The global outbreak of Coronavirus has prompted important questions around the impact of isolation on people’s mental and physical health, interactions with the environment, their relationships, work life and social life. The words ‘social distancing’ have echoed in many of our minds over the last few months, shaping the everyday practices and urban encounters for the whole UK population. But for a large proportion of people living with active Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), physical distancing, staying at home, and avoiding social contact is already a big part of everyday life. The taboo subject of toilet trouble, the embarrassment around smells and sounds, the urgency of bowel movements and the chronic pain and fatigue, often orients the lives of those living with the disease.