Louise Thompson of Made in Chelsea has disclosed that she has a stoma bag, posting a video on Instagram.
The 34-year-old fitness guru has battled health issues for several years, documenting her hospital appointments on social media.
Now she has introduced the ‘grey bag’ that ‘may well have saved [her] life,’ saying she’s ‘proud’ to unveil it to followers.
Writing on a video of her looking gorgeous in a grey ruffled top, Louise showed followers her stoma bag underneath her jeans and said: ‘Not exactly a glamorous announcement but not something I want to keep hidden forever.’
In the caption, she wrote a poem describing her journey, as she began: ‘HOW DO I DISCLOSE THIS SORT OF NEWS?’
‘It’s not exactly exciting like a big pregnancy or gender reveal announcement!’ she added, quipping: ‘Hey look i’m having a boy… Hey look i’ve got a stoma!’
She then wrote: ‘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.’
Louise explained: ‘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!’
She then signed off: ‘Please be kind. 🤍’
Fellow TV stars, friends and fans flocked to support Louise.
Zara McDermott sent a message to her sister-in-law to be, and 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 xx.’
Fellow former Made in Chelsea star Rosie Fortescue wrote: ‘So proud of you tiny one.’
The reality star has been upfront about her physical and mental health struggles on social media, following a near-fatal birth of her son Leo three years ago.
The celebrity, who was ‘half deaf’ after her ordeal, suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and post-natal anxiety. In 2022, she admitted to crying up to 20 times each week.
Later that year, the former reality TV star said she had lupus, a long-term immune-system disorder that causes joint pain, skin rashes, and fatigue.
Louise had ulcerative colitis, an inflammation of the lower digestive tract, including the big colon and rectum, prior to becoming pregnant.
A stoma is a hole in the abdomen that may be attached to your digestive or urinary system, allowing waste (urine or faeces) to be removed from your body.
There are several reasons why you could require a stoma. Common causes include intestine cancer, bladder cancer, inflammatory bowel illness (e.g. Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), diverticulitis, and bladder or intestinal obstructions.
The aetiology of a stoma determines whether it is transient or permanent.
Louise has now written a book about her experiences called Lucky: Learning to Live Again.
The star’s stoma bag news comes after she was released from a 17-day hospital stay earlier this year, after her health dramatically deteriorated during a family vacation to Antigua.
On Instagram, Louise described the moment she realised she needed medical attention.
‘Whilst away I fell asleep lots randomly in the car and in the middle of the day and on the beach. Couldn’t really walk or pick up Leo,’ she explained.
‘The fear kept escalating when I was going to the loo every 20 minutes losing cups full of blood.
‘My body was “surviving”, “masking” and “compensating” but probably only because I’m young and I’ve got a good ticker. Bit of a miracle really.
‘Most people would be in A&E day 1 with my symptoms, I have no qualms in saying that because I know what my symptoms were and they were not ok, I’ll spare you some of the grittier details, but I became a little “too used” to my chronic condition,’ she wrote in her caption alongside a picture of her in hospital.
When her health wasn’t improving on holiday, Louise informed her family: ‘Things felt a bit dangerous. I couldn’t risk deteriorating further in a foreign country with a lack of adequate health care and without my notes.’
Louise booked an early flight home to the UK and went straight to A&E, where she was admitted.
‘I am a STRONG COOKIE and I am working hard on a speedy recovery,’ Louise told her 1.4 million followers.
The brave star concluded: ‘I still maintain that 2024 is going to be the best yet!’
What is ulcerative colitis?
Ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed.
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 inflammation.
The colon is the large intestine (bowel) and the rectum is the end of the bowel where poo is stored.
Small ulcers can develop on the colon’s lining, and can bleed and produce pus.
Symptoms include recurring diarrhoea – which may contain blood, mucus or pus – stomach pain, and needing to poo frequently.
Other symptoms include extreme tiredness, loss of appetite and weight loss.
Some people may go for some time with very mild or no symptoms at all (remission), but this is followed by flare-ups and relapses, which can cause various other problems too.
During a flare-up of ulcerative colitis, people can also experience painful and swollen joints, mouth ulcers, bumps and patches under the skin, irritated or red eyes, and problems with bones.
Specific triggers for flare-ups are often unknown, although stress or a gut infection could be potential factors.
