Learning from Louise Thompson’s Stoma Story: Important Lessons for Carers and Nurses

Image credit: Louise Thompson

Louise’s Story

Louise Thompson, who many people know from TV, has bravely shared her story about getting a stoma bag after having serious health problems. She has spoken openly about her experience with using a stoma bag, sharing both the struggles and the process of getting better, both physically and emotionally.

Louise Thompson stoma bag story has been inspirational for many, as it raises awareness about stoma care, body image, and mental health struggles following major surgery.

A stoma is like a special opening in the tummy that helps poo leave the body when someone’s bowels aren’t working properly. Louise has talked openly about how hard it was to get used to living with a stoma, but also how it helped make her feel better.

Also in her story, Thompson shared that by the end, she was “begging for the stoma surgery” due to intense pain and frequent blood loss.

✔️Surgery
Due to pain and blood loss, Thompson had surgery to remove part of her colon. She shared that she even “begged for the stoma surgery” to help her feel better.

✔️Stoma Bag
Thompson says her stoma bag “saved her life” and calls it a symbol of life. She posted a video on Instagram to show her followers the stoma bag, saying she doesn’t want to hide it.

✔️Living with It
She admits that getting used to the stoma bag has been a big adjustment, but she feels healthier than ever and says it was the best decision she made.

Challenges Louise Faced After Getting a Stoma Bag

Louise Thompson faced several challenges after getting her stoma bag:

• Adjusting to daily life: Louise had to get used to living with a stoma bag, which she named “Winnie”. This meant learning how to care for and manage the bag.
• Body image concerns: She felt shy about showing the stoma to her fiancé, Ryan, and didn’t let him see it for the first six weeks after surgery.
• Intimacy issues: After the surgery, sex was “not even on the agenda” for five months. Louise had to figure out how to approach intimacy with her new body.
• Practical problems: Louise had a leak from her stoma bag while flying to Mallorca, showing how unexpected issues can happen in everyday situations.
• Mental health: While not directly linked to the stoma, Louise has been dealing with PTSD, postnatal anxiety, and depression, which made it harder to adjust to life with the stoma.
• Public perception: As a public figure, Louise had to decide how to share her condition with her followers, understanding it wasn’t the kind of “exciting” news people expect.

Despite these challenges, Louise has been open about her experience, using her platform to raise awareness and reduce stigma around stoma bags.

Looking at the Emotional and Mental Impact of Stoma

Louise Thompson has navigated the emotional journey of getting a stoma bag in several positive and resilient ways:

• Staying grateful: Despite the challenges, Louise has focused on feeling thankful for her good health after the surgery. She chose to see the stoma as something that has improved her quality of life.
• Adapting quickly: Louise adjusted to her new reality swiftly, even describing the stoma bag as an accessory, joking that it was like “a grey bumbag”.
• Seeking support: Louise has made sure to get support by seeing the stoma team weekly since her surgery. Their positive feedback has helped her stay on track with her recovery.
• Drawing on past strength: Her previous experiences with birth trauma and PTSD made the adjustment to life with a stoma easier to handle, as she already had the resilience from overcoming those challenges.
• Being open: Louise chose to be transparent about her condition, using her platform to speak openly and raise awareness, working to reduce stigma around stomas.
• Finding humour: She has embraced the situation with a sense of humour, even naming her stoma “Bertha”, helping to keep the experience lighthearted.
• Focusing on family: As a mother, Louise has found strength and motivation in her role, staying positive through the recovery process for the sake of her family.

By choosing a positive mindset, seeking support, and using her experience to help others, Louise has shown incredible resilience in facing the emotional impact of living with a stoma bag.

After her stoma surgery, Louise Thompson received a lot of support from the stoma team. She saw them weekly, which helped her in several ways.

They monitored her recovery, gave her advice on how to care for her stoma, and supported her in adjusting to life with it.

The team was also impressed with how well she was coping, which helped boost her confidence. These regular visits played a big part in how quickly Louise adapted and kept a positive attitude towards living with a stoma.

What We Can Learn About Patient Care

1. Listen to Your Patients

• Every person’s experience with a stoma is different
• Patients often know when something isn’t right with their body
• Some might feel scared or worried about their stoma
• Let them talk about their feelings without judging

2. Watch for Early Warning Signs

• Look out for:
  • Skin getting red or sore around the stoma
  • Changes in how the stoma looks
  • Signs that the patient is in pain
  • Problems with the bag staying on
  • Changes in what comes out of the stoma

3. Help with Daily Care

• Show patients how to:
  • Clean around their stoma properly
  • Put on a new bag safely
  • Check their skin
  • Empty the bag when needed
  • Know when to change the bag

4. Support Mental Health Too

• Having a stoma can be hard to deal with mentally
• Some people might feel:
  • Embarrassed
  • Worried about how they look
  • Scared about going out
  • Unsure about telling others
  • Sad or angry about their situation

5. Practical Help Matters

• Teach patients about:
  • What clothes might work best
  • How to shower or bath safely
  • What foods might cause problems
  • How to exercise safely
  • What to do when traveling

6. Emergency Care

Show patients what to do if:

• The bag leaks
• The skin gets very sore
• The stoma changes color
• They feel unwell
• They run out of supplies

Important Daily Checks

Morning Checks:

• Is the bag sealed properly?
• Is the skin looking healthy?
• Does the stoma look normal?
• Does the patient feel okay?

Throughout the Day:

• Check if the bag needs emptying
• Look for any leaks
• Make sure the seal is still good
• Ask if they’re comfortable

Evening Checks:

• Check skin health again
• Make sure supplies are ready for tomorrow
• Ask about any problems during the day
• Plan for overnight care if needed

Helping Patients Stay Active

Support patients to:

• Get back to their normal life
• Try gentle exercise when ready
• Go out with friends and family
• Return to work when they feel ready
• Keep doing things they enjoy

Building Confidence

Help patients by:

• Praising their progress
• Teaching them step by step
• Being patient with questions
• Showing them how to solve problems
• Connecting them with support groups

Special Tips for Carers and Nurses

Being Professional:

• Always be gentle and careful
• Keep everything clean
• Respect privacy
• Stay calm if there’s a mess
• Be ready to help quickly

Good Communication:

• Use simple words
• Draw pictures if it helps
• Show as well as tell
• Check they understand
• Answer questions clearly

Keeping Records:

• Write down any changes
• Note what works well
• Record any problems
• Keep track of supplies
• Document skin health

Learning from Problems

If something goes wrong:

• Stay calm
• Fix the immediate problem
• Learn why it happened
• Make a plan to prevent it
• Share what you learned with others

Working with Families

Remember to:

• Show family members how to help
• Explain things clearly
• Listen to their worries
• Give them written instructions
• Tell them who to call for help

Being Prepared

Always have:

• Extra supplies ready
• Emergency contact numbers
• Spare clothes nearby
• Cleaning materials
• Written instructions

Key Takeaway

Louise Thompson’s journey with her stoma bag shows us many valuable lessons.

Her story highlights the importance of support, understanding, learning, and helping people live more independently.

As carers and nurses, we get to be part of our patients’ journeys.

Louise’s stoma bag story shows us that:

• Everyone’s journey is different
• Good care makes a huge difference
• Patients can still live full lives
• Support needs to be ongoing
• Both physical and mental care matter

Remember, your job as a carer or nurse is to:

• Help patients feel safe
• Build their confidence
• Support their independence
• Protect their dignity
• Make life easier for them

By taking inspiration from Louise’s experience, we can give better care and make a real difference in their lives. If you want quality stoma training, contact us today at  01782 563333 or email  enquiries@caringforcare.co.uk. We offer this course both onsite and offsite for individuals and groups.