I set this site up so we can share our experiences & those experiences mean all that we are feeling with IBD & Ostomies. It’s a positive site to connect & show that we can all live a normal, fulfilled life.

However sometimes do you just think What the Feck? What did I do to deserve this? If we all said life is all peachy with a stoma or not with a stoma just life in general we wouldn’t be telling the truth. At the moment my hormones are shot, the peri menopause is taking a toll on my body & on top of that this bloody bag won’t stay on Billy for anymore than 24-36 hours.

So Friday night I’m up at 3.30am major bag blow in the shower cleaning myself up, another bag change. I go back to bed trying not to wake up my husband. I lay in bed for 10 minutes in tears feeling sorry for myself amplified by these fecking hormone imbalances wondering when do I get a break. After I have had my ten minutes of woe is me I say to myself ‘I can’t change this’. Billy is with me for life my hormones will sort themselves out soon.

You know, I had a big word with myself and thought your life is good 😌 your diet is good your health is good you have people who love you. The way things affect us mentally isn’t anything to be ashamed off it’s how we deal with them that is the key. Address them don’t dwell on them focus on the good stuff don’t fall in that hole. The point of this post is to let you know we all get our shit days even me. But I focus on all the great things in my life & Billy the Illy is why I’m here 😊 don’t let the shit days bring you down, remember we are all on a journey to get to that happy emoji 😊

Also I’m having a big fecking menopause party when it’s all over so bring it on. 🤪

Lisa xx

I will soon be setting up a YouTube Channel with recipes & meals that can be cooked for people like us who have very specific diets. Although it’s not just for IBD sufferers & Ostomates it is for anyone who is interested in improving their health and wellbeing. My diet is so specific the biggest problem that I have is ensuring I am taking in the right amount of proteins.

Being a non meat eater, dairy free and unable to eat nuts & digest seeds can be a huge challenge. This new channel will feature the recipes and foods that I use to maintain a healthy body & a happy Stoma. It won’t be your normal cooking YouTube channel I will be cooking in the camper and on the Solo Stove outside as well as in my little Pikey home!! So stay tuned.

Lisa Xx

Billy the Illy is now on Facebook so check out my Facebook posts. Search for the page Billy The Illy to keep connected, Lisa xx

I have added a new page called Raising Awareness, there are also some new photos in my gallery modelling bagladymama clothes. Check them Out. Lisa Xx

A while back I mentioned on a previous post that I was going to cut out fish from my diet as well as all the other foods that I have cut out over the last few years. I have to report that after being completely Vegan it really became difficult for me. My stoma output wasn’t great I started to feel like crap and was taking to many supplements so I introduced fish back into my diet again. It was definitely the right thing to do I am still following my strict diet in terms of only fruit, vegetables, pulses, and non dairy foods but introducing fish back into my diet has been good for me. I am still maintaining my weight of just under 52kgs and am only taking the multi vitamins and folic acid that I have always taken.

I will be adding a few more recipes under the diet menu so check them out.

New page will be up soon so keep checking back 🙂

After finally covering up the scar on my left side with my new tattoo it inspired me to buy a bikini for the first time in forever. I am not embarrassed by my body but it does take a lot to accept yourself. The growth in me physically and mentally over the last year or so has been immense. I would be more than happy to walk on the beach in a bikini now.

Becoming an ostomate dealing with a bowel disease is not easy it really can drain you both physically and mentally. I’ve had a permanent stoma for 28 years and I am still dealing with the affects that having an ileostomy has on my life.

I have worked really hard over the last few years to get my diet right you can take a look at my diet page. Since giving up meat and dairy I have managed to be the healthiest I’ve ever been. So many foods upset my stomach and it has been challenging. Keeping up my proteins has been the hardest thing however I have finally got a good balanced diet. I’ve lost the weight that I wanted too and covered the scar that I disliked. My new tattoo that covers that scar is very symbolic, it reminds me of how much I have grown as person and how far I have come in my journey to accept myself. I have added a few photos to my gallery 🙂

Lisa xx

Ps. In true British style I wore a bikini for two days then it’s pissed it down with rain ☔️ ever since 😂

I will be posting some new photos soon so check my gallery soon.

Lisa Xx

There is now a new page up called My Hummingbird do have a read & I hope it helps you to understand that we all have feelings and we should tackle them and not be scared of them. Lisa Xx