I can’t believe it but after just a few months me and Winnie have had 10,000 views on our blog.
I know this doesn’t mean that 10,000 separate people have read about my crazy mishaps and adventures with my temperamental ostomy, but I am honestly amazed that so many people have clicked on the different posts and read about my life.
When I first started this blog I didn’t think anyone would read it, apart from maybe my mum. I just wanted to help others who suffer from Crohn’s or Colitis (or any other kind of chronic condition) not to feel alone, and to show the world that having an ostomy bag is not disgusting, taboo, or something to be ashamed of, and that it most definitely isn’t the end of youth, fun and freedom – in fact after more than a decade of a life ruled by IBD having my operation has meant just the opposite.
Sharing these experiences with you guys has been eye-opening, fun and sometimes extremely emotional. At times sharing my story, pain and mishaps has been upsetting, but just the act of putting these feelings and problems out into the unknown for everyone to see has been sort of therapeutic. The responses I have got have been incredible. After years of being terrified about what the world would think of me if I had a stoma, me and Winnie have been welcomed with open arms into a community of brave, understanding and generous people, and thousands of strangers have accepted Winnie, despite all her poop, inappropriate farts and nuclear explosions.
I want to thank you all for sticking with me through all this craziness. Sometimes I’m incredibly bubbly and positive, other times these posts can portray the side to my life were the illness rules me and I just feel like a miserable wreck. I just wanted my experiences to help one person, and I thought if that happened the, at times, hellish journey I have been through would all be worth while. It’s safe to say I didn’t think anyone would read this, and I am blown away that so many of you have.
Anyway, now that I have got past this milestone I have decided to share someone else’s story on my blog.
I found Kate on twitter and was inspired by her positive attitude despite being relatively newly diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, (and of course that she shares the same name as a certain princess) and at the time having to go through the trauma of wearing an NG tube. I guess I was inspired by how open she was being about the condition as I remember how I tried to hide mine out of embarrassment, so much so that I almost died from the shame. I’m lucky enough to say that, although I have had tubes shoved in places even aliens wouldn’t probe, I have never had an NG tube, (I avoided it by the skin of my teeth once!) and although I know I would put up with it I don’t think I would handle it anywhere near as classily as Kate.
Hi, my name is Kate Middleton, I am 17-years-old from Liverpool. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in November 2012.
Kate out and about with her NG tube
I am going to tell you my top three tips for if you ever need for an NG (nasogastric tube).
- Don’t hide away.
You are still you even with a tube in your nose. Live your life as if you never had it, you will start going mad looking at the same four walls otherwise
2. Ignore some people.
Most people will look then carry on with their own business but there are some people who will keep staring. Just let it go over your head and forget about them, they don’t know why you have it. Easier said than done I know.
3. Stock up!
Fill your house up with boiled sweets, ice lollies and fruit tea, this is more if you can’t eat while on NG feed but it just gives you a nice taste.
You can read more about Kate’s experiences with IBD at her blog: crohnsgirlblog.wordpress.com
(If you want to share you story, tips or any experiences please get in touch, it would be great if I could feature one guest blog a month to help spread awareness about how no two people are effected by IBD or cope with their stomas in the same way)
The big stoma bucket list 