Soap star Jeff shares his personal account of debilitating condition
Any regular viewer of the hit Yorkshire soap Emmerdale will know Jeff Hordley as the loveable rogue Cain Dingle.
But few people will know that, since he was 26 years- old, Jeff has suffered from Crohn's Disease, the condition which killed his mum when he was just nine.
"Having lost my mum to Crohn's, I was devastated when I was diagnosed and thought that it was a death sentence," he says.
"However, my doctors were excellent and explained that I would do well after a major operation to remove parts of my bowel. At the time of the operation, I was a student actor and probably well- placed to talk openly about my condition. I personally find that people are
more supportive and understanding if they know about my condition.
"It is bad enough having Crohn's, but it can also be very embarrassing. If you are having a flare-up then you need to be near a toilet and not to be asked any awkward questions."
Crohn's Disease is an inflammatory condition which usually affects the intestines. There is no cure, but there are treatments that can control the symptoms, although most people, like Jeff, will need surgery at some time.
"I thought when I had the operation that I had seen the end of Crohn's Disease, but unfortunately it's not like that," said Jeff, who recently returned to Emmerdale after a three-year absence, when he spent time with his two young children and did some stage work. Seven years ago, he suffered a painful relapse and collapsed while watching his actress wife Zoe in a production at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds.
"I realised then that it was with me for life and I would just have to live with it."
He now tries to stay fit and watches what he eats as well as using complementary therapies to relieve the symptoms. Jeff is now trying to raise awareness of the condition.
"I was lucky as I had tutors who were understanding, but a lot of employers aren't. I want to try to raise awareness among them and how they could make life easier for people with Crohn's."
A recent survey found that the general public is largely unaware of Crohn's Disease and an associated condition, Colitis.
The National Association for Colitis and Crohn's Disease has joined forces with Jeff to raise awareness of the condition which affects one in 250 people.
"We are all so typically English when it comes to talking about bowels and bottoms," says Jeff.
"I am used to talking about it now, but when I was first diagnosed, I found it quite hard to explain to people what was wrong with me."
Jeff is enjoying his return to Emmerdale, although he says he enjoyed the break from playing lady-killer Cain.
"He's a great character and it is good to be back in Yorkshire."
Jeff is nothing like his alter- ego and has been happily married to Zoe since 2003 after the pair met while studying drama.
They have two children, Violet, four, and one-year-
old Stan.
"Being in Emmerdale actually makes it easier to see them because you know in advance when and where you will be working," says Jeff who juggles his time between home in Essex and Yorkshire.
But he is hoping that the family will be moving north soon.
CROHN'S FACTS AND FIGURES
Between 60,000 and 80,000 people in the United Kingdom live with Crohn's Disease
About 6,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.
Crohn's Disease affects men and women equally.
The most common age for diagnosis is between
15 and 25.
Crohn's Disease can affect anywhere from the mouth to the rectum, but most commonly affects the small intestine. It causes inflammation, deep ulcers and scarring to the wall of the intestine and often occurs in patches with healthy tissue in between.
There is no cure for Crohn's Disease.
The main symptoms usually include pain, urgent diarrhoea, severe tiredness and loss of weight. Crohn's Disease is quite often associated with other inflammatory conditions affecting the joints, skin and eyes.
For more information on Crohn's Disease and Colitis, contact the NACC on the Information Line 0845 130 2233, website www.nacc.org.uk or email nacc@nacc.org.uk
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