Louise Thompson has revealed how she has had a 'lifesaving' stoma bag fitted after years of suffering fromulcerative colitis following a diagnosis in 2018.
The former Made In Chelsea,star, 34, shared the news with her Instagram followers on Tuesday, as she bravely admitted it is 'not something she wanted to hide forever'.
Louise has previously spoken about her ongoing struggles with thebowel 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.
Louise Thompson has revealed how she has had a stoma bag fitted after years of suffering from ulcerative colitis, as she says it 'may well have saved her life'
The former Made In Chelsea, star, 34, shared the news with her Instagram followers on Tuesday, bravely admitting it is 'not something she wanted to hide'
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 (pictured at the time)
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?
'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.'
In February, Louise revealed she was forced to rush home from Antigua after 'losing cupfuls of blood every 20 minutes' during a bad flare up (pictured in Antigua)
What is a stoma?
A stoma is a surgically-created opening madeon the abdomen, which is made to divert the flow of urine andfaeces.
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. Anileostomy bag - whichenables drainage into the toilet between three to six times a day' - is also worn.
UROSTOMY
Aurostomy 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
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Louise's post was flooded with supportive messages from her friends and followers, including her brother's girlfriend Zara McDermott (pictured together with Sam Thompson)
In February, Louise revealedshe was forced to rush home from Antigua after'losing cupfuls of blood every 20 minutes' during a bad flare up.
Louise's hospital stay was confirmed by her partner Ryan, who did not disclose the reason, and she later broke her silence and told her followers she was 'alive and in good care'.
She shared a photo from her hospital bed and said following an 'unexpected turn of events' she had returned home after more than two weeks in hospital.
Louise explained how she began struggling while on holiday with her family in the Caribbean and used up all of her energy 'pretending to be okay'.
The reality personality admitted that 'deep down' she knew she was really unwell and pushed on because the holiday had been planned for so long.
Louise, who was diagnosed with PTSD, explained after finding her way out of a 'mental health hole' following her near-death experience during the birth of Leo, she felt that 'nothing could compare' to it.
However, she admitted that she now understands both mental and physical health are 'agony and can leave you powerless'.
Louise insisted that most people would have been in A&E on day one with her symptoms, however she had become 'too used' to her chronic condition.
She said that she was falling asleep a lot 'randomly' throughout the day while on the trip and was struggling to walk and pick up her son.
Louise said the end of every day felt like 'surviving' to see another one, as she shared the horror of 'going to the loo every 20 minutes and losing cup fulls of blood'.
Louise said her body was 'surviving, masking and compensating', but it raised alarm bells to her family given her past health woes.
Louise shares her son with her fiance Ryan Libbey (pictured left)
Following her discharge, Louise was then admitted to hospital three times in one week over extreme pains, ultrasounds and check ins (pictured withfiancé Ryan Libbey)
It got to the point where she couldn't cope anymore and nothing was healing on its own and she began to feel like things were 'dangerous'.
At this point she booked an early flight home and went straight to A&E where she was admitted immediately.
She said there have been 'several ups and downs' along the way but insisted she would not let herself 'slip back'.
She concluded: 'I want to continue with life 'as normal' as much as possible as much as possible as I think that staying connected and grounded and present is really good for my head. And I still maintain that 2024 is going to be the best yet!'
Following her discharge, Louise was then admitted to hospital three times in one week over extreme pains, ultrasounds and check ins.
Louise has been hit by a series of health setbacks following the birth of her son Leo two years ago.
The mother of one was diagnosed with PTSD and postnatal anxiety after nearly dying during labour.
Louise went 'partially deaf' during the ordeal and in 2022 revealed that she would cry up to 20 times a week.
The same year, Louise revealed she had been diagnosed with lupus, which is a condition affecting the immune system, causing joint pain, rashes and fatigue.
She recently announced that she had written a book - called Lucky: Learning To Live Again - which details the story of her traumatic pregnancy.
Announcing the news, Louise said she was 'ready' but also 'petrified' to step into a new chapter after being encouraged to 'help others' by sharing her story.
WHAT IS ULCERATIVE COLITIS?
Ulcerative colitis is thought to be an autoimmune condition.
That means, the immune system goes wrong and starts to attack healthy tissue.
The most popular theory is that the immune system mistakes harmless bacteria inside the colon as a threat and attacks the tissues of the colon, causing it to become inflamed.
However, it's unclear what causes the immune system to behave in this way.
The UK Crohn's & Colitis UK charity reports at least 1 in every 227 people in the UK has been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. This amounts to around 296,000 people.
Although it can develop at any age, it is most often diagnosed in people between 15 and 25 years old.
It's more common in white people of European descent, especially those descended from Ashkenazi Jewish communities, and black people.
The condition is rarer in people from Asian backgrounds, although the reasons for this are unclear.
Both men and women seem to be equally affected by ulcerative colitis.
Source: NHS
