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

16th Nov 202227th Mar 2023 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Changing seasons, chronic fatigue, and mental health

5th Nov 202227th Mar 2023 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

An open letter to Matthew Perry regarding his stoma experience

26th Oct 202227th Mar 2023 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Attending the pain management programme – part 2

25th Oct 202227th Mar 2023 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Attending the pain management programme – part 1

20th Oct 202227th Mar 2023 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

My relationship with IBD and sleep

18th Oct 202211th Mar 2025 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Dealing with intestinal blockages

17th Oct 202227th Mar 2023 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Physio update: Body and mind, misaligned

15th Oct 202229th Jun 2023 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

My bladder issues following colorectal surgery

30th Sep 202228th Jan 2026 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Common struggles after stoma surgery

8th Sep 202227th Mar 2023 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Sleeping with an ostomy bag

16th Aug 202227th Mar 2023 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Advice on new IBD medications

5th Aug 202227th Mar 2023 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Break-ups and fallouts post stoma surgery

1st Jul 202227th Mar 2023 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Intimacy after stoma surgery

30th Jun 202230th Jan 2025 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

Sleep hygiene and IBD: Why it matters and how to improve it

14th Jun 202227th Mar 2023 Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford

My experience of talking about my stoma to romantic partners

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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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