A research study led by the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Exeter is seeking volunteers to help speed up diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Backed by the ‘Know Your Sh*t’ campaign, the RAPID-IBD study is inviting people with unexplained gut symptoms to take part. It is open to anyone aged 16–49 living in the EX postcode area.

Inflammatory bowel disease is an umbrella term for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which affect 1 in 100 people in the UK. They are lifelong conditions causing unpleasant symptoms such as abdominal pain that won’t go away, diarrhoea that can’t wait, and blood in your poo.

For professional footballer, Jack Fitzwater, defender for Exeter City football club, the challenges of living with IBD are all too familiar.

Jack explains:

“It was everyday life, constantly going to the toilet. It affected me in football, outside of football, and in my relationships with friends and family. I became irritable, and until I got the right diagnosis and medication, I was stuck in a cycle of trying my best to feel well while never really being well at all.

Speeding up diagnosis will massively help people get the right treatment, especially younger people. I know how hard it is to face that fear of seeking help for something so uncomfortable. That’s why a campaign like this can only benefit everyone.”

Unfortunately, delays in diagnosis are common, often because people feel embarrassed or worried about seeking help. Around one quarter of patients experience debilitating symptoms for more than a year before diagnosis. 

Funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the national patient charity Crohn’s & Colitis UK, the study explores whether directly providing people with a simple test can help them take greater control of their health.

Dr Tariq Ahmad, Consultant Gastroenterologist at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said: 

“Reducing the time to diagnosis and earlier treatment could reduce emergency hospital admissions, limit the need for surgery, and improve quality of life.”

Catherine Winsor, Director of Services & Evidence at Crohn’s & Colitis UK said:

“We know that people are waiting too long to be diagnosed with Crohn's and Colitis, and one of the big challenges is that the symptoms overlap with those of other conditions. Simple, accessible stool tests have the potential to be a game-changer for people who are in pain and in need of answers. The sooner someone is diagnosed with IBD, starts on the right treatment and gets back to living the life they want, the better it is for everyone."

Have you experienced any of the symptoms above? To take part in a study aiming to improve the lives of people with IBD, please visit the study website to order a free test.