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✨NEW BLOG POST ✨⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Let's Talk About ✨NEW BLOG POST ✨⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Let's Talk About… 🗣️ ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT IBD & STOMAS⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ I think one of the most challenging parts of having a chronic illness is experiencing people’s assumptions about what your illness is all about ↪️swipe to see some examples, all of which have been said to me at some point 🙄⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ It can be tough challenging what others already assume or think they know by explaining and showing them the truth; it often leading them to being ‘wrong’ and no one wants to be wrong 😑⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Breaking down these myths and assumptions helps reduce stigma, encourages patients to share their reality within their illness and helps them connect to others going through the same experiences.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ At times, the assumptions and comments can hurt. Like, really and deeply 😞 Other times they are just so wildly incorrect and bizarre, you end up laughing 😏⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ I’ll be looking into IBD and stoma myths next month and in May. Until then, I’m going to keep on keeping myself busy challenging these assumptions 🤙🏻⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Click the link in my bio for the full article 👉🏻 then tap on the grid image ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Please share & tag, save and comment to spread the word 😚⁠
“Instead of trying to mend me, I decided to enjo “Instead of trying to mend me, I decided to enjoy me. Instead of trying to solve me, I decided to discover me. It was one of the best decisions of my life.” 💗 I used to think I was broken because I was different. It took me a long time to see that being different wasn’t something I needed to mend but embrace, love and cherish. Being different from everyone else is what makes us human and individual. In a world where there is a culture of following a trend or thinking, acting or looking a particular way, so many of us think different is bad. Different is not bad. Wanting to be perfect is - no one on this earth is perfect, no matter how much they profess to be. Perfection is not realistic or achievable. So I embrace the flaws I have and learn to love them. I see my mistakes and learn from them. I see challenges and look to solve them. You do you. It is the best advice you could get. You do what makes you happy. F*ck the rest 💜 •⁠ •⁠ •⁠ #adventureswithachronicillness #motivationmonday #mindfulmonday #grattitudemonday #mondaymotivation #wordsofwisdom #wordstoponder #wordstoinspire #ibdawareness #crohnsdisease #crohns #ibdwarrior #invisibleillnessawareness #chronicillness #inflammatoryboweldisease #letstalkibd
“Something is wrong. Something is seriously wron “Something is wrong. Something is seriously wrong and I’m going to kill it. With fire 🔥 Body as it attacks itself: I’m killing it! Aren’t you proud of me?” 🤦🏼‍♀️ ANYONE ELSE EVER FELT LIKE THIS? 🙋🏼‍♀️👋🏻 When you’re on a good run 🏃‍♀️ or roll with your chronic illness, it’s *almost* like a personal vendetta when your body has other plans. Most autoimmune disease are chronic - meaning they are life long but have periods of flare up and remission. Autoimmune is where your immune system mistakenly attacks your body. It sees all or some parts of your body as “foreign” and fights them, like they would a cold or the flu. In IBD, this is an attack on the digestive system primarily - but can also include the skin, eyes 👁 and joints 🦵🏻- which results in our frequent diarrhoea, abdominal pain, blood 🩸 loss and weight loss 📉 . So we have targeted treatments to “switch off” the overreaction in our digestive system - super cool, right? Go science! 🔬 But as no one can determine exactly what triggers a autoimmune disease 🦠 to occur, we can’t just switch it off completely yet. So unfortunately you have choice when it comes to your body attacking itself. Treatments can dramatically reduce symptoms and ease pain but it’s not a quick fix at all. The best plan is to be aware 🔎of your own symptoms, build a good relationship with your 🏥team for honest communication and stick to your treatment 📋 plan. And it’s always important to remember: IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT 😘 Please share & tag, save and comment to spread the word! •⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠ •⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠ •⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠ #adventureswithachronicillness #ibdawareness #crohnsdisease #crohns #ibdwarrior #invisibleillnessawareness #chronicillness #inflammatoryboweldisease #letstalkibd #autoimmune #autoimmunedisease
⚡️WHAT DO GELLING AGENTS DO? 💭⁠ ⁠ ⁠It ⚡️WHAT DO GELLING AGENTS DO? 💭⁠ ⁠ ⁠It can be fracking frustrating to deal with liquid stool when you have a stoma. It can, at times, ruin literally everything - from your change routine to your clothes, even leave you dehydrated - so it’s not to be ignored.⁠ ⁠ Gelling agents - which are products which gel liquids when they come into contact with moisture - can be a great help to reduce the flood of output you experience when you empty the bag.⁠ ⁠ I’ve always had a little stash of them - Morform from @clinimed_securicare are my favourites, closely followed by @trioostomycare Pearls - to help me cope with my “more liquid than normal” output from time to time. It was especially useful during the times my hernia was being a bugger last year. ⁠ ⁠ ⁠Have you had to use gelling agents before?⁠ Click the link in my bio for the full article 👉🏻 then tap on the grid image ⁠ Please share & tag, save and comment to spread the word!⁠
⁠”Trust the process. Trust that you will be ok ⁠”Trust the process. Trust that you will be okay and that you are on the right path.” 💗 ⁠It can be really trying sometimes to ‘trust the process’ and hope that this is indeed, ‘the right path’. But then I am reminded by another set of wise words: “When I’m overwhelmed, I force myself to do one simple thing before I have to make a decision: close my eyes and take three deep breaths… sometimes even three deep breaths can change everything.” Three. Deep. Breaths. Things do come good in the end. I think about this today, on the Mother of all Monday’s when I am waiting for some many answers to my health questions. But I remember that I am capable of trusting this process. I have access to my team when I in dire need and I am not there yet. I am able to chase people and apply gentle pressure and reminders. I am able to rest and focus on me, instead of letting my mind go into a whirlwind of emotions and false scenarios. I say this with some privilege but also wisdom. I’ve trusted the process before and I can again. So if you are finding it hard today to ‘trust’ then do one simple thing: Take three deep breaths and then refocus. •⁠ •⁠ •⁠ #adventureswithachronicillness #motivationmonday #mindfulmonday #grattitudemonday #mondaymotivation #wordsofwisdom #wordstoponder #wordstoinspire #ibdawareness #crohnsdisease #crohns #ibdwarrior #invisibleillnessawareness #chronicillness #inflammatoryboweldisease #letstalkibd
IS HAVING AN OSTOMY ALOT OF WORK?⁠ ⁠ Depends w IS HAVING AN OSTOMY ALOT OF WORK?⁠ ⁠ Depends what you mean by “work” 🤷🏼‍♀️⁠ ⁠ When I first got my stoma, I was constantly worrying about supplies. I didn’t want to run out, I didn’t want to accumulate ‘wrong’ products and I certainly didn’t want to overuse. ⁠ ⁠ Products can feel foreign and unfamiliar when you first having a stoma but that soon changes. You find out how they work, how your body wears them and if they feel comfortable and are suitable for you.⁠ ⁠ This looks like a lot of products but it’s a full four months of my supplies. I order probably 4 or 5 times a year because I get a decent amount of wear out of my bags and supporting products. I also never run out.⁠ ⁠ Usage is so individualistic that it’s hard to really predict sometimes, even after almost five years, how much you will use. The best advice is to use what makes your skin happiest and change it when it’s uncomfortable. ⁠ ⁠ Products can be the most overwhelming part of having a stoma. BUT there is positives here:⁠ ⁠ - So many products means so much choice! There is always a solution. ⁠ - These are prescription items and are available on a Medical Exemption certificate in the UK 🇬🇧 ⁠ - Samples are your best friend when you need or want to try something new. ⁠ - Stoma Care Nurses have the best medical advice but patients also have great ostomy hacks! ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ Please share & tag, save and comment to spread the word!⁠ •⠀⁠⁠ •⠀⁠⁠ •⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠⁠ #adventureswithachronicillness #ostomyawareness #nocolonstillrollin #ostomylife #ostomywarrior #stomastigma #nocolonclub #barbiebuttgang
⚡️DOES BEING IN HOSPITAL GET EASIER? 💭⁠ ⁠ Hospitals sure can be overwhelming and unnerving places to be. For many, the hospital doesn't become 'routine' or 'normal' because they visit for a problem and it hopefully gets fixed. ⁠ ⁠ With chronic illness, it doesn't quite work like that. It can become a huge part of dealing with your condition - from appointments with specialists, scans and procedures to infusions and admissions - it can feel like a 'second home' or a constant. ⁠ ⁠ For me, the hospital has become easier as I've gotten older - both in age and in having IBD. I've become more at ease, I am 'used' to what I routinely and regularly go through to either treat my condition or have it maintained. ⁠ ⁠ And I quite like going alone, you know, pre-Covid, when we had a choice.⁠ ⁠ Do you 'enjoy' going alone?⁠ Click the link in my bio for the full article 👉🏻 then tap on the grid image ⁠ Please share & tag, save and comment to spread the word!⁠ •⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠ •⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠ •⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠ #adventureswithachronicillness #ibdawareness #crohnsdisease #crohns #ibdwarrior #invisibleillnessawareness #chronicillness #inflammatoryboweldisease #letstalkibd
"Chronic illness:⁠ Not being able to explain why "Chronic illness:⁠ Not being able to explain why you're hoping and praying for tests to show something"⁠ ⁠ This is one of the most perplexing and baffling parts of IBD to anyone who doesn't have it. ⁠Confirmation that your feelings - your GUT feeling - were correct can be a huge relief for a moment, but then, you have something new to deal with.⁠ ⁠ It doesn't get easier but you do 'get used to it' unfortunately. It's one of the things that makes us badasses. So, if this is you lately, know you are one heck of a badass in my eyes 💛⁠ •⁠ •⁠ •⁠ #adventureswithachronicillness #motivationmonday #mindfulmonday #grattitudemonday #mondaymotivation #wordsofwisdom #wordstoponder #wordstoinspire #ibdawareness #crohnsdisease #crohns #ibdwarrior #invisibleillnessawareness #chronicillness #inflammatoryboweldisease #letstalkibd
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