Accepting & loving your body

Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we’ll ever do

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 😂

The Lisa Diet

Plant Based

If you click on the menu Diet you will see all information on Diet advice there is also a tab that’s called the Lisa Diet, if you have read this you will know that I have changed my diet a lot over the last few years. My motto has always been if it hurts your tummy stop eating it well I have finally had to cut fish out of my diet 😔It hasn’t been agreeing with me for a while now.

I have noticed that in Cornwall we are slow to cater for specific diets especially when it comes to fish Cornwall is known for the fish industry and our fresh fish here really is beautiful. I am now going to see how my body copes without fish concentrating on my protein intake is really important so I am still eating eggs.

I find eating out is starting to prove difficult, as the UK becomes more diet aware the bigger cities cater for specific diets where as the little villages here are a bit slower at moving with the trends. I will keep you updated with how being fish free affects my general health and Billy the illy’s output. So far so good, we have some great Vegan restaurants popping up in Plymouth so we will be trying a few of those out. Stay tuned for updates and reviews and new recipes I will be adding!!

Lisa Xx

Stoma Care Appointment

Once in a Blue Moon Visit

I only ever visit the hospital once in a blue moon, however my skin has been suffering so off I went to see the lovely Stoma Nurse Jane Matten. The stoma care department at Derriford Hospital is great and the help and advice you receive is brilliant. The staff are kind, caring and knowledgeable even though I visit rarely (generally when I have a problem) it’s always a pleasure. I wanted to get the sizing of my Stoma right I’m always advising others to get their Stoma measured and thought it was about time I took my own advice.

Billy has changed such a lot over the years he is small and his little spout is facing upwards. I’ve always had a dip in the skin by the Stoma i guess it’s what makes everybody’s Stoma unique. So now I’m resized and using the Coloplast SenSura Mio one piece. I am not a huge fan of the one piece however I am going to be trying some different two pieces once my skin has healed, the reviews will be on the Ostomy product review page soon. I have known Jane for a long time we had a little catch up and my visit timed just right as she is retiring this week she will be missed by all the patients she has helped over the years.

Billy is now a winking eye!

Once my skin has healed I will be doing a bag change film on YouTube so stay tuned for that.

Lisa Xx