Living with a secret: Dominique Nugent shares her Unspoken

In the 'Unspoken by Dr Clodagh Campbell' podcast episode titled 'Living with a secret: Dominique Nugent shares her Unspoken,' Dominique Nugent courageously opens up about her struggle with ulcerative colitis, an autoimmune inflammatory bowel disease. The episode unfolds with Dominique recounting the onset of her symptoms towards the end of 2020, which she initially attributed to emotional stress. As her condition worsened, she experienced an urgency to use the bathroom, diarrhea, and blood in her stool, leading to significant disruption in her daily life. Despite the severity of her symptoms, Dominique delayed seeking medical help due to embarrassment and the hope that her condition would improve on its own.

Dominique's symptoms became increasingly difficult to manage, particularly after moving in with her partner, Paddy, whose presence made it harder for her to conceal her condition. The turning point came when the fear of a serious illness outweighed her embarrassment, prompting her to consult a doctor. After enduring a long and anxious process of tests and misdiagnoses, Dominique was finally diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. She was prescribed steroids, which initially did not alleviate her symptoms, leading to her hospitalization and the start of a biologic drug treatment. This new medication marked a dramatic improvement in her symptoms, allowing her to regain a semblance of normalcy in her life.

The episode also features a segment with pharmacist Una O'Hagan, who clarifies the differences between IBS and IBD, emphasizing the importance of gut health and offering advice on managing these conditions through diet, hydration, sleep, exercise, stress management, and supplements like Symprove.