My Crohn’s Disease Story

Ok, here goes. I’m sharing my full journey here in the hope that it helps others feel seen and supported. Even when chronic symptoms make life feel uncertain, it is possible to rebuild health and feel like yourself again with the right support.

My Love of Food

I’ve always loved food. Growing up in a house where my mum was a brilliant cook, I happily cleared my plate and rarely experienced any serious digestive issues beyond the occasional bloating, food poisoning or sickness bug. In my 20s, I enjoyed cooking and experimenting with healthy recipes, from Deliciously Ella dishes to my own creations. Food was joyful, creative, and something I loved.

The Turning Point: Colombia

Everything changed at 27. Between jobs, I went solo-traveling to Colombia - a decision that gave my parents many sleepless nights! The first few weeks were amazing, but then came a sudden fever and diarrhoea.

At first, I assumed it was ‘just traveller’s diarrhoea’ and would pass quickly. It didn’t. Over the next two weeks, I had 5–10 liquid bowel movements a day, constant cramping, pain, and orange, fluffy stools that looked like something from outer space. I made it back to the UK and had endless visits to the GP, the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, and private consultants, all while starting a new job. Blood in my stool soon appeared, and colonoscopies revealed extreme inflammation and ulceration in my large colon.

I became an expert at pooping in a pot (if you have IBD you’ll relate to this all too well!) and, eventually, stool tests confirmed a parasite, Entamoeba histolytica. Despite feeling so poorly, I was relieved to finally have an answer. High-dose antibiotics soon wiped out the infection and I was certain this would be the road to recovery, but my symptoms persisted, and gut continued to deteriorate.

The Struggle That Followed

As fear around food grew, my diet became increasingly restrictive, and my exhaustion and anxiety worsened. I had to move back to my parents’ house in Shropshire as I couldn’t cope on my own in London. This was a really isolating time not being able to do all the things I loved - exercise, socialising, eating, and even sleeping! I felt so far removed from the vibrant Pippa that existed just 2 months prior.

As someone who had previously felt strong and active, I lost over two stone in weight and had so much muscle wastage that I looked skeletal. Then I started to notice my ankles were becoming really swollen and sore. It soon made walking almost impossible - my mum had to prop me up down the street - and this is when I was urgently admitted to St Thomas’s Hospital.

The care I received was incredible. After IV steroids and further testing, I was diagnosed with IBD-U - chronic intestinal inflammation showing characteristics of both Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis. After 4 weeks in hospital I went home with prednisolone steroids and encouraged to “wait and see.” Unfortunately, I didn’t respond well to them, so I returned to hospital and was advised to start a biologic, infliximab - a much more targeted immunomodulator. This treatment was life-saving, bringing my physical symptoms under control within a matter of weeks.

The Mental and Emotional Toll

What I wasn’t prepared for was the mental and emotional aftermath. I had been in extreme fight-or-flight mode since that first diarrhoea episode in Colombia, and I quickly learnt the power of the gut-brain connection, and this is not something that just improves over night. I suffered from painful anxiety and insomnia which was scary. Google searches only made me feel more confused and alone, and I wasn't sure if what I was experiencing was normal.

Support from family and friends kept me going, and I went on a journey with daily meditation, breathwork, diving into books, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. My nervous system began to calm and I learnt to let go rather than try and figure everything out.

Finding Strength Through Nutrition and Lifestyle

Navigating foods, socialising, exercise, work and travel was a constant learning curve and I often felt anxious about what might trigger a flare. But in time I soon discovered the incredible power of nutrition and lifestyle in restoring not just my gut health, but my strength, resilience, and confidence. Step by step, I rebuilt my body and my relationship with food.

Today, I feel so empowered - eating a wide variety of foods, travelling the world, running my own business and regularly participating in triathlons, trail runs, and weight training. It feels like living proof that when you support your gut, your whole body can thrive.

Why I Became a Practitioner

My journey inspired me to retrain as a Nutritional Therapist, graduating from the Institute for Optimum Nutrition with a Distinction and the award for most outstanding performance. This is something I’m really proud of as at my lowest ebb I never thought I’d be well enough to retrain and change career, let alone be good at it! I also more recently qualified as a Health Coach, as I realised that long-term behaviour change strategies was the missing piece in my client transformation toolkit.

I now support clients with IBD, IBS, reflux, fatigue, stress, hormone imbalances, and weight issues, helping them feel understood, and empowered to take back control of their health.

Crohn’s & Colitis 360°

Informed from my own experience and that of my clients, I created Crohn’s & Colitis 360°, an empowering, structured programme to bridge the gap between medical treatment and thriving in real life. It supports adults with IBD to rebuild trust in their body, gain confidence around food, and live fully without fear or constant second-guessing. I am so excited about how this level of 360° support, alongside medical care, can help people find joy and excitement from life again.

Wellness & Food

I am also a wellness chef, cooking at retreats and supper clubs, developing recipes for wellness brands, and constantly experimenting with gut-loving dishes that my clients and community find tasty, practical, and inspiring. For me, food is not just nourishment, it’s joy, connection, and a tool for building long-term wellbeing.

My Philosophy

My Crohn’s journey is by no means over, but I am in a place where I no longer feel like it’s running the show. I am grateful to now be in a place where I can raise awareness and support others who are going through a similar thing. This isn’t about quick fixes, diet fads, or supplement trends. It’s about helping people prioritise their health every day through simple, sustainable habits - from the food we eat, to movement, sleep, stress management, and connection with others.