Peyton's Story

Hello everyone!! I’m Peyton! The founder of Poppi Poo’s & Company LLC! My mission is to help those who battle with Irritable Bowel Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome become more comfortable and confident. 

Here’s a little bit about me and my story

I’m Peyton, I’m 25, a small town girl from Ohio who battles Ulcerative Colitis daily. 

In June of 2017, I became sick and just thought it was some sort of virus until I started noticing blood and knew something was not right. I ended up having a colonoscopy and at the age of 17 right before my senior year of high school I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. My family and I did not know much about ulcerative colitis, my mom knew more than I did as she was a nurse but I had no idea how much ulcerative colitis would impact my life forever. 

After being diagnosed I was still extremely sick, making multiple trips to the ER, changing my entire diet and going gluten and dairy free, which believe me was extremely difficult after eating a typical “normal” diet. I was referred to a Gastrointestinal doctor who was local, I saw him only few times before we realized he was not taking us seriously and my parents decided it was best to go to Cleveland Clinic. My first visit at Cleveland Clinic I remember being nervous not knowing what to expect. We spent over 2 hours speaking with the pediatric resident and doctor who gave us so much information about ulcerative colitis that we had no idea about, like being at risk for blood clots. One of the best parts was my doctor saying she would keep me until I was either pregnant or had a higher degree than she did. She switched my medications and put me on medications that were actually for my disease because the local doctor had put me on medications that wouldn’t even reach the part of my colon that I needed them to reach. I still receive care from the same doctor at Cleveland Clinic at the age of 24 and I’m forever grateful for her and her team. 

I had no idea how much Ulcerative Colitis would impact my life. There are good times but there are also bad and embarrassing times that come with IBD. From not being able to go out with friends because you’re so sick and stuck in the bathroom, or running through a store with a bathroom card just to be told you can’t use the bathroom and not knowing if you’ll make it to the next, to being made fun of because of steroids that are keeping me from losing my colon, causing me to gain weight and look like a blow fish, and the feeling of being absolutely defeated. 

In March of 2018, my disease challenged me in more ways than one I was just a couple months away from graduating high school and about to leave for my senior trip to Florida. I was in a flare and my parents allowed me to go on senior trip. It was a struggle knowing that people were making fun of me for the smell of blood and not being able to help it. My best friend who at the time went to another school invited me to fly back to Florida with her and her family for the following week. I knew if I told my parents that I was still flaring they wouldn’t allow me to go so I ended up lying to them and saying I wasn’t flaring anymore to be able to go with her back to Florida for the week. The night we got to Florida I felt so sick and spent my night in the bathroom. I then told my mom that I lied and was still in a flare. The next day I called my doctor at Cleveland Clinic and she told me I needed to come to Cleveland clinic immediately, well that was tough because I was in Florida.  A couple days passed and I was able to fly home and immediately went to a local hospital. My hemoglobin was extremely low and I was admitted. If I wouldn’t have admitted I was still flaring I would probably not be here right now. I could see the fear in my parents eyes and later I found out that they weren’t sure I was going to make it. My doctor at Cleveland decided to let me stay at a local hospital under her orders for a few days but if I didn’t turn around I would be transferred to Cleveland.  I had blood transfusions, steroids, pain meds, etc. Six days went by and I still hadn’t made any change so off to Cleveland I went. I was given more medications, blood transfusions, had tons of testing, and more. I started making a turn around after being put on a new infusion and high doses of steroids and it was finally time to be discharged. A week went by and I started having pain in my left thigh so because they had drilled in our heads about the risk of blood clots I went and had an ultrasound it revealed a DVT. I then had to go back to Cleveland Clinic to be readmitted because I couldn’t just take the pills like someone who doesn’t have IBD. I remember feeling so defeated during all of this and crying because I was missing out on the rest of my senior year. Because of all of this I was only able to do half days of school for the last couple months of school. 

The feeling of defeat that comes with this disease is not easy to deal with. From medications not working, having multiple surgeries because you don’t heal correctly due to medications, having arthritis due to IBD, to feeling embarrassed and scared to talk about it, to not being able go out and do things because you’re scared of not knowing if I’ll end up flaring. 

I learned that everything that this disease throws at me it only makes me stronger. That this disease will not stop me from doing the things I love. It won’t stop me from spreading awareness and helping others who struggle like I do. 

Because of everything this disease has put me through and continues to put me through I knew it was time to do something so others who have IBD and IBS don’t have to deal with the embarrassment and struggles that I’ve had to go through. I always knew I wanted to do something to help others who also struggle with IBD and IBS, so I have created IBD/IBS emergency kit bags that include the things you need incase of a flare. Trust me these products are the best! I will also have just the products available for purchase for those wanting to restock their kits or just buy the products. I want everyone to be able to go out in public, go to school, travel, and do the things they love without the worry of everything that comes with a flare. I hope to reach as many people as possible to be able to create a community where we can all help each other and feel more confident while we go out and live the lives we all deserve without the worry of our IBD or IBS. Let’s be the bosses of our IBD and IBS together.