A woman has spoken out about Crohn's disease after her experience with the condition led to a devastating break-up.
Vicki Grant, 37, explained how she was shocked to lose both her job and her fiancé after she was diagnosed with the disease five years ago and it left her with a swollen 'moonface'.
Earlier this week, TV magician Dynamo shared a picture of his bloated face on Twitter, admitting his struggle with Crohn's and the side effects of the steroids he has to take.
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In an act of support and solidarity, the mum-of-three tweeted a picture of her face puffed up to more than twice its size.
Vicki told the Mirror: "One of my sons told me: 'Mum, you scare me looking like that.'
While she suffered from stomach pains and mouth ulcers throughout her teens, it wasn't until 2013 that she was given the life-changing diagnosis.
Her fiancé could not cope with the news and walked out. On top of that, she had to give up her job.
"I had no idea the journey I was about to take," said Vicki from Hackney, east London.
"Even now in remission, I still have a symptom every day, whether it's a mouth ulcer, joints or stomach pain, or the urge to go to the toilet."
As a teen, Vicki suffered in silence, ultimately lasting until 2013 when the pain became unbearable and she noticed blood in her stools.
When she was taken to Royal London Hospital, the doctors assumed it was a bug, but after many tests - including scans, X-rays, and an MRI - she was diagnosed with Crohn's.
After a long and painful stint in the hospital, Vicki was put on 25 pills a day. A week after leaving hospital came the bombshell from her fiancé.
"He could not deal with me having this. He went out one night and never came back. He kissed me goodbye then broke up by text," Vicki told the newspaper.
"I felt scared and alone. I got to a point where I didn't want to be alive, but I had three children. They were my strength."
Vicki eventually had to move back into her mum's and quit her job as she was unable to drive.
Needless to say, it's been a tough journey for Vicki. However, she also says she couldn't be happier because she has since reunited with her first love, 39-year-old Daniel Harvey.
"He loves me for who I am. He's been my rock. When I have joint pain he'll rub my back and legs for hours.
"He's cleaned up after me when I have had accidents. Now I thank my ex for what he did, because he brought me my first love back."
Vicki is no longer on medication, although she still has to go into hospital for IVs occasionally to stop the mouth ulcers.
Now she finds support from the Crohn's and Colitis UK charity, as well as sufferers' forums, and warns anyone suffering from the same symptoms to go and get them checked out straight away.
"I have lost loved ones, family and friends due to my illness," she says.
"But I have gained some amazing friends too. I am the happiest in my life, right now, that I have ever been."
Featured Image Credit: MirrorpixTopics: UK News