Emma Brockie did not let the "wee hiccup'' of a trip to Dunedin Hospital's emergency department stymie her plan to talk about her often misunderstood medical condition.
An interview ahead of today's Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Day took place while Mrs Brockie (23) waited in ED for blood tests, instead of at home in Dunedin as planned.
A bout of abdominal pain prompted the trip to hospital.
Mrs Brockie wanted to tell her story to encourage others to speak up and not be ashamed.
"So many more people in New Zealand have it than we ever realise.''
Mrs Brockie was diagnosed five years ago with ulcerative colitis, and last year had major surgery to remove her large intestine.
Follow-up surgery two months ago removed a stoma which had been put in to allow her to heal internally.
Yesterday, clinicians were trying to figure out the cause of Mrs Brockie's pain.
The ED trip had been a "bit of a shock'', as the recovery from the second procedure had been going well, although it was not unusual to have the odd "setback'' after surgery.
Visits to the ED had been more frequent in the past.
At Mrs Brockie's bedside was her husband, Mat. The pair married in October last year. Many IBD sufferers feared they would be unable to have a relationship, Mrs Brockie said.
"Having IBD doesn't hinder relationships. If someone's going to have a problem with that, then they are not the right person for you.
"I hear so many times that people are scared that they're never going to have a meaningful relationship because no-one will accept them.''
Mrs Brockie said there was a "very small chance'' the condition could take take hold again internally after the major surgery.
"This is the closest thing to a cure that there is for ulcerative colitis.''
"It will be always a part of me, I probably won't ever be normal, but I'll get as close to normal as possible.''
Another misconception was confusion between IBD and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
About 15,000 New Zealanders have Crohn's disease or colitis, and the prevalence of the conditions was increasing.
Mrs Brockie was determined to be positive about the condition, and hoped people would be encouraged by her experience.
"It's all about awareness, but I don't want to scare people.''
