Instead of going out and having fun with her 20s, Kirsty Heron, from Swinton, spent most of her time in mattress, battling fixed stomach pains and crying.

At the age of 21, she was recognized with ulcerative colitis, which describes a power situation that triggers inflammation and ulcers on the inside lining of your massive gut.

Kirsty instructed the Manchester Evening News: “For a young girl like me to have her life put on hold by an illness was upsetting. 

“To be diagnosed with something you had never heard of before was scary.

“I was crying nearly every day because I thought I shouldn’t have to live my life like that at such a young age – waking up with no energy, not being able to eat or have fun.”

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The admin employee was at house when she was struck with sudden cramping pains, prompting her to make use of the john.

Between the 4 rest room partitions, Kirsty seen a considerable amount of blood in the toilet bowl, which led to the choice of her mother and father to take her to a hospital.

Kirsty stated: “I had no other symptoms. It was a stinging pain, like when you have an ulcer in your mouth but it was in my stomach. 

“I was losing quite a lot of blood. It was quite scary.”

According to the NHS, the signs of ulcerative colitis embrace recurring diarrhoea, which can include blood, mucus or pus, tummy ache and the urge to poo ceaselessly.

In the hospital, the 21-year-old was then despatched for a scan, which revealed that her bowl was infected and that she had ulcerative colitis.

The inflammatory situation can show painful and even result in extreme problems.

Over the subsequent three years, Kirsty was combating fixed ache as her physique rejected each single remedy she was supplied.

She added: “I was in constant pain and I constantly felt tired.

“I had no energy and I was scared of eating because every time I ate the stinging pain was horrendous. I was in and out of hospital because the flare-ups were so bad.

“I couldn’t go out and enjoy myself without worrying whether I would need the toilet or whether I would make it to a toilet. I was so drained from it all.

“Being 24 years of age, I felt like I should have been going out with my friends and family. I used to go to the gym a lot too – then nothing.”

The lady revealed she would need the toilet between 15 to twenty occasions a day.

In February, she had to return to hospital after a nasty flare-up and he or she was given the choice of a stoma bag.

She stated: “I met with the surgeons to discuss my options and at this point I was more than happy to have the surgery.

“I just wanted my life back. But I thought, ‘How am I going to wear my everyday clothes?’ My anxiety was through the roof. I thought people were going to know I had a stoma.”

The 24-year-old was additionally supplied a second bag, known as a mucous fistula, which helps divert mucus out of her physique.

Fortunately, the operation ended up being the “best thing” she has ever performed and gave Kirsty her life again.

The 24-year-old added: “I’ve been doing everything. I’m so happy to have my life back how it was three years ago before I got diagnosed.

“Even if I have two stoma bags, I’m glad I’m not in pain anymore and I can go out and enjoy time with family and friends.

“I want more people to know about ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease and stoma bags - that even if you have a bag, it doesn’t stop you doing what you want to do.”