Just a word of warning, this post has lots of graphic and medical images of my old stoma site healing and may not be suitable for everyone. So after the last surgery where they resited my stoma, the old site was left open. I was gobsmacked when I first saw it as I’d never seen […]
I got a message from someone on twitter today from a mum who is facing stoma surgery. “You have made a difference. You made me feel ok about stoma surgery, you help me to remember I’m not the only one feeling like this. These school holidays are breaking my heart, I feel so guilty for […]
I was thrilled to be interviewed for the BBC’s Matron, Medicine and Me which was aired recently. The episode I was on was hosted by Fern Britton who went back to the hospital that saved her life from sepsis a few years ago, there were lots of amazing stories shared about the NHS and if […]
At a time when everyone I know seems to be in such high stress mode, I was interested to read about 3D meditation from Bellabeat. I have used a few apps over the years to help with health, sleep and wellbeing, Im a big fan of the Sleep Well app that uses guided meditation to […]
I’ve been thinking a lot about work at the moment, I work for the brilliant charity Scope and have been off sick since my emergency surgery at the beginning of June. They have been great but that doesn’t stop me feelinh terribly guilty about having time off and the pressures that puts on my team. […]
Last year I did a talk at the Steel Belles Women’s Institute about body image I talk about how my surgeries were the start of feeling good about myself, how when you feel lucky to be alive, it is easier to stop the negativity. I also talk about passing poor body image down through the generations […]
Sometimes I wonder who I am, especially in times of recovery, I feel the person I am or was drifts away as it’s trapped in a body that in so many ways, has failed me. Who I feel I am is someone very independent yet right now I am so dependent on those around me. […]
The summer months are upon us and magazines and websites are flooded with articles of what to wear and what not to wear. For the larger ladies, it is apparently a minefield of finding ‘flattering’ clothes and how to cover up. I’m a size 16 and love fashion, so here is my guide of what […]
This is surprisingly, a topic that I get a lot of messages about. People panicking about getting travel insurance when they have a current medical condition, such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease or an ostomy. My stoma has never stopped me travelling, and I always ensure I have good insurance, we are so lucky here in […]
Timm and I were thrilled to work with Crohns and Colitis UK on their latest guide, it’s about supporting someone with IBD for friends and family members. They say ”Finding out that someone you care about has Crohn’s or Colitis is a shock. You might be feeling anxious about what comes next and how their […]