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ibdlife

@ibdlife

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Stoma Advocate 🖤
@eakinostomy_uk Ambassador 💜 and host of beyond the pouch podcast 🎙️🎒
Sharing my journey with IBD and a Stoma #stoma #ibd

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

🚻 Not every disability is visible… a full ileostomy bag right here for you!

#ostomy #ileostomy #learnwithinstagram #medicaleducation #disabilityadvocate #disabilityeducation #healtheducation #reelsedit #reelsexplore #reelsinstagram #reelsofinstagram #stoma #ostomyawareness #ostomybag #chronicillness #comfizz #stomatips #ostomylife #instareels #discoverunder10k #medicallife #thehumanbody #ibd #bowelhealth #boweldisease #thisismylife #instareels #surgeryrecovery #warriorprincess

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After the heart felt article we have all read this week about the man rather ending his life than live with a stoma.... I will not comment on his decision as I feel I don’t have the right to, he is the only one who decides what happens to his body and the court has allowed this too. However I will share this picture and I will just say that before having my bag I was too poorly to walk let alone have children. So when I had my bag that saved my life I was then able to go on and have two beautiful children. My stoma allowed me to live and have children. So to me my stoma is magical and saved me in so many ways.. I guess what I’m trying to say is my stoma gave me so much more happiness in my life and I would not be here without my stoma and with these powerful surgeons. Thank you stoma you saved me and blessed me with a family 💜 #stoma #colostomy #ileostomy #ibd #crohns #crohnsdisease #awareness #pregnancy #ostomy #mom #surgeon #life #happiness #mum #blessed #thankful #grateful #positivity #positive #kind #care #friends #family

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Embrace your journey and celebrate the strength within you. 💪✨

Apologizing to our bodies for scars is no longer necessary. We've learned that what marks our skin has also saved our lives.

🙌 Let's turn our scars into symbols of strength and write a new story of self-love.

❤️ Join us in rewriting self-talk, embracing our journey, and feeling confident every step of the way.

Check out our empowering ostomy garments at @siilostomy to boost your positive mentality. Together, we're rewriting the narrative and embracing every aspect of ourselves.

💙🌟 #OstomyPower #SelfLoveJourney #SIILostomy #Empowerment #ostomy #ostomyawareness Dear Ostomates - #Ostomy - Dear body, Sorry for being ashamed of your scars

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🩵 You don’t need a beach to wear a bikini.

You just need your body. Your beautiful body. Your scars, rashes, body hair, bruises, stretch marks, ostomy bag… All your natural beauty.

➡️ Swipe for a reality check of my head - can you relate?:
a) “what do I actually think of this iced soya latte?”
b) “hopefully, it won’t set my ostomy off on a poo party!”

Bikini is, of course, from the wonderful @swimsociety 🌊

#ostomy #allbodiesarebikinibodies #allbodiesarebeautiful #swimsociety #wearthebikini #scarstoyourbeautiful #scarsarebeautful #stoma

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You deserve to be heard and get answers.

This is something I am constantly reminding the IBD patients I work with.

I know that constantly having to contact doctors, IBD nurses and consultants and pushing for help can feel like an uphill struggle when you are already living with a disease that makes every day hard. Perhaps you have felt annoying for pushing or have been made to feel that way (I’m sorry if this has been your experience).

But DON’T GIVE UP!

Keep fighting
Keep advocating for your health
You’ve got this!

If you would like support from IBD specialists with your diet we can help you.

🙂We are a small private IBD specialist nutrition and dietetics clinic supporting adults with IBD virtually across the UK.

👆Click the link in my bio (see last image to find out where this is if you’re not sure) to book a free enquiry call 📞 or just send me a DM.

#ibd #inflammatoryboweldisease #crohnsdisease #crohns #ulcerativecolitis #colitis #ibdnutrition #ibdnutritionist #nutritionist #nutritionaltherapist #ibdnutrition #ibddiet #crohnswarrior #chronicillness #ibs #ibdwarrior #crohnswarrior #colitiswarrior #invisibleillness #autoimmunedisease #crohnsandcolitis #guthealth #ibdvisible #crohnsdiet #colitisdiet

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When you've been home two days after a holiday it's usual to look back and reflect at the great times and memories you have made.

For me looking back at this summer at my school trip to Mexico and the family holiday I have just got back from in Portugal I do look back and see great memories, but more than that I see GRATITUDE AND LOVE for the life that having my stoma and Barbie butt surgeries has given me. There is no way I could have had this summer before them.

Major surgeries are hard there's no way to sugar coat it and the grief of an old body, the trauma suffered and mental recovery can be tough alongside the initial physical recovery period. BUT for me at least it has been so worth it.

If you are about to or think you may one day have to undergo stoma surgery please do reach out to someone you are not alone in this process and the connections you make with people can lead to wonderful friendships. 😍

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Part 2 - Where things all changed

This was a last year versus an in my hospital bed pic i shared over on my home account when i was admitted into hospital for an ulcerative colitis flare in July '23.

The pain had got so bad i had to go to A&E to get some help as the oral steriods, enemas and suppositories (along with the Azathioprine and pentasa i was still taking from before) all were not working.

In hospital they put me straight on iv steriods, which actually started to make me feel better but my inflammation marker was 109 (1-9 is considered normal) so they decided to put me on a stronger drug called Infliximab. I had the Infliximab infusion and whilst i felt a little better at first my symptoms gradually got worse again. I really tried to fight it as i was told if it doesn't work i.e. if i don't show more signs of improvement i would need surgery.

I have never been more scared in my life as before all this i have been a fit and healthy person, i've never been to hospital other than to have my two boys and have never had surgery. I also couldn't face the thought of having a stoma.

After another really bad night and having to take morphine for the pain i realised surgery was my only option. I turned to instagram for help and found inspiring accounts i've tagged in this post and came to terms with having to have the surgery and a stoma….

It's because of these amazing accounts that i have started this account as i would love to help others in their journey too ❤️

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Let’s recap! It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these posts so thought I should reintroduce myself for all of you who haven’t been with me from the start!

Back in 2019 I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis which is a form of inflammatory bowel disease. By 2021 it had got so bad I had no other option but to have my large bowl removed and a stoma formed (the little bag on my stomach you see in all my photos!). 2022 came and again I had to have another operation to remove the remaining part of my large bowel, which is known as the barbie butt surgery!

I started this Instagram to raise awareness of IBD & stoma bags as there is such a massive stigma attached.

I’ve met some amazing people on the way & worked with some amazing brands to help remove the stigma. All of which I never thought I would do!

I wanted to show that living life with a stoma isn’t all bad and actually it means you can live a life you never could before 🩷

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🗣️ They say never to work with kids but when you have an absolute legend of a kid like this how could you not?!

💜 Big thanks to @ibdlife for taking the time to chat to Jake, the first adult male he has met with a stoma like him. Your praise and words of encouragement were so lovely and he won’t forget that. I think you’ll agree the kid has a voice and I’m so proud he is using it and has the mindset he does. There’s not a day I’m not proud of him 💪🏻

💜 Thanks to my Co-host @crohnsfighting for filming this too! It’s the first time Jakes spoken publicly not with family and in his school setting and I honestly didn’t know what he was going to say. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree I think you’ll agree 😂

💕 If you take anything from this post know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. If we thought like children perhaps recovery and acceptance would be a little easier. Keep going, keep fighting, keep laughing and connect with good eggs like Ant and Lou x

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It has its ups and downs, for sure, but it has enabled me to do so many things. Here is just a snapshot ✨

For me, an ostomy wasn’t the end. It was just the beginning in 2011 when it saved my life 🩵

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@ibdlife Why do Instagram and Facebook do this!? 😫
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A lot of you will probably share this response, but I am a bit fed up with my content being blocked 🚫 or removed ➖️ due to my content being violent, graphic, against guidelines, without any explanation.
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Yes I can appeal the process but it takes time, and predominantly, it doesn’t work.
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My body and stoma aren’t something that should be blocked. I’m not ashamed of it, and neither should you. The only way to educate the wider audience is by allowing them to ask questions and to show them what it’s all about.
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How many of my other content creators are annoyed by this!?
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#stoma #ostomy #ibd #disabled #crohns #colitis #bosypositivity

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❤️‍🩹 12 whole years I’ve lived to see that I wouldn’t have without my surgeons, my ostomy & my loved ones.

🪽 Happy 60th birthday to my Uncle G in heaven too… You are a huge reason I’m always keen to rock life with a stoma. I know you’d do anything to be here with yours today. I miss you 🤍

#ostomy #surgery #lifesaver #stoma #ileostomy

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