Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford | Patient Advocacy

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

Menu Skip to content
  • About me
  • IBD
  • Ostomy
  • Mental health
  • Chronic pain
  • Fertility Testing
  • FAQ
  • Work with me
  • Research opportunities
  • Contact me
  • IBD Science for Patients
  • 🔍 Search
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Bluesky
  • Threads
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
2nd Jun 20187th Dec 2023 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

What people with IBD should know

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

5th Feb 20264th Feb 2026 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Braving the Big Talk – we don’t always need the “right” words

Posts navigation

Older Posts

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! I wanted to share a little update following yesterdays post about trying to reduce some of my pain medication, and that this week has been worst than last, despite the dose being the same. ​I am trying to reduce some of my pain medication at the moment. Today is the birthday of the NHS! As someone who has survived seven abdominal surgeries, sepsis, C-diff, and years of managing #UlcerativeColitis and #fibromyalgia, my relationship with healthcare is deep, complex, and incredibly personal. Looking in the mirror when you live with a #ChronicIllness like #IBD or fibro can be a really complicated experience! For a long time, when I looked at my reflection, all I could see were the visible reminders of what my body had been through: the scars, medication side effects, and #ostomy bag. It’s so easy to focus entirely on the parts that feel altered, scarred, or broken. I've started a new little project, and I'm excited to share it with you! It is called IBD Science for Patients.
One-Time
Monthly
Yearly

Buy me a coffee ☕️

Make a monthly donation

Make a yearly donation

Choose an amount

£5.00
£10.00
£15.00
£5.00
£15.00
£100.00
£5.00
£15.00
£100.00

Or enter a custom amount

£

Your contribution is appreciated.

Your contribution is appreciated.

Your contribution is appreciated.

Donate
Donate monthly
Donate yearly
Blog at WordPress.com.
Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford | Patient Advocacy
Blog at WordPress.com.
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Subscribe Subscribed
    • Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford | Patient Advocacy
      • Join 54 other subscribers.
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford | Patient Advocacy
    • Subscribe Subscribed
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
Loading Comments...