Nesha; she/her; Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative Colitis is a painful disorder that affects the lining of the intestine and rectum. The disorder leads to chronic inflammation and ulcers in the intestines and can mean a higher risk of colon cancer. Symptoms include pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal cramps, etc. There is no cure, although some patients can see relief from a full Colectomy, although they will live the rest of their lives with a Colostomy bag
This subject experienced gnawing pain in her intestines due to her condition. She focused on the idea of "gnawing" and imagined her pain was like small teeth chewing away at her insides. She felt rats were a good way to depict the sensations she had to deal with.
Although the subject lived with this chronic illness for many years, she received a Colectomy recently and now has very few symptoms. Yay!