Louise Thompson proudly displayed her stoma bag in a yellow bikini as she admitted she feels people staring at her and urged people to 'be kind'.
The former Made in Chelsea star, 30, who nearly died when giving birth to her son in 2021, revealed last April that she had been fitted with a stoma after years of battling with ulcerative colitis.
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.
A stoma is a surgically-created opening made on the abdomen, which is made to divert the flow of body waste into a medical device, which the person can then empty.
But taking to Instagram on Sunday, Louise admitted in a candid post that she is wearing less bikinis and switching to swimsuits, in part because she notices people looking at her stoma.
Louise went on to say that she feels confident having her stoma on show now, but gave advice to those unfamiliar with them to 'be kind', not judge and let people with them wear what they want in peace.
Louise Thompson proudly displayed her stoma bag in a yellow bikini as she admitted she feels people staring at her and urged people to 'be kind'
The former Made in Chelsea star, 30, who nearly died when giving birth to her son in 2021, revealed last April that she had been fitted with a stoma after years of battling with ulcerative colitis
Sharing a snap and clip of herself in the yellow two-piece, Louise wrote: 'I'm not a big bikini girl these days. I don't think it's a confidence issue, I just really enjoy the comfort of a swimsuit. It's very practical and dare I say it - when you reach your mid 30s I think practicality equates to sophistication.
'There's another thing. I don't LOVE people looking at me that much. Stoma or no stoma. It doesn't happen to me often now I'm a bit older and a mother (gone are the days of men checking me out on the tube or the beach), but regardless of circumstances - you definitely get more attention with a random black or grey bag glued to your abs. Unsurprising really.
'I have no doubt that if I saw someone in a similar situation as me I'd look on in fascination/with curiosity/appreciation for what they might have gone through. It's natural. We are intrigued by uniqueness. We intrigued by medicine and health.'
She continued: 'On the note of appreciation I've actually been serving myself lots of self-appreciation recently. Yesterday I got out of the shower and went straight to my phone to write down the words "remember you can get through TOUGH shit, ur tough as nails'" on a WhatsApp thread I have with myself (where I dump all my creative [thoughts]) because I really believed it. I wanted you to too.
'Regardless of the above I feel no shame when I look at my body. I don't attach much emotion to it at all. It just exists. That's the main thing. It's a privilege to exist. Literally. Metaphorically.
'But I fancied giving my tummy a bit of tan time/vit d on holiday… so here she is. The old bod. Me and Winnie hanging out. Wearing her with pride. I think I've still got it. I feel good. I roamed freely in the villa. I didn't feel the need to display my tummy in the beach clubs because tbh I'm not really a big lie down and tan kind of girl anymore. I think I dress really well and v freeely and vvvv ME regardless of my stomach situ.'
Louise added: 'I don't feel held back at all, but I know some do and I want to remind anyone out there that doesn't really understand what this is that lots of normal and nice people in the uk have them (100k) and to be kind.
'Don't judge. Let people wear what they want. Ask nice questions if you really can't help it. You might learn something cool. #stoma.'
Louise went on to say that she feels confident having her stoma on show now, but gave advice to those unfamiliar with them to 'be kind'
Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Louise admitted in a candid post that she us wearing less bikinis and switching to swimsuits, in part because she notices people looking at her stoma
In holiday snaps from earlier this month, Louise showed off her incredible figure in the two-piece, before slipping into a black swimsuit.
Louise and fiancé Ryan Libbey have been enjoying a short trip 'just the two of them' at the luxurious Maslina Resort on Hvar island.
Louise recently opened up about suffering a 'horrendously debilitating' stoma leak while out in central London.
Since her diagnosis, Louise has continued to spread awareness and proudly show off her stoma, which she's nicknamed Winnie, in a hilarious reference to Winnie The Pooh.
However, taking to her Instagram on Wednesday, she revealed she'd had a leak the day before, which left her in tears and needing some time out by herself.
She explained she had headed to Marylebone with her fiancé Ryan on his motorbike for an appointment and a coffee, before going to record a podcast.
However, Louise explained that despite their 'great start', she suddenly realised her stoma bag had unfortunately leaked, forcing her to rush to the nearest hospital for supplies.
Sharing several selfies of her and Ryan on their bike journey before everything went wrong, she wrote: 'Yesterday I found myself in a really depressing situation.
In holiday snaps from earlier this month, Louise showed off her incredible figure in the two-piece, before slipping into a black swimsuit
Louise and fiancé Ryan Libbey have been enjoying a short trip 'just the two of them' at the luxurious Maslina Resort on Hvar island
'l had a great start to the day. I had a medical appointment at @avenues.life in the morning with Ryan... we biked there to get ahead of the traffic and managed to shave off 20 minutes from the journey.
'Then was off to record a podcast with 2x good friends which has been in the diary for ages. Had a lot of excited energy in my belly following a c**p week of of c**p health.
'We got off the bike in Marylebone blissfully happy and headed to @watchhouse for some delicious coffee and cookies pre-recording because we were a smidge early, but then I felt something a bit wet in my pocket. I looked down and had had the most horrendously debilitating stoma leak.'
She recounted how she was left 'too overwhelmed' to explain the situation, but Ryan had stepped in, while she was left in a bathroom for an hour waiting for staff to try and source any new stoma bags, while 'covered in mess'.
Louise said: ' I had to hobble to the nearest hospital which was a private one so a bit awkward. I was actually too overwhelmed to speak when we got to reception so thankfully Ryan who I was with handled it for me.
'I then literally waited locked in a bathroom for an hour sat on the loo covered in mess whilst they dug around to see if they had any stoma bags for any of their [sic] inpatients.'
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