Jackie Sharp has survived the worst of Crohn's disease.
Now 36, the Central Coast resident is pushing her body to new limits, while managing ongoing complications.
"I had fatigue in my early 20s, with constant sleeping. I'd been seeing a gastroenterologist, who thought maybe it was coeliac disease," said Mrs Sharp, of Wamberal.
In 2016, she was diagnosed with Crohn's disease after an endoscopy and colonoscopy confirmed "everything was inflamed".
"In a way that was a relief because it's good to have an answer," she said.
Mrs Sharp shared her story to mark this month's Live Fearless Challenge, which raises money for Crohn's & Colitis Australia.
The challenge urges people to move in "whatever way works for their body while raising awareness and funds for Australians living with inflammatory bowel disease".
Mrs Sharp said exercise "plays a huge role in my mental and physical health".
She ran a marathon last year, raising $5400.
"A marathon is like a victory lap. The hardest part is the training in the lead up," she said.
She joined a gym this year, where she does high-intensity training.
"It's been great to push myself in new ways. It's amazing what we're capable of if we put our mind to it. I don't let the diagnosis define me," she said.
She went to hospital in January 2019 with a "complete bowel obstruction".
"I was in hospital on my birthday. Then I ended up having a bowel resection," she said.
"I couldn't eat for 10 days and lost a huge amount of weight. They ended up taking 30 centimetres out of my bowel. The recovery was full on, but it has been life-changing for me.
"I don't think I realised how sick I was."
She often reflects on that period in hospital, which was "an incredibly difficult and hard time".
"I feel fortunate now that I'm in a position where I can exercise," she said.
From 2016 to 2018, she had repeated colonoscopies.
"At one point, they couldn't even get the scope up because it was so inflamed from so many ulcers," she said.
"In 2018, I was at my worst. It got to the point where I'd have dinner and vomit shortly after. I ended up in a lot of pain."
She went through a period of being anxious to eat certain foods.
"I remember on my wedding night, not wanting to eat some of the food there because I was nervous I'd end up with a stomach ache," she said.
"I'm still conscious of what I eat, but very aware of what triggers me. It's important for people who have Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis to avoid trigger foods.
"Early on, I'd need to be aware of where a bathroom was. It became a running joke among friends."
The inflammation that caused the worst of her symptoms is now in remission. She takes immunosuppressant drugs and has blood tests every 10 to 12 weeks.
However, she has had repeated surgeries for fistulas - the latest in June - which are complications of Crohn's.
"It's part of my everyday life now. This is just the card I've been dealt and I take it in my stride and continue on. You've got to look at the positives," Mrs Sharp said.
She has been with husband Matt Sharp since she was 18.
"I'm lucky to have a supportive partner who has been with me through the entire Crohn's journey," she said.
