The almost thirty-year-old footballer lost nearly two years of his career with Manchester United and the Scotland national team due to the inflammatory bowel disease that affected him and eventually required surgery.
Following the operation, he made a full recovery and managed to regain his place in the Manchester United squad. Fletcher admitted that he initially lied to his teammates about his condition because it was extremely difficult for him to reveal the truth.
“I remember when I was first diagnosed, I was indifferent and didn’t give it the importance it deserved,” said Fletcher. “Looking back now, I think that was quite immature of me, but I was a professional footballer playing in the Premier League for Manchester United. I felt on top of the world and believed nothing could touch me.”
“Looking back now, I want people who are diagnosed with IBD in the future to take it very seriously and understand the impact the disease can have on their lives.
“I remember that at first the symptoms were very mild and had no real effect on my life or my career.
“It wasn’t until the symptoms returned in 2010 that my real battle with Ulcerative Colitis began. Eventually, it led to surgery so that I could continue with my career.”
“The biggest thing is awareness. I remained silent until around 2011 or 2012 because the symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis are not something you can easily share with others. Only my family and a few close friends knew, but no one else at the club was aware.
“I found it very difficult constantly having to come up with excuses about why I wasn’t training, why I looked unwell, or why I frequently had to run to the bathroom. I found it exhausting making excuses and hiding the truth.
“When I started talking about it publicly, I felt an enormous sense of relief. It was the best thing I ever did. Although I still suffer from symptoms of the disease, sharing my experience has helped me tremendously.”
“At first, I was worried about how the fans would react, and I feared teasing from my teammates, but I can tell you that everyone was fantastic. They all showed me respect and understanding.
“My teammates want to support something that they know means a lot to me, and they are helping raise public awareness.
“I have received so many letters from mothers, fathers, and children telling me how much easier it has made their lives. Instead of having to explain what Ulcerative Colitis is at school, they can simply say, ‘I have the same disease as Darren Fletcher.’
“That has made life much easier for them, and it shows that the more we talk about our condition, the more we can help others.”
Note: The above text is a translation of an article published in the online newspaper Mirror. To read the full article, please follow the link here.
