wicks believes that many people are as much in the dark about ibd today as she was back then, despite the fact the disease currently affects an estimated 322,600 canadians with that total projected to grow to 470,000 by 2035.
“there’s a misconception that ibd is just a bathroom disease,” says wicks. while diarrhea and abdominal pain are certainly among its symptoms, that’s a fraction of the story. not to be confused with irritable bowel syndrome (ibs) — which shares some of the same symptoms as ibd but does not cause permanent harm to the intestines — ibd is a chronic autoimmune disease in the same category as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, and currently it has no cure.
in the digestive tract, ibd can cause problems ranging from mouth ulcers to frequent vomiting, malnutrition due to poor nutrient absorption and anemia from internal bleeding.
but ibd can have effects elsewhere in the body, as well. for example, it can bring bone-deep fatigue, which is often difficult to combat, even with extensive rest. as a result of this chronic fatigue, plus pain, wicks says she and her husband live in a bungalow, because “four to five days out of seven, stairs would be impossible for me.”
while managing the burden of this disease, which includes staying on top of appointments and treatments, those with ibd live with never-ending uncertainty. wicks says every minor pain brings constant worry of a new escalation in symptoms. further, sudden, unpredictable symptom flares can derail planned activities.