Payroll Giving Portal: https://lnkd.in/eyf47uKr #GivingTuesday #Fundraise #GutsUK