Louise Thompson has shared her nerves ahead of flying for the first time with a stoma bag on Tuesday.
The former Made In Chelsea star, 34, revealed back in March that she had a stoma bag fitted after years of suffering from ulcerative colitis following a diagnosis in 2018.
And as she heads off on her first holiday since her stoma bag, which she calls Winnie, was fitted, Louise asked her Instagram fans if they have any last minute advice that she should be aware of.
Showing off Winnie in a mirror selfie, Louise wrote: ‘Morning boys and girls. Nice early start this AM. Off to the airport for a work trip ya see. Lots of firsts.
‘Let’s start with the fact that I slept with a few rollers in last night. Yikes.’
Louise Thompson, 34, has shared her nerves ahead of flying for the first time with a stoma bag on Tuesday
And as she heads off on her first holiday since her stoma bag, which she calls Winnie, was fitted, Louise asked her Instagram fans if they have any last minute advice that she should be aware of
The former Made In Chelsea star revealed back in March that she had a stoma bag fitted after years of suffering from ulcerative colitis following a diagnosis in 2018 (pictured in March)
In another snap, she penned: ‘First trip with Winnie! Worried I have not given this enough thought. Any last minute advice?’
Last week, Louise proudly revealed that she went out wearing a gold miniskirt after getting a stoma bag fitted.
And after declaring she wouldn’t let the stoma stop her wearing what she wanted, she took to her Instagram to share a slew of photos donning a sequinned miniskirt for a lunch with her publishing team.
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She happily said that she was ‘doing super well’ and that her recovery was being sped up by all her achievements.
Louise penned: ‘We went to The Pelican. I’d heard good things from friends, and when we arrived, I couldn’t actually believe that I hadn’t eaten here before.
‘It’s not overly new and it ticks lots of the boxes of things I look out for when eating out. I guess looking back the rebrand was in 2022 when I was deep in the trenches of the dreaded D.
‘But I remind myself that these are all big milestones and it’s not THAT long ago since I (felt like I quite literally crawled) out from underneath the rock i’d been living for the best part of 4 years sooooo… I’m doing super well.
‘And my recovery is speeding up now with a great compound effect with every little and large achievement.
Louise wrote: ‘Morning boys and girls. Nice early start this AM. Off to the airport for a work trip ya see. Lots of firsts. ‘Let’s start with the fact that I slept with a few rollers in last night. Yikes.’
Last week, Louise proudly revealed that she went out wearing a gold miniskirt after getting a stoma bag fitted
And after declaring she wouldn’t let the stoma stop her wearing what she wanted, she took to her Instagram to share a slew of photos donning a sequinned miniskirt for a lunch with her publishing team
Louise looked nothing short of incredible in the sparkly skirt, which showed off her long legs, teaming it with a semi-sheer cream top and black ballet flats
In the caption, she revealed she had gone to pub to celebrate her book Lucky, and happily said she was ‘doing super well’, with her achievements causing her recovery to speed up
She then took to the comments to proudly add: ‘OH AND I WORE A FLIPPING GOLDEN MINI SKIRT WITH A STOMA !’
‘It simply feels so damn good to get OUT OUT OUT and to continue to make up for lost time. My appreciation for good food and good company has never been greater.’
She then took to the comments to proudly add: ‘OH AND I WORE A FLIPPING GOLDEN MINI SKIRT WITH A STOMA !’
Louise shared the news of having a stoma bag fitted with her Instagram followers in early April, as she bravely admitted it is ‘not something she wanted to hide forever’.
The television personality has previously spoken about her ongoing struggles with the bowel condition ulcerative colitis as well as the autoimmune disease lupus.
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic bowel condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed and small ulcers develop on the colon’s lining, which can bleed. The condition has no cure, but can be effectively managed with time.
Earlier this year she spent two weeks in hospital after suffering a ulcerative colitis flare up during a holiday with her fiance Ryan Libbey and their little boy Leo, two.
The fitness influencer almost died during the birth of her son Leo in 2021 and was left with post traumatic stress disorder.
Louise shared a video of herself showing the bag, which is attached to her stomach, and wrote: HOW DO I DISCLOSE THIS SORT OF NEWS?
Earlier this year, Louise spent two weeks in hospital after suffering a ulcerative colitis flare up during a holiday with her fiance Ryan Libbey and their little boy Leo, two (pictured at the time)
‘It’s not exactly exciting like a big pregnancy or gender reveal announcement! Hey look i’m having a boy… Hey look i’ve got a stoma!
‘So I guess i’ll just stand here. Proud in stature. With my new friend. Le bum bag, that represents life. And hopefully a better one.
‘Isn’t it bizarre that this little grey pouch is the price I pay for good health! I say good riddance to that nasty menacing colon!
Louise urged people to support her choice to share her news online, and added: ‘Please be kind.’
In the clip, Louise lifted her top to reveal the pouch and told her fans she was ‘introducing the bag that may well have saved her life’.
She added: ‘Not exactly a glamorous announcement but not something I want to keep hidden forever.’
Louise’s post was flooded with supportive messages from her friends and followers, including her brother’s girlfriend Zara McDermott.
Sharing her own message of support, she wrote: ‘When you think about it, it’s a beautiful thing because it means less time in hospital, less time in pain, less time with a poison organ in your body! Now you are free my girl. Now it’s time for you.’
Louise also sweetly shared how her son Leo is ‘fascinated’ by her stoma bag, saying the little boy loves lifting up her top and hiding under her clothes.
She mused how ‘many lessons could be learned from our children’ because her son does not find the topic of her ileostomy bag ‘awkward’ or ‘taboo’.
She shared a clip of Leo reaching to the bag while her top was lifted up, as she shared his ‘funny obsession’ with her followers.
Louise also sweetly shared how her son Leo is ‘fascinated’ by her stoma bag, saying the little boy loves lifting up her top and hiding under her clothes
Louise wrote: ‘My son has a really funny obsession with my ileostomy bag. I have no idea how he knows to say ‘poo poo’, but I guess he’s smarter than I thought.
‘Isn’t it wonderful how unaffected our children are by awkward and “taboo” subjects? If only we could all be this non judgemental… except when he points out a spot on my face in public and shouts “boo boo”.
‘I guess boo boo and poo poo sound similar. The stoma is a bit of a both. It’s both an ouchy and a way to go to the loo.’
She added: ‘For every person that messaged me to say that they haven’t had the confidence to tell their friends and family they have a stoma…. Some of you for years. (There are thousands of you btw).
‘Nothing to be ashamed of. Still the same human on the inside. I haven’t had a personality transplant. I can still dress, walk and talk the same.’
What is a stoma?
A stoma is a surgically-created opening made on the abdomen, which is made to divert the flow of urine and faeces.
According to the NHS, this procedure may be needed if you cannot pass stools through your anus, which could be the result of an illness, injury or problem with your digestive system.
In the UK, it is estimated that one in 335 people have had the surgery.
The procedure can be part treatment for a number of illnesses, including cancer, diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease or any trauma to the abdomen.
The stoma will generally be ‘pink and most – like the inside of our mouths’. After the surgery, it will be swollen, but this will reduce in six to eight weeks.
There is no sensation to touching a stoma – as there are no nerves – but different people will have theirs in a different size or shape.
It is also possible to have a temporary stoma, which could later be reversed, if the diseased or damaged area in the bowel needs to heal over time.
A stoma is a surgically-created opening made on the abdomen, which is made to divert the flow of urine and faeces. Stock image used
TYPES OF STOMA
COLOSTOMY
This refers to an opening in the colon – the large intestine. During the operation, a part of the colon will be brought from inside the body through their abdomen. The output from this ‘often resembles a traditional stool’ and functions around one to three times a day.
ILEOSTOMY
For this procedure, the surgeon will bring a part of the small intestine – the ileum specifically – from inside the patient’s body and bring it through the abdomen, stitching it down to secure it. The output for an ileostomy is looser than that of a colostomy. An ileostomy bag – which enables drainage into the toilet between three to six times a day’ – is also worn.
UROSTOMY
A urostomy refers to an opening for a person’s urine specifically. For this, the surgeon will take a piece of someone’s small intestine and attach it to the ureters. This will ‘form a passageway for urine to pass through’. For this, one of the tube is brought out through the abdomen. A urostomy bag will also have a ‘bung or tap on the bottom to allow urine to be drained at regular intervals into the toilet’.
Source: Colostomy UK, NHS