She has enough of hiding - and shows her "invisible illness"
At first glance, you only see her radiant smile and pretty face. A proud expectant mother presenting her belly by selfie. But Krystal Miller is not just talking about the growing baby: As a teenager, the now 32-year-old Australian from Perth got a devastating diagnosis: Crohn's disease, an incurable bowel disease.
Until then, she had suffered pain for countless days: abdominal cramps, diarrhea, loss of blood and constant nausea - at times she could not even brush her teeth without vomiting. She tried different therapies, but it did not get better. When the doctors finally suggested that she give her an artificial bowel, the then 22-year-old immediately said, "I just did not want to die because that's how the pain felt," Krystal tells Daily Mail Australia. "Just because you do not look sick does not mean that you're well."
The operation removed the diseased parts of her large and small intestines and anus from the young woman. Since then she wears a so-called ostomy bag, which catches her excretions. Because many women who feel like Krystal are ashamed of their illness, the two-time mother launched her Facebook page "Bag Lady Mama" about a week ago on Facebook. There she shows pictures of herself, her family and yes, also of life with the artificial intestinal exit.
Stoma appreciation! Thank you for making me who I am today! Thank you all for joining me on this journey !! This is my ...
Posted by Bag Lady Mama on Friday, February 5, 2016*** ADULTS ONLY *** Soooo ... Lets talk about sex baby !! Firstly, I love this pic! I'm 30 odd weeks pregnant here with ...
Posted by Bag Lady Mama on Monday, February 01, 2016Within days, their fan base has grown to more than 1,000 people, hourly spin supportive comments. Krystal wants to use her example to sensitize people to their illness, to enlighten them and to encourage others - because women are often ashamed of it. She wants to be an ambassador for "bag ladies" - and show them that even with an ostomy bag, they can have a full life and even children.
Background: What is Crohn's disease?
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. It can occur in any part of the digestive tract (from the mouth to the anus), but usually affects the last small intestine and first section of the colon. In Crohn's disease patients, not only the surface of the intestinal mucosa is inflamed, but also partially deeper layers.
The causes of Crohn's disease are still unclear - however, as the disease is common to several family members, it appears to be genetically predisposed. Environmental factors such as smoking or psychological stress can also negatively influence the course of the disease.
Crohn's disease occurs at a young age - usually between the age of 15 and 35 - and runs in spurts. Typical symptoms include persistent diarrhea and spasmodic pain in the right lower abdomen. Depending on which section of the intestinal tract is affected, the symptoms also vary.
Several medical examinations are necessary for a medical diagnosis: blood analysis, abdominal ultrasound, colonoscopy and tissue samples. Acute relapses are treated with cortisone and anti-inflammatory drugs. Crohn's disease is not curable.
