“Balancing life, recovery, and a stoma — one step at a time.”
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Hello, I’m Chris. This blog documents my journey through ulcerative colitis, life-changing surgery, and adapting to life with a stoma. I share honest experiences, practical advice, and the realities people don’t always talk about—so others going through similar challenges don’t feel alone.
This is the full reflection on my ulcerative colitis to stoma journey — from ignored symptoms, diagnosis, medication, remission, relapse and surgery, to recovery, life with a stoma, and finding my voice through The Stoma Accountant.
If you are living with ulcerative colitis, facing stoma surgery, recovering with a stoma, or wondering whether life can feel normal again, this is the message I wish I could have read when I was scared, exhausted and searching for hope.
After surgery, the real adjustment began. This part of my story covers coming home with a stoma, learning bag changes, body confidence, leaks, mental health, humour, talking about it, and realising the stoma was not the end of my story.
Waking up after stoma surgery was not inspirational at first — it was pain, morphine, confusion and learning how much my body had changed. This part of my story covers hospital recovery, first walks, meeting my stoma, emptying my bag, going home, and the first glimpse of freedom after ulcerative colitis.
Once stoma surgery was booked, everything changed. This part of my story covers pre-assessment, Covid rules, steroid tapering, family emotions, accidents, and the night before colon removal.
After four years in remission, ulcerative colitis started taking control again. This part of my story covers symptoms returning, Vedolizumab failing, Covid, losing my job, protective underwear, hospital treatment, Infliximab, and the moment surgery became a serious conversation.
After diagnosis, ulcerative colitis became something I had to manage every day. This part of my story covers flares, fatigue, urgency, medication side effects, steroids, Methotrexate, Vedolizumab, and the four years of remission that finally let me breathe.
Being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis gave my symptoms a name, but it did not make everything simple. This is what happened after diagnosis — the tests, the fear, the colonoscopy prep, the low iron, and learning what mild UC and proctitis actually meant.
Before I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, I ignored symptoms I should have taken seriously: mucus, blood, weight loss, toilet changes and exhaustion. At first, I convinced myself it was piles or something that would go away. This is the beginning of my UC diagnosis story — and the part where I wish I had listened to my body sooner.
This is the full reflection on my ulcerative colitis to stoma journey — from ignored symptoms, diagnosis, medication, remission, relapse and surgery, to recovery, life with a stoma, and finding my voice through The Stoma Accountant.
If you are living with ulcerative colitis, facing stoma surgery, recovering with a stoma, or wondering whether life can feel normal again, this is the message I wish I could have read when I was scared, exhausted and searching for hope.
After surgery, the real adjustment began. This part of my story covers coming home with a stoma, learning bag changes, body confidence, leaks, mental health, humour, talking about it, and realising the stoma was not the end of my story.
Waking up after stoma surgery was not inspirational at first — it was pain, morphine, confusion and learning how much my body had changed. This part of my story covers hospital recovery, first walks, meeting my stoma, emptying my bag, going home, and the first glimpse of freedom after ulcerative colitis.
Once stoma surgery was booked, everything changed. This part of my story covers pre-assessment, Covid rules, steroid tapering, family emotions, accidents, and the night before colon removal.
After four years in remission, ulcerative colitis started taking control again. This part of my story covers symptoms returning, Vedolizumab failing, Covid, losing my job, protective underwear, hospital treatment, Infliximab, and the moment surgery became a serious conversation.
After diagnosis, ulcerative colitis became something I had to manage every day. This part of my story covers flares, fatigue, urgency, medication side effects, steroids, Methotrexate, Vedolizumab, and the four years of remission that finally let me breathe.
Being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis gave my symptoms a name, but it did not make everything simple. This is what happened after diagnosis — the tests, the fear, the colonoscopy prep, the low iron, and learning what mild UC and proctitis actually meant.
Before I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, I ignored symptoms I should have taken seriously: mucus, blood, weight loss, toilet changes and exhaustion. At first, I convinced myself it was piles or something that would go away. This is the beginning of my UC diagnosis story — and the part where I wish I had listened to my body sooner.