SESTO FIORENTINO (ITALPRESS) – The shame of a chronic illness that forces you to run to the bathroom up to 20 times a day. The discomfort of not managing the urgency, of being incontinent. The frustration of not being understood. The knowledge that you are stronger because of the disease. The happiness of an unexpected pregnancy. The wonder of abandoning regrets to open up to new experiences. The anxiety in moments of intimacy that limit a full, unprejudiced sexuality. The desire and willingness to go beyond the limits of ulcerative colitis.These are some of the emotions released by “Voices of the Belly,” an awareness campaign promoted by Lilly under the sponsorship of AMICI ITALIA, IG-IBD (Italian Group for the study of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases) and EFCCA (European Federation of Crohn’s & Ulcerative Colitis Association). Presented today in Milan at the Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Foundation, the campaign stems from the desire to break the wall of embarrassment to encourage dialogue about ulcerative colitis and the disruptive symptoms it brings. “Ulcerative colitis (CU), Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), affects more than 150,000 people in Italy, with more than 4,000 new diagnoses per year and is constantly increasing in all age groups. It is an “invisibleè disease with disabling and embarrassing symptoms such as frequency of evacuation, rectal bleeding and intestinal urgency that have a strong impact on the quality of life and psychological sphere, leading some patients to social isolation and self-esteem. In some cases, ulcerative colitis progresses to a moderate to severe degree of disease, so therapeutic interventions are needed that can act quickly in counteracting the most disabling symptoms,” says Cristina Bezzio, Gastroenterology Physician at IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas in Rozzano, IBD Unit and Member of the Executive Board of Italian Group for the study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IG-IBD).”Talking about it, telling about it, explaining what it means to live with a chronic disease like ulcerative colitis and what the symptoms are, could change people’s perception, family, social and intimate relationships. Here, it’s hard, sure. It’s hard to tell about having to go to the bathroom even 20 times a day. Diarrhea is embarrassing, but it will continue to be embarrassing until you ennoble it to the status of a symptom. A symptom like any other. You have to talk about it especially to those who don’t understand, those who don’t know, because this is the key to normalizing.” This is one of the stories of experiences, desires and hopes collected in the Diary of Emotions, a cross-section of life with ulcerative colitis and white spaces to tell one’s story and jot down one’s thoughts, inspired by the stories of those who know and live the daily life broken by the symptoms of ulcerative colitis.The Diary of Emotions is one of the tools created as part of the “Voices of the Belly” awareness campaign to transform the current paradigm, between silences and embarrassments, in favor of unfiltered communication. An archetypal book that tells stories of those living with ulcerative colitis through the lens of emotions: anger, fear, acceptance, serenity, courage and many others, amid regrets and new ambitions. “With Voices of the Belly,” stresses Salvo Leone, Director General of AMICI Italy and Chairman of the European Federation of Crohn’s & Ulcerative Colitis Associations (EFCCA), “we want to break the silence and overcome the sense of shame and embarrassment that often accompanies ulcerative colitis. It is a condition that goes beyond simple physical discomfort, profoundly affecting the quality of life and the social, family and professional ties of those who suffer from it. Talking about it is essential. Open and informed dialogue with one’s doctor and those close to one allows one to face the disease more calmly, break down prejudices, and restore dignity to those who feel isolated. This campaign is not just a set of practical tools, but a gateway to understanding and empathy. When we share our stories and normalize symptoms, we empower those who face this invisible battle every day. Awareness and the courage to tell our stories are the keys to a better life. “Emotions fuel and permeate the campaign, which also uses practical tools so that people with ulcerative colitis can gain awareness and find the right words to best address the issue, so as to create an environment of understanding and openness. To talk about it without any more embarrassment. These include the Conversation Guide, with useful tips for raising awareness among friends and family and facilitating dialogue with one’s doctor, as well as a glossary of ulcerative colitis words. With the knowledge that talking about it can be supportive in managing the condition and reducing anxiety. Still, among the tools made available by the campaign is the “Embarrassment Questions” decalogue: ten questions and answers that address topics such as sexuality, intimacy and motherhood, without filters. Those questions “that you’ve never had the courage to ask” and that can instead represent useful starting points from which to explore these issues with your doctor. “We are proud,” says Federico Villa, Associate Vice President Corporate Affairs & Patient Access Lilly Italia, “to be at the side of the patient association AMICI Italia and the scientific reference societies to respond to the health needs of people living with ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with symptoms as invisible as they are disabling. With this outreach project, we are happy to reaffirm everyone’s right to health, above all else, with a desire to positively impact well-rounded wellness that goes beyond therapeutic innovation. We nurture new possibilities for dialogue that can improve the quality of life for patients and family members. “The “Voices of the Belly” campaign is conveyed through the AMICI Italia Patient Association’s social channels: photographic materials, illustrations, videos, tips and stories to raise awareness and inform about ulcerative colitis.All materials can be viewed and downloaded at www.lillysite.net/it/voci-di-pancia/index.html.
– Photo xh7/Italpress –
(ITALPRESS).
