Louise Thompson has been plagued by health issues over the past six years, being admitted to hospital as recently as February during a family holiday with fiancé Ryan Libbey and their two-year-old son Leo. And in her latest health update last week, the former Made In Chelsea star – who almost died in childbirth, and was diagnosed with anxiety and PTSD from the complications of her labour – bravely disclosed that she has been fitted with a stoma bag.
Louise, 34, was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis – the inflammation of the lower end of the digestive system – in 2018, and has said the stoma “saved her life”.
Discussing the bag, which is designed to connect to the stomach and collect waste, the former reality star said it’s “not a glamorous announcement”, but she didn’t want to keep it “hidden forever”.
“It’s not exactly exciting, like a pregnancy or gender reveal announcement,” she wrote. “Hey look, I’m having a boy… Hey look, I’ve got a stoma! So, I guess I’ll just stand here, proud in stature with my new friend, le bum bag that represents life, and hopefully a better one. Isn’t it bizarre that this little grey pouch is the price I pay for good health? I say good riddance to that nasty colon!”
She included #ibdawareness and #autoimmunedisease, with the post clocking up thousands of supportive messages praising her bravery. And now, a close friend of Louise’s tells heat that she thinks going public with her stoma bag shows she is turning a corner and moving forward with her life after a challenging few years.
“I’m sure it will be a sense of relief,” her friend says. “And I think it’ll also be amazing for other people who might be going through something similar, because it’s not something that is widely spoken about.
“Somebody as beautiful and young as Louise going through it really will shed a light and give hope to other people.”
Louise’s friend also reveals that her loyal circle has stayed close, and that her family – including famous younger brother Sam – have provided the most support. Sam wrote underneath his sister’s post, “The only way is up from here on out. The fact that you’re my sister is just f*cking awesome! A real-life hero.”
And Louise’s friend adds, “For her, the last few years have been harder than a lot of us realised. There is no way of navigating some of the things that she’s been going through, but she has an amazing sense of community.
“Honestly, we’re all just in awe of her.”