Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford | Patient Advocacy

Inflammatory bowel disease, ostomy, chronic pain, PTSD, and mental wellbeing.

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2nd Jun 20187th Dec 2023 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

What people with IBD should know

3rd Aug 20263rd Aug 2026 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Finding strength in the struggle: Understanding post-traumatic growth

27th Jul 202627th Jul 2026 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Why your pain is not in your head: Understanding the biopsychosocial model

20th Jul 202620th Jul 2026 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Launching IBD Science for Patients

15th Jul 202615th Jul 2026 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Dating with IBD: Your guide to connection and confidence

15th May 202615th May 2026 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

The “mind-manifesting” medicine: Why I’m following psychedelic research

Two plastic jugs filled with clear fluid
11th May 202615th May 2026 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

My small bowel contrast MRE experience: jugs, breath-holds, and a very close call

29th Apr 202615th May 2026 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

“Yes, yes” isn’t listening: My recent appointment and the reality of medical trauma

20th Mar 20261st May 2026 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Can you lie on your front with a stoma?

16th Mar 20261st May 2026 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Endometriosis and the gut: The frustration of the diagnostic overlap

5th Mar 20265th Mar 2026 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Uncovering the shared brain circuits of PTSD and chronic pain

26th Feb 20262nd Mar 2026 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

IBD and food fear: What the latest research tells us

Female in meditation
23rd Feb 20261st May 2026 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Why we need to talk about the mental impact of chronic illness

Stages of grief
20th Feb 202627th Feb 2026 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

The stages of grief in chronic illness

9th Feb 20261st May 2026 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Family planning, pregnancy & childbirth after bowel surgery

6th Feb 20266th Feb 2026 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Overcoming fear: Speak your truth for better relationships

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Older Posts

When living with a #ChronicIllness, we often talk about getting through the flare, recovering from surgery, or managing the daily symptoms. But what happens after the storm clears? It's strange that it's completely normal to me to start a Saturday with movement that helps manage my pain, followed by a catch up with people I only know because of our shared health conditions, whilst organising my meds for the week. Afterwards, I organised and cut my latest #ostomy supply delivery. Only then did I realise that for a "normal healthy person", this is not a standard day 😂 This is the day of a person who's spent so many years adapting to their chronic conditions, that this is MY normal 💜 I'll give you two ✌️ guesses where this peppermint oil ended up after I'd dropped a few drops 💧 in my #ostomy bag whilst on the toilet 🚽... It's ok to ignore the pile of washing 🧺 in favour of rest. It's very likely that the person judging you most for it, is you. If it isn't, kick them to the curb - you don't need that kind of negativity or lack of understanding in your life 👋😂 28°C in the UK today! Hot weather brings extra challenges when you live with an #ostomy: dehydration, baseplate adhesion issues, and skin irritation. Here, I share practical tips to help you navigate heatwaves safely https://advocatinghealth.com/2018/07/07/ostomies-and-hot-weather/ 💜✨ Have you ever been told that your symptoms are all in your head, or left a doctor’s appointment feeling dismissed because tests came back clear? Living with chronic conditions, chronic pain, and emotional exhaustion can leave you feeling really isolated! 💜 https://www.instagram.com/p/DbL5Xb2sWdC/ It's been a slow start kinda day. I imagine it'll stay slow 🐌 Having been involved in the original research and the creation of this new #stoma resource, I’m so excited to see it move into the testing phase! Dating with #IBD or an #ostomy can feel like navigating a minefield. You might be wondering when to mention your health, how to handle the anxiety, and whether you're worthy of connection while managing your condition. It's scorching here right now 🔥 If you're living with #IBD or have had bowel surgery, staying hydrated isn't as simple as drinking more water 💧 Today is a much better day, so I thought I'd better share the celebration!
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