The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Angus man smiling again despite 15-year health nightmare
David Ogilvie had surgery for Crohn’s disease in 2014 but fought back and has just climbed two Munros
An Angus man has told how he’s fought back from the brink after a health nightmare where he was given just weeks to live.
David Ogilvie, 33, who works in Morrison’s supermarket in Arbroath, has battled health issues for 15 years since being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease aged just 18.
In 2014, he was given four weeks to live if he didn’t have surgery and was off work for four months to recover and suffered from depression.
Before his surgery he was struggling with pains and going to the toilet 15 times a day – often losing blood.
He managed to get the help he needed during his darkest days following bowel removal surgery and eventually returned to work.
Mr Ogilvie decided to mark three years since his surgery by successfully climbing two Munros in one day – Mayar and Driesh in Glen Doll.
He said: “It’s something out of my comfort zone and I feel a huge sense of achievement.
“I did it for all the nurses, doctors, surgeons and psychologists and my amazing family who helped me from the lowest point of my life to the highest point at the top of two Munros.
“I am sharing my story to tell other people suffering with illnesses that you can still live your life no matter the adversities you go through.”
Mr Ogilvie had his first surgery at 18 to remove ulcers, abscesses and a fistula and was left with an open wound that was packed every day for three months.
Through his twenties he often had flare-ups leaving him on steroids for months at a time with rapid weight loss and weight gain when taking steroids.
He said: “On June 23 2014 my illness progressed to the point I lost so much weight and lost blood every time I went to the toilet.
“We had a family holiday booked and were due to fly on July 4 2014 but my surgeon said if I left the hospital I didn’t have more than four weeks to live.
“Things had got to the point where I needed more surgery that was going to leave me with an ileostomy bag for life – I didn’t want this but I had no other option.
“On June 23 I had all my large bowel removed. I spent three weeks in hospital with four of those days where I couldn’t eat because my bowel had stopped working.
“When I was well enough to leave the hospital I had four months off my work to recover and learn the way things were now going to be.
“Shortly after my surgery I did struggle with having a bag and struggled with post-operative depression, but with help from psychologists at Ryehill health centre I got the help I needed.
“So it is three years this month since my surgery and I wanted to do something to test myself to show people that after a hardship things do get better and you can live your life just the same as anyone else – the sky is your limit.”
It’s something out of my comfort zone and I feel a huge sense of achievement. DAVID OGILVIE