Sarah O’Connor details her diagnoses of Crohn’s disease and MS

In a feature published by The Sun, 29-year-old Sarah O’Connor details her experiences living with Crohn’s disease and multiple sclerosis after receiving both diagnoses within a 15-month span from December 2020 to March 2022. Writing about her journey from County Clare, O’Connor describes how chronic stomach issues that began in her childhood ultimately culminated in a Crohn’s diagnosis at age 24, followed by a subsequent multiple sclerosis diagnosis at age 27.

Key Clinical Takeaways:
• O’Connor received a Crohn’s disease diagnosis in December 2020 after years of gastrointestinal symptoms, alongside a family history of the condition.
• A subsequent multiple sclerosis diagnosis followed in March 2022 after she developed middle-eye inflammation and neurological sensory changes.

Childhood Illness and the Path to a Crohn’s Diagnosis

O’Connor reports a history of frequent infections during childhood, including monthly bouts of tonsillitis, glandular fever, and catching chickenpox twice, leading to the label of the “sick child” at school. Gastrointestinal symptoms began around age 12, prompting a colonoscopy at age 16 and another at age 21 that both returned clear results. However, when she reached age 24, her symptoms escalated significantly. She experienced more frequent bathroom visits, diarrhoea, extreme stomach cramps, weight loss, and visible blood and mucus in her stool. In December 2020, clinicians confirmed a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease, a condition her mother also manages. Subsequent medical evaluations revealed low bone density approaching osteoporosis, indicating that nutrient absorption had likely been compromised from a young age.

O'Connor Receives Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis After Eye Inflammation

Months into managing Crohn’s disease through medication, diet, and lifestyle adjustments, O’Connor still did not feel well. The ongoing care involved treatments such as a daily sachet, a monthly injection, and an infusion administered every eight weeks. After developing inflammation in the middle part of her eye, an ophthalmologist recommended a brain scan in October 2021. By March 2022, doctors confirmed a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. O’Connor states that she experienced severe fatigue, pins and needles, unusual itching, twitching, and strange sensations running down the back of her legs during walks. She notes that the second diagnosis felt significantly harder to accept because it complicated her medication regimen and made it difficult to determine which condition was causing specific symptoms.

Chronic Illness Forces O'Connor to Plan Daily Activities

Living with both incurable conditions affects every aspect of O’Connor’s life, from travel and work to social relationships. During a Crohn’s flare-up, her primary concerns involve mapping the nearest bathrooms, carrying spare clothes, and monitoring food choices. She explains that the unpredictability of chronic illness forces her to plan extensively and occasionally appear flaky, noting that one day she can scale a mountain while the next she cannot get out of bed. Public reactions present additional challenges, as people often equate Crohn’s with irritable bowel syndrome or conjure dramatic images of wheelchairs when hearing about multiple sclerosis.