Love Is Blind's Kwame Appiah Urges Fans to Take Their Health Seriously After Ulcerative Colitis Diagnosis

   

Kwame Appiah is urging his fans to take their health seriously as he reveals his ulcerative colitis diagnosis.

Kwame Appiah and Love Is Blind cast celebrate Netflix's first Live Reunion with the iconic pods at Union Square In New York City on April 04, 2023 in New York City.

The Love Is Blind season 4 alum gave a candid health update in an Instagram Reel on Thursday, Jan. 16, disclosing that his health journey began after he felt "a little bit sick" and "a little bit off" in November.

"I didn't take it too seriously," Appiah began. "And then next thing you know, we're about a month in. So here's why that month of waiting really hurt. Because by the time I actually got to the doctor in December, I was having fevers for about three weeks. I had lost 20 pounds."

Appiah said his doctors determined his symptoms could be a result of many things, including cancer, before ultimately concluding that he had ulcerative colitis — something he said at the time he was experiencing "at its absolute worst."

According to the Mayo Clinic, ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation and ulcers in part of the digestive tract. 

The disease can affect the colon and rectum and can weaken the body, leading to possible life-threatening complications. Possible symptoms include weight loss, fatigue, diarrhea, rectal bleeding and belly pain.

Kwame Appiah attends FYSEE Reali-Tea | Netflix at Red Studios on May 13, 2023 in Los Angeles, California

"One, just a quick reminder that life is incredibly precious. I didn't realize how important the normal things I did in my day were for me until I couldn't do them. Lesson number two, small things can lead to big problems if we ignore them. So don't," he said. "Lesson number three, information is everything. You have to know what it is if you are going to fight it."

The reality star ended his video by expressing gratitude "for the fact that I feel like myself again" and thanked his wife, Chelsea Griffin Appiah — whom he met on the Netflix dating show — and their friends for supporting him.

Kwame Appiah

In the caption, he added that he is working on changing his lifestyle and diet as he has gained a new perspective on his health.

"Happily accepting that responsibility, and encouraging everyone to stay ahead, so you don’t get too far behind," he wrote.

Griffin Appiah shared his video on her Instagram Stories, adding, "I'm really proud of my husband for his vulnerability and sharing these important messages. ❤️ ILY Kwam."