Man almost died after ignoring excruciating stomach symptoms for nine months before something burst
When it comes to health issues in intimate areas, many of us will simply wait for them to disappear, rather than seeking out treatment.
Stefan White put up with excruciating pain in his stomach and nether regions for around nine months until he eventually passed out and took himself to hospital.
The 31-year-old was living with an undiagnosed chronic illness that would only be revealed once he had been told that he was 'on his way to die', shortly after being taken in for emergency surgery.
An abscess which had been growing inside the business owner's stomach suddenly burst in February 2024, leaving him in horrible pain and throwing up green liquid.
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Although the surgeon was able to save his life, and his bowel, he would have to suffer through a 'horrendous' recovery period before learning that he had been diagnosed with Crohn's disease, a chronic and incurable lifelong illness.
Speaking to LADbible, Stefan said: “We weren’t aware of anything really. Going into 2023, I was having my flare-ups, but I didn’t know what it was. I’ve always had loose stools, my whole life. I never went to a GP or a hospital, and at the age of 29, I was proud of that. The biggest sign was that I started to get abscesses in my bum where the anal fistulas were growing.
"I thought I had torn my bum hole effectively. I was just ignoring the fact that I was going to the toilet nine times a day, with black stool. I was drained. I thought it was something I would just eventually get out of.
“Eventually we did some checks, I had a colonoscopy in the December. As I was about to get the results from that, everything went south. I passed out on New Years' Eve at 7, I was throwing up green stuff, which was very strange.
"In the February I passed out again after feeling really bad in the morning. I went to the GP, they said I needed to go to the hospital. I passed out again and woke up in the hospital and there was so much to do. I had the complex anal fistulas, the burst abscess and potentially sepsis into the bloodstream. I was on my way to die."
Fortunately for Stefan, he was in good hands. His surgeon was not only able to keep him from dying but he also ensured that despite the damage to his stomach, he wouldn't have to use a stoma bag for the rest of life.
Stoma bags are an emergency treatment for people with severe bowel cancer or inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's or Colitis, and essentially see human waste deposited into the medical bag, rather than out of the usual end.
Although these can be life-saving for some people when there is no alternative, Stefan was glad to avoid it, even if it meant the surgeon 'ripping up' his downstairs and using strings to connect the various muscles down there.
Now, Stefan is dedicating his life to raising awareness of Crohn's disease, by attempting to reduce the stigma attached to it.
He added: “In society, we don’t have enough awareness of Colitis and Crohn’s disease. People need to know the differences between the two, for example nicotine is great for Colitis but awful for Crohn’s.
“If you’ve got problems, especially men because we’re the worst for it, don’t try and be a hero and survive it, go to see the doctor. I dragged it out for about nine months, which was stupid. I made assumptions but once you’re in a flare-up, there’s nothing you can do. It doesn’t matter what you eat, it’s like a volcano has erupted."
Crohn's is far more than just feeling like you always need to go to the bathroom, as it can also lead to cases of serious fatigue, particularly when suffering from something known as a flare up.
This is a period of active, heightened inflammation where stomach cramps, diarrhoea and fatigue are far worse than usual, and they can often last for months at a time.
Stefan suffered through a flare-up that lasted six months last year and he still goes to the bathroom far more than most, but he's learned that denying himself luxuries such as alcohol and caffeine do little to improve his health, instead identifying stress as the biggest factor in a flare-up.
Although running his own business can be stressful at times, Stefan wants to help those who suffer from mouth ulcers, which is another common symptom of Crohn's disease.
He launched an electric flossing business called Tahir, which is dedicated to the surgeon who saved his life.
Stefan is well aware of the health issues that Crohn's can pose, especially with the links to colorectal cancer - the fastest growing cancer among young people - but that doesn't stop him from wanting to leave a legacy.
He concluded: "I know I'm not going to make it like to the older ages, I'm fully aware of that especially with my Crohn’s. It's about having a lasting impact. I want my name to be uttered in 100 years’ time. I want to have a big family that are proud of great-granddad Stefan, who tried to do something with his Crohn's disease.”
James Moorhouse