- Rylan Clark’s mother, Linda, 60, has had severe Crohn’s Disease for 30 years
- When Rylan was a child she was not able to go on school trips with him
- He was not always able to have friends to stay as she was embarrassed
- Linda has had multiple bowel operations and takes numerous medications
- Rylan is fighting to raise awareness of the inflammatory bowel condition
- It is chronic and causes diarrhoea, abdominal pain, weight loss and fatigue
- It can cause life-threatening bowel obstructions and there is no cure
By
Emma Innes
06:49 EST, 11 May 2013
|
10:47 EST, 11 May 2013
X Factor finalist Rylan Clark has spoken out about his mother’s 30-year battle with crippling Crohn’s disease.
In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, the Celebrity Big Brother 2013 winner said that his mother’s illness had not only affected her but himself too, admitting that it impacted on his childhood and that he continues to worry about the state of her health today.
Rylan said that unlike other mothers, Linda Clark, 60, was unable to go on school trips with him. He added that she was sometimes so embarrassed about the symptoms of her disease that he was not allowed to invite friends to stay at his home for sleepovers.
Rylan’s mother, Linda Clark, 60 (left), was diagnosed with severe Crohn’s disease when she was in her 30s
He said: ‘My mum lost her job because of the disease – it totally dictates her life.
‘When she was diagnosed it really hit her hard because it wasn’t picked up early enough. The earlier you pick it up the easier it is to control.
‘I grew up with the disease as well because she was ill – it is life-threatening. It’s scary.’
‘It could be difficult when I was young because sometimes she couldn’t come on school trips and other times she was so embarrassed about her symptoms that I couldn’t have my mates to stay over.
The single mother, from Essex, was diagnosed with severe Crohn’s Disease when she was in her early thirties.
She has had to undergo multiple operations to remove damaged parts of her bowel and she takes numerous medicines every day.
Rylan, 24, said: ‘She tries to keep on top of it and to follow a strict diet but it is always hard to know what foods will cause a flare up.’
Rylan, who won Celebrity Big Brother 2013, says that when he was a child his mother was not able to go on school trips with him
He added: ‘I have always been aware of my mum’s illness but it was when I came into my teens that I realised how serious it was.’
Crohn’s disease is a chronic condition, which affects about one in 1,200 people in the UK, causing inflammation of the lining of the digestive system, although it is most commons in the intestines
It causes symptoms including diarrhoea, intense abdominal pain, weight loss and fatigue.
The X Factor finalist says that his mother’s life is dictated by the disease and that she has had to undergo multiple bowel operations to relieve the symptoms
The exact cause is not known but it is thought to be genetic and connected to the immune system. It is also known to be exacerbated by smoking.
There is currently no cure so medications have to be taken to reduce the symptoms and up to 70 per cent of patients require surgery to repair damaged parts of their digestive system.
Some even have to move onto a liquid-only diet if their symptoms are particularly severe.
Complications, such as a life-threatening bowel obstruction, can occur.
He is helping Crohn’s and Colitis UK to raise awareness of the chronic condition – their campaign aims to educate every child and teacher in UK schools about the disease in an attempt to prevent embarrassment
Rylan is aware of the genetic element to Crohn’s disease.
He said: ‘I have been tested for it and it is a slight worry but it is my mum that I worry about.
‘I hope that if I get it I will be able to manage it well. I know a lot about it but for now I am happy and healthy.’
Crohn’s affects one in every 1,200 people in the UK
The former model is now taking part in an awareness campaign organised by the charity Crohn’s and Colitis UK.
He said: ‘When I was growing up I thought my mum was the only person with Crohn’s.
‘This campaign is about raising awareness and we are trying to encourage every school in the country to educate the children and teachers about it – children with the condition shouldn’t have to be embarrassed and they shouldn’t have to explain in front of their class why they have to go to the toilet.’
He added: ‘I will do anything I can to help raise awareness. In the public eye it is not a glamorous disease but we want as many people as possible to know about it.
‘We want people not to be embarrassed, it is not a death sentence and it can be managed.’
For more information visit www.meandibd.org
WHAT IS CROHN’S DISEASE?
Crohn’s disease is a chronic condition which affects about one in 1,200 people in the UK.
It causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive system.
It can flare up anywhere in the digestive system but it is most common in the intestines.
It causes symptoms including diarrhoea, abdominal pain, weight loss and fatigue.
The exact cause is not known but it is thought to be genetic and is believed to be connected to the immune system. It is also known to be exacerbated by smoking.
There is currently no cure so medications have to be taken to reduce the symptoms and up to 70 per cent of patients require surgery to repair or remove damaged parts of their digestive system.
Some even have to move onto a liquid-only diet if their symptoms are particularly severe.
Complications, such as a life-threatening bowel obstruction, can occur.
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my sister was diagnosed at 15 , after saying she had anorexia . she had a bag for 18 months then a total ileostomy 4 years later . she is now nearly 59 . good on rylan for highlighting this
pauline
,
yorkshire,
11/5/2013 22:07
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What a lovely son he is. His poor mum has been through a lot. I didn’t realise how it can impact on the family.
judles
,
Essex,
11/5/2013 22:05
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He’s a great guy!
Sean
,
Londonderry, Ireland,
11/5/2013 22:02
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Horrible disease which effects everyone around the sufferer and of course themselves who have to go through the pain it causes. Thank you Ryan for raising awareness.
who would have thought
,
Lancashire,
11/5/2013 21:57
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Rylan is a very lovely person!
Luisa
,
Zürich, Switzerland,
11/5/2013 21:40
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Good for you Rylan, my dad suffered terribly for 30 years with multiple operations, spells in intensive care and a quality of life I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy – well done and all the best to your mum or any sufferers out there.
mirage72
,
Hertfordshire,
11/5/2013 21:05
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I had Ulcerative Colitis until I secumbed to the surgical solution. Crohns and UC are horrible illnesses, you are embarassed to tell anyone what is wrong with you. But when you do mention it, people usually tell you that they know someone or have a family member with the same thing. I am amazed how common these conditions are.
Ethel Bouton
,
Tandragee, United Kingdom,
11/5/2013 20:55
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I’m 21 and was diagnosed at 18, I knew what it was due to my dad having UC, but it took months for my friends to understand due to lack of awareness.
Welshie
,
Cardiff,
11/5/2013 20:26
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Some ignorant commenters on here. They just show themselves up and are not mildly funny. Crohen’s disease is horrible and I sympathise. Dont let em get to you Rylan, lots of people will get the message and haters are best ignored, then they can crawl back under the stone they crawled out from.
Jo
,
blackburn, United Kingdom,
11/5/2013 20:20
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Crohns is a debilitating disease that many people struggle with on a daily basis, myself included. Yet most people have never heard of it. Good on Rylan for using his opportunity in the limelight to highlight it but even more well done to his mum for being brave enough to let him talk about her condition.
My kids are small but already starting to be aware that there’s something not quite right when I have to pull them out of the park at a fast march for the toilets, or leave the shopping trolley in Tesco to go to the toilets or only send Daddy on the walk with them and it’s very hard. And I’m on the luckier end of the spectrum! Anything that raises awareness and funds for research is fantastic- I’m well aware that my kids could end up with it too even though the overall genetic risk is small.
Tess
,
Belfast N Ireland,
11/5/2013 20:16
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