Louise Thompson has revealed how she has had a ‘lifesaving’ stoma bag fitted after years of health woes and hospital visits.
Her life dramatically turned upside down when she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2018, followed by a near-death experience in 2021 when she gave birth to her son Leo, two, who she shares with fiancé Ryan Libbey.
The Made In Chelsea star, 34, has since battled debilitating health conditions with the bowel condition, as well as the autoimmune disease lupus.
And on Tuesday, Louise disclosed her latest battle, revealing she had to have a stoma bag fitted.
In the clip, Louise lifted her top to reveal the pouch and told her fans she was ‘introducing the bag that may well have saved her life’.
Read on below for a full timeline of Louise Thompson’s health battle.
Louise Thompson has revealed how she has had a ‘lifesaving’ stoma bag fitted after years of health woes and hospital visits
2018: Ulcerative colitis diagnosis
Louise has been in and out of hospital ever since being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2018.
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic bowel condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed and small ulcers develop on the colon’s lining, which can bleed. The condition has no cure, but can be effectively managed with time.
In a post to mark Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week, Louise detailed her struggles with the condition since her diagnosis and wrote about her ‘tough time’.
She bravely opened up about how her symptoms became worse amid her mental health struggles because she didn’t ‘really care if she died’.
Louise candidly wrote: ‘Hello, My name is Louise and I have ulcerative colitis. This week is Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week.
‘I was diagnosed in 2018. I became worried when I noticed quite a lot of blood in my poo that came out of nowhere.
‘I didn’t know much about inflammatory bowel diseases but my main concern was the fact that a few of my close family members had suffered with aggressive bowel cancer.
‘I thought that my symptoms might go away over time (given that I’d never struggled my health before, in fact quite the opposite, I’d been the poster girl for health) so I left things for a month or so but when my symptoms didn’t get better I told members of my family.
‘I was diagnosed via a colonoscopy and luckily I got treated with medication that worked fairly quickly to put me into remission.’
Louise has been in and out of hospital ever since being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2018
November 2021: Traumatic birth
Louise has been extremely open about her debilitating health issues after she nearly died while giving birth in 2021.
The former reality star spent a month in intensive care with ‘serious complications’ while her son Leo had been treated in the adult ICU after the birth.
When Leo was born, she wrote on Instagram: ‘Hello everyone, this post isn’t an easy one for me to write. I have so many things that I want to say but at the same time I’m struggling to find the words to explain what has happened to me and my family so for now I will keep it quite simple.
‘The reason I have been absent for weeks is because I have been very unwell.
‘5 weeks ago I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy Leo-Hunter Libbey weighing in at 7lbs. Unfortunately it wasn’t the easiest start for either of us. One ended up in NICU and the other ended up in ICU.’
Reassuring her followers that Leo was not unwell for long, Louise said: ‘Whilst Leo made a fairly quick recovery. I have been recovering in hospital for a month with various serious complications.’
Louise is yet to reveal the actual cause and complication which lead to her nearly dying.
The reality star announced last month she is releasing a book, Lucky, where she will tell the story of the near-death experience.
Louise has been extremely open about her debilitating health issues after she nearly died while giving birth in 2021
The Made In Chelsea star, 34, shares son Leo, two, with fiancé Ryan Libbey
2022: PTSD and postnatal anxiety
Louise suffered with extreme PTSD and post-natal anxiety due to the near-death experience.
Louise went ‘partially deaf’ during the ordeal and in 2022 revealed that she would cry up to 20 times a week.
The star – who previously admitted she can’t remember the first five months of her son’s life after the trauma she suffered – has been honest with her fans about her daily struggles, revealing at points that the anxiety felt ‘inexplicable’ but now she’s learning to ‘make sense of it.’
Louise, who often calls Leo her ‘little miracle baby’, manages to control her anxiety, and after obsessively checking her temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate, is able to go about her normal, daily routine.
Louise suffered with extreme PTSD and post-natal anxiety due to the near-death experience
September 2022: Asherman’s syndrome
Louise revealed she had suspected Asherman’s syndrome – a rare condition where scar tissue builds up inside the uterus – as she continues to seek answers on her mystery health condition.
Updating her followers on her condition, Louise revealed her cramping ‘has started to get pretty bad’ as she also slammed NHS wait times.
After an emotional morning, the TV favourite went on to share a picture of private health care provider The Harley Street Clinic.
Full of relief after her trip to the world-leading private hospital, Louise told her followers how the appointment was a success.
‘Harley Street clinic is iconic,’ she excitedly wrote.
‘Just had my appointment with the kindest and most trustworthy obs/gyne…it’s likely that I have adhesions inside my uterus causing something called Asherman’s Syndrome.
‘A hysteroscopy would offer a better look inside the cavity than an ultrasound but because I might need to start thinking immunosuppressants, having non essential surgery isn’t really an option.
She concluded: ‘The main impacts of Asherman’s are: painful cramping and fertility problems.’
Louise revealed she had suspected Asherman’s syndrome – a rare condition where scar tissue builds up inside the uterus – as she continues to seek answers on her mystery health condition
December 2022: Lupus diagnosis
Louise revealed she had lupus in an emotional health update with fans.
The TV personality held back her tears as she explained ‘constantly navigating’ her different health issues has left her wanting to cry.
Lupus is one of the chronic autoimmune conditions, where the body makes antibodies against itself and starts to attack it.
Some sufferers will have only mild problems, others have life-threatening organ damage to the heart and the kidneys.
In a lengthy video, Louise explained: ‘So to update you guys quickly, I had a call yesterday with one of the rheumatology guys and they got more of my blood test results back and the diagnosis is that I’ve got drug induced lupus.
‘So I’m suffering from that which is fabulous. It means that I’m really tired but I’ve also started to get really intolerable joint pain especially if I sit down for any amount of time if I cross my legs.’
Louise added: ‘I mean I was just on the bus going to one appointment this morning and when I stood up and started walking to the appointment and honestly me knees were in such agony.
‘I’ve never experienced anything like it in my life. I’ve always been so able bodied and so active, exercise has been such a big part of my life and it’s just so rough having to adapt to all of these new medical conditions so that’s been really tough.
‘On top of that and almost worse because I can deal with fatigue, I can deal with skin, I can deal with pain but the neurological symptoms have just still been so unbearable and currently I’m dealing with this never ending cold.
‘I have mucus coming out of my nose and really bad pain in my ears and I’m not suppose to take anti-inflammatory medication, so ibuprofen because of having ulcerative colitis or all of that.
Louise revealed she had lupus in an emotional health update with fans
January 2023: Operation amid battle with Asherman’s Syndrome
Louise revealed she has undergone a ‘small operation’ amid her gruelling battle with Asherman’s Syndrome.
Asherman’s Syndrome is a condition where scar tissue form inside your uterus. The scar tissue can build up, decreasing the amount of open space making some women infertile
Louise shared a snap in a hospital gown as well as after the procedure where she enjoyed an alfresco meal.
In the length post she penned: ‘Thank for all your tremendously kind messages’.
‘Just a small op to try and get rid of all the scar tissue from my Asherman’s syndrome so I can hopefully start to have a normal P and feel like my old self again’.
‘By most people’s standards probably not such a big deal. By my standards, anything medical is a big deal. And anything that risks bleeding makes me feel sick as a dog’.
‘Apparently on the scale of mild to severe – it’s looking moderate to severe, so I might have to go back in 6 months time to repeat the procedure and remove any further adhesions’.
Louise revealed she has undergone a ‘small operation’ amid her gruelling battle with Asherman’s Syndrome
February 2023: Louise ‘survived a second time’ after suffering a Hemorrhage
Louise’s fiancé Ryan shared that she was rushed to hospital after suffering a hemorrhage.
Taking to Instagram to post an update on the Made In Chelsea star, Ryan explained that he and Louise were forced to cancel their holiday to St Lucia after she required emergency surgery and ‘close monitoring.’
Louise previously took to Instagram to share that she had an ‘unexpected medical situation’ but didn’t elaborate further.
Ryan added that since her health scare, Louise is ‘stable’ and is recovering at home, describing his girlfriend as a ‘warrior.’
Louise later reflected on ‘surviving a second time’ after her emergency readmission to hospital’.
She admitted that she was ‘doing really well’ before she suffered a haemorrhage and lost around three litres of blood.
Reflecting on the health scare, she penned on Instagram: ‘You know the funny thing about surviving the second time round is that you know you’re not just lucky. You understand the capacity of the human body. You know how strong you are.
‘You understand what modern medicine is capable of and what you can withstand. Wow you can withstand an awful lot.
A haemorrhage is medically defined as a loss of blood from damaged blood vessels, and they can be both internal and external.
It can occur in nearly any part of the body, and if it is unable to be controlled, or caused by a serious injury, it may require surgery.
Louise’s fiancé Ryan Libbey revealed that she was rushed to hospital after suffering a hemorrhage
January 2024: 12-day hospital stay
Louise was rushed to hospital once again after losing ‘cups of blood’ due to her ulcerative colitis, while on holiday in Antigua with Leo and Ryan.
Louise explained how she began struggling while on holiday with her family in the Caribbean and used up all of her energy ‘pretending to be okay’.
The reality personality admitted that ‘deep down’ she knew she was really unwell and pushed on because the holiday had been planned for so long.
Louise insisted that most people would have been in A&E on day one with her symptoms, however she had become ‘too used’ to her chronic condition.
She said that she was falling asleep a lot ‘randomly’ throughout the day while on the trip and was struggling to walk and pick up her son.
Louise said the end of every day felt like ‘surviving’ to see another one, as she shared the horror of ‘going to the loo every 20 minutes and losing cup fulls of blood’.
Louise said her body was ‘surviving, masking and compensating’, but it raised alarm bells to her family given her past health woes.
It got to the point where she couldn’t cope anymore and nothing was healing on its own and she began to feel like things were ‘dangerous’.
At this point she booked an early flight home and went straight to A&E where she was admitted immediately.
She said there have been ‘several ups and downs’ along the way but insisted she would not let herself ‘slip back’.
She concluded: ‘I want to continue with life ‘as normal’ as much as possible as much as possible as I think that staying connected and grounded and present is really good for my head. And I still maintain that 2024 is going to be the best yet!’
She was then admitted to hospital three times in one week over extreme pains, ultrasounds and check ins.
Louise was rushed to hospital in January after losing ‘cups of blood’ due to her ulcerative colitis, while on holiday in Antigua with Leo and Ryan
The condition is an inflammation of the lower end of the digestive system and sadly has no cure, but can be effectively managed with time
April 2024: Having a ‘life-saving’ stoma bag fitted
Louise revealed on Tuesday how she had to have a ‘life-saving’ stoma bag fitted after years of suffering from ulcerative colitis following her diagnosis in 2018.
She shared the news with her Instagram followers, bravely admitting it is ‘not something she wanted to hide forever’.
Louise shared a video of herself showing the bag, which is attached to her stomach, and wrote: HOW DO I DISCLOSE THIS SORT OF NEWS?
‘It’s not exactly exciting like a big pregnancy or gender reveal announcement! Hey look I’m having a boy… Hey look I’ve got a stoma!
‘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.
‘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!
Louise urged people to support her choice to share her news online, and added: ‘Please be kind.’
In the clip, Louise lifted her top to reveal the pouch and told her fans she was ‘introducing the bag that may well have saved her life’.
She added: ‘Not exactly a glamorous announcement but not something I want to keep hidden forever.’
If you have been affected by this story please contact Birth Trauma Association at birthtraumaassociation.org.uk
For help and support with perinatal mental illness please contact PANDAS on 0808 1961 776
What is a stoma?
A stoma is a surgically-created opening made on the abdomen, which is made to divert the flow of urine and faeces.
According to the NHS, this procedure may be needed if you cannot pass stools through your anus, which could be the result of an illness, injury or problem with your digestive system.
In the UK, it is estimated that one in 335 people have had the surgery.
The procedure can be part treatment for a number of illnesses, including cancer, diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease or any trauma to the abdomen.
The stoma will generally be ‘pink and most – like the inside of our mouths’. After the surgery, it will be swollen, but this will reduce in six to eight weeks.
There is no sensation to touching a stoma – as there are no nerves – but different people will have theirs in a different size or shape.
It is also possible to have a temporary stoma, which could later be reversed, if the diseased or damaged area in the bowel needs to heal over time.
A stoma is a surgically-created opening made on the abdomen, which is made to divert the flow of urine and faeces. Stock image used
TYPES OF STOMA
COLOSTOMY
This refers to an opening in the colon – the large intestine. During the operation, a part of the colon will be brought from inside the body through their abdomen. The output from this ‘often resembles a traditional stool’ and functions around one to three times a day.
ILEOSTOMY
For this procedure, the surgeon will bring a part of the small intestine – the ileum specifically – from inside the patient’s body and bring it through the abdomen, stitching it down to secure it. The output for an ileostomy is looser than that of a colostomy. An ileostomy bag – which enables drainage into the toilet between three to six times a day’ – is also worn.
UROSTOMY
A urostomy refers to an opening for a person’s urine specifically. For this, the surgeon will take a piece of someone’s small intestine and attach it to the ureters. This will ‘form a passageway for urine to pass through’. For this, one of the tube is brought out through the abdomen. A urostomy bag will also have a ‘bung or tap on the bottom to allow urine to be drained at regular intervals into the toilet’.
Source: Colostomy UK, NHS
