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

8th Apr 202119th Jun 2024 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Body confidence part 1 | Grieving for my pre-stoma body

26th Mar 202127th Mar 2023 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Series | How my ulcerative colitis impacted my physical activity

17th Mar 202128th Jan 2026 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Food diary | The impact of different foods on ostomy output

9th Mar 202128th Jan 2026 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Controlling weight gain with an ostomy

5th Mar 202119th Jun 2024 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

The impact of IBD on teeth

1st Mar 202127th Mar 2023 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Colorectal cancer awareness month | Gemma’s story

1st Mar 202127th Mar 2023 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Series | How my ulcerative colitis impacted my mental health

22nd Feb 202127th Mar 2023 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

FAQ | Tips for covering odour and noise in toilets

15th Feb 202122nd Aug 2024 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Why I wish I’d had my permanent stoma sooner

10th Feb 202128th Mar 2023 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Sharing the love for Valentine’s Day

29th Jan 202128th Jan 2026 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Why did I eat that?!

20th Jan 20213rd Aug 2023 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Series | How my ulcerative colitis impacted my family planning

10th Jan 202119th Jun 2024 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Fitness pre and post-abdominal surgery

8th Jan 202124th May 2024 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

FAQ | Bathing and showering with an ostomy

8th Jan 202127th Mar 2023 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Series | How my ulcerative colitis impacted my recreational activities

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It took me seven years after my #UlcerativeColitis diagnosis to finally talk about the emergency surgery, the sepsis, and the complications that followed. When I started sharing in 2014, I was doing it from a place of anger because I was tired of being misjudged. At the time, I didn't have the language for the grief I was carrying, and even the word "feelings" made me cringe. Not much of a roasting 😂😂 I'd love that! 🌿 Grief is a word we usually associate with losing someone, but when you are diagnosed with a lifelong #ChronicIllness, you are grieving too. You are grieving the loss of your healthy self, the person you were in your best memories, and the future you thought you would have. Don't worry, I haven't gone to the "dark side" 🙈 Having to fact-check everything you see online really sucks. There's a big disappointment in feeling inspired by a story or a cute fact, only to realise it was fake, AI-generated bullsh*t. Whether it’s a heartwarming celeb story that never happened or a perfect AI animal, the lack of digital authenticity makes the internet a weird place! I am currently layered up like an onion, because my nervous system does not like winter! 🏳 Study morning 📖🖊 When I first looked for information on #Pregnancy after bowel surgery, I found plenty of clinical statistics, but very little that felt real. I wanted to know what it actually felt like in a body like mine, with seven surgeries and a complex history. It looks like ChatGPT thinks I'm a psychologist 😂 Remind yourself who the Fuck you are today. You are good enough! ✨ When we live with #Crohns, #Colitis, or #Fibromyalgia, we are experts at the physical talk. We can list meds and explain a #Stoma without blinking, but the mental toll is often much harder to put into words. Just a quick update in response to the comments on the previous post asking people if their sensura mio was behaving! I had a lot of comments recommending things, so I just want to clarify, I'm not looking for additional products. IF something has changed in the manufacturing process or the adhesive, then I'll obviously need to shop around for a new bag, but it was just a manufacturing error that is not ongoing, then there's zero need.
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