Hi, I'm Dave.
I'm the founder of Steady Grounds. Welcome to the site.
My story
In February 2026, I noticed changes to my usual bowel routine — nothing dramatic at first, just enough to sit at the back of my mind. Over the following weeks it got harder to ignore. By April, I was displaying many of the symptoms associated with IBD, and I was desperate for answers.
First changes to my usual routine — easy to explain away at the time.
Symptoms progressed. I finally had a name for what I was living with.
The diagnosis turned my world upside down. I had so many questions, and found it genuinely difficult to navigate those early, worrying weeks. I felt physically weak, and I couldn't work out how to start piecing my life back together.
There's a huge amount of information out there about IBD, and no shortage of resources. But I quickly discovered that IBD affects everyone differently. What I needed wasn't more general information — it was help understanding my condition, and support figuring out how to live with it, day to day.
Understanding your condition, not just IBD in general
Steady Grounds was set up to help people understand their own condition, and come to terms with day-to-day living with it — not to replace your care team, but to sit alongside them, and alongside you, while you find your feet.
Clinical background, lived experience
Professionally, I work as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner in the NHS, with a strong interest in health research. I hope to use that background to unpick what I've learned from my own experience, and turn it into something genuinely useful for people going through the same thing.
Where this is goingLonger term, I'd like Steady Grounds to grow into a community — a place where people in a similar position can find each other, share what's actually worked, guide one another, and get support through the parts that don't show up in the leaflets.
Supporting the wider cause
Steady Grounds is free, and always will be. If you'd like to support the wider cause, here's where that's headed — more to come as this grows.
Sponsor a challenge
From time to time I'll take on physical challenges, with proceeds going to established Crohn's & Colitis charities. Details to follow.
Keep the site running
Hosting Steady Grounds costs very little, but if a small, optional way to chip in would help keep it ad-free, it'll live here.
Share it with someone
The simplest way to support this right now: if you know someone newly diagnosed, send them this site.
This section is still taking shape — get in touch if you'd like to help build it out.
Thanks for reading this far.
If any of this resonates, I hope the rest of the site helps too.
Back to the early days