Louise Thompson and her mother Karen have supported the launch of Zara McDermott’s new clothing brand after she revealed her stoma bag.
The former Made In Chelsea star, 34, spoke out earlier this month about having a stoma bag fitted after years of suffering from ulcerative colitis following a diagnosis in 2018.
After getting candid with her followers, Louise stepped out on Wednesday to support Zara, who is dating her brother Sam, at the launch of her Everyday Essentials clothing brand, RISE, in London.
Louise looked stylish for the launch, sporting an oversized white satin long shirt, which she paired with a sleeveless gray cardigan.
She completed the look with black jeans and chunky studded brown boots, accessorized with a small bag.
Louise Thompson and her mother Karen came out to support the launch of Zara McDermott’s new clothing brand in London on Wednesday after she revealed her stoma bag.
The former Made In Chelsea star, 34, spoke out earlier this month about having a stoma bag fitted after years of suffering from ulcerative colitis following a diagnosis in 2018.
Meanwhile, Karen looked stylish in white wide-leg trousers and a pink tweed jacket, as she posed alongside her daughter and Zara.
Zara kept her loungewear style going for the launch as she donned a skintight black all-in-one with a gray jacket and bright red sneakers.
Louise shared the news of having a stoma bag fitted with her Instagram followers in early April, bravely admitting that it’s “not something I would want to hide forever.”
Louise has previously spoken about her current struggle with ulcerative colitis, an intestinal disease, as well as the autoimmune disease lupus.
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic intestinal condition in which the colon and rectum become inflamed and small ulcers develop on the lining of the colon that may bleed. The condition has no cure, but it can be effectively controlled over time.
Earlier this year she spent two weeks in hospital after suffering a flare-up of ulcerative colitis while on holiday with her fiancé Ryan Libbey and their two-year-old Leo.
The fitness influencer almost died during the birth of her son Leo in 2021 and was left with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Louise shared a video of herself showing off the bag, which is stuck to her stomach, and wrote: HOW CAN I SPREAD THIS KIND OF NEWS?
Louise revealed how she was fitted with a stoma bag after years of suffering from ulcerative colitis – and says it ‘may well have saved her life’.
Earlier this year, she spent two weeks in hospital after suffering a flare-up of ulcerative colitis while on holiday with her fiancé Ryan Libbey and their two-year-old Leo (pictured at the time).
‘It’s not exactly exciting like a big pregnancy or gender reveal announcement! Hey, look, I’m having a boy… Hey, look, I have a stoma!
‘So I guess I’ll stay here. Proud of height. With my new friend. The fanny pack, which represents life. And hopefully a better one.
‘Isn’t it strange that this little gray bag is the price I pay for good health? I say goodbye to that unpleasant and threatening colon!
Louise urged people to support her decision to share her news online, adding: “Please be kind.”
In the clip, Louise lifted her top to reveal the bag, telling her fans she was “introducing the bag that could very well have saved her life.”
In February, Louise revealed she was forced to rush home from Antigua after “losing cups of blood every 20 minutes” during a severe flare-up (pictured in Antigua).
Louise’s post was flooded with messages of support from her friends and followers, including her brother’s girlfriend Zara McDermott (pictured alongside Sam Thompson).
He added: “It’s not exactly a glamorous advert, but it’s also not something I want to keep hidden forever.”
Louise’s post was flooded with messages of support from her friends and followers, including her brother’s girlfriend Zara McDermott.
Sharing her own message of support, she wrote: ‘When you think about it, it’s a beautiful thing because it means less time in hospital, less time in pain, less time with a poisonous organ in your body. Now you are free my girl. Now is the time for you.’
What is a stoma?
A stoma is a surgically created opening in the abdomen that serves to divert the flow of urine and stool.
According to the NHS, this procedure may be necessary if you are unable to pass stool through the anus, which could be the result of an illness, injury or problem with your digestive system.
In the UK, an estimated one in 335 people have had the surgery.
The procedure can be part of treatment for a number of diseases, including cancer, diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease, or any trauma to the abdomen.
The stoma will usually be “pink and very similar to the inside of our mouth.” After surgery, you will be swollen, but this will go down in six to eight weeks.
There is no sensation when touching a stoma, as there are no nerves, but different people will have theirs in different sizes or shapes.
It is also possible to have a temporary stoma, which could then be reversed, if the diseased or damaged area of the intestine needs to heal over time.
A stoma is a surgically created opening in the abdomen that serves to divert the flow of urine and stool. Stock image used
TYPES OF STOMA
COLOSTOMY
This refers to an opening in the colon, the large intestine. During the operation, a part of the colon will be moved from inside the body through the abdomen. The production of this “often resembles a traditional bowel movement” and runs between one and three times a day.
ILEOSTOMY
For this procedure, the surgeon will bring a part of the small intestine, specifically the ileum, from inside the patient’s body and bring it through the abdomen, suturing it to secure it. The result of an ileostomy is more flexible than that of a colostomy. An ileostomy bag is also worn, allowing drainage into the toilet three to six times a day.
UROSTOMY
A urostomy specifically refers to an opening for a person’s urine. To do this, the surgeon will take a piece of a person’s small intestine and attach it to the ureters. This will “form a tube through which urine will pass.” To do this, one of the tubes is taken out through the abdomen. A urostomy bag will also have a “plug or spigot at the bottom to allow urine to drain into the toilet at regular intervals.”
Fountain: Colostomy UK, National Health Service