Former Made in Chelsea reality TV star Louise Thompson opened up about her recent diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, sparking an outpouring of support on social media.
The 34-year-old has previously spoken candidly about battling both bowel condition ulcerative colitis and autoimmune disease lupus.
For those who don’t know, ulcerative colitis is a chronic bowel condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed. This causes small ulcers to develop on the colon's lining, which can bleed.
There is no cure for the condition but it can be effectively managed with time and treatment, such as a stoma bag.
This is the most recent update shared by Louise, posting a photo of her stoma bag on Instagram.
"HOW DO I DISCLOSE THIS SORT OF NEWS?” she wrote in the caption. "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! Please be kind."
While Louise seems nervous yet proud about revealing her stoma bag, it’s a relatively common treatment. In fact, a reported 165,000 to 200,000 people are living with a stoma in the UK.
Here’s a closer look at what a stoma bag is and what it could be used to treat.
What is a stoma bag?
A stoma refers to one part of a larger process called a colostomy. A colostomy is an operation to divert one end of the colon, which is part of the bowel, through an opening in the tummy. This opening is known as a stoma.
A colostomy is usually needed for people who cannot pass stools through their anus, meaning it passes out of the stoma instead.
A stoma bag is therefore needed to collect the waste throughout the day.
Colostomies can be permanent or temporary, depending on the exact circumstances of the individual. It can be used to treat conditions such as bowel cancer, Crohn's disease, diverticulitis, forms of cancer, or – as in Louise’s case – ulcerative colitis.
