Why my stoma gave me my life back | by Louise
Stomas even now are still considered taboo. My first stoma may have saved my life but I hated it with an absolute passion. It was badly situated as it was an emergency op and I had a lovely parastomal hernia with it. I looked like I was still pregnant for 3 years prior to my reversal, and got asked if I was a fair few times. When I was booked in for reconstruction surgery and a reversal I thought I would get my life back, little did I know then what I know now.
My first stoma
My second stoma
My third stoma
Post-proctectomy
- I became an ambassador for Pelican Healthcare in 2017
- Got married in 2021
- Been on so many wild camping and family camping adventures I’ve lost count
- Been abroad on family holidays and girly weekends
- Been the best mum I can be
- Learned to advocate for my health
- Got my health and weight down to normal minus many medications from 2018-2023
- Finally had my hysterectomy and endometriosis scar tissue removed in January of 2025
- Got back to hiking and I’m currently training to do the Cumbrian walking wounded in 2026
