The Bowel Chronicles

In this inspiring episode of  The Bowel Chronicles , we meet 10-year-old Hunter and his mum, Cody. Hunter shares his journey from childhood constipation to undergoing colostomy surgery at just eight years old. Now thriving, he talks about life with a stoma, his love for football, boxing, swimming, and reading, and how he uses social media to support other kids and parents navigating bowel conditio...

In this episode of  The Bowel Chronicles , we sit down with Katie from Scotland, who shares her powerful journey with Ulcerative Colitis after being misdiagnosed for years. Despite being told she had IBS, Katie persisted in advocating for herself—eventually receiving her IBD diagnosis at age 29. Since then, Katie has undergone ileostomy surgery, experienced pregnancy with a stoma, and later had a...

In this powerful episode of The Bowel Chronicles, we reconnect with 25-year-old Alisha, who first shared her story of slow colon transit and undergoing ileostomy surgery at just 12 years old. After facing challenges that led to further surgery, including multiple manual evacuations and hospitalizations she underwent further surgery in July 2024. She takes us through her experience of having a full...

In this episode of  The Bowel Chronicles , we chat with Bryony, a 36-year-old pole fitness instructor from Chesterfield, who has faced a 19-year battle with ulcerative colitis. Bryony’s journey is nothing short of inspiring—she shares her experiences with multiple stoma surgeries, J-pouch surgery, and adjusting to life after her permanent stoma and Barbie butt surgery. Bryony opens up about the ch...

In this inspiring episode of  The Bowel Chronicles , I sit down with Bethany from Glasgow, a resilient 25-year-old who has faced a decade-long battle with misdiagnosed IBD. After experiencing Ulcerative Colitis symptoms from the age of 12 and being misdiagnosed with IBS, Bethany underwent a life-changing subtotal colectomy in February 2024. She shares her emotional journey of navigating chronic il...

In this special 40th episode of  The Bowel Chronicles , we’re joined by two incredible best friends, Sam and Mel, from Hertfordshire. Together, they share their personal journeys of resilience, hope, and friendship in the face of life-changing health challenges. Sam opens up about her temporary ileostomy due to endometriosis, her IVF journey, and her experience of having her stoma reversed. Mel sh...

In this inspiring episode of The Bowel Chronicles, I sit down with Ailish, a 29-year-old powerhouse from Essex. Diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in her early 20s, Ailish shares her courageous journey from battling debilitating symptoms to undergoing life-changing surgery at just 23. She opens up about adjusting to life with a stoma, her emotional and physical healing, and how she found purpose as...

In this inspiring episode of  The Bowel Chronicles , we hear from 28-year-old Curtis from Kent, who was diagnosed with juvenile polyps at just nine years old.  Curtis, who is also deaf, shares his powerful story of resilience and how stoma surgery transformed his life.  From hitting the gym to gaming and ice skating, Curtis is living life to the fullest and proving that nothing can hold him back. ...

In this powerful episode of  The Bowel Chronicles , we sit down with Sean from Bonnie Scotland.  At just 33 years old, Sean has been living with Crohn’s and Colitis for over 17 years.  As a father, shopping centre manager, and online fitness coach dedicated to helping others with IBD navigate nutrition and fitness, Sean knows firsthand the challenges of balancing life with chronic illness. He open...

In this inspiring episode of  The Bowel Chronicles , I sit down with the wonderful Jennie from Blackpool, who shares her powerful journey of resilience and hope. After undergoing emergency surgery in 2018, Jennie was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and faced a total colectomy.  Despite ongoing health challenges and being told she was unlikely to conceive, Jennie defied the odds and welcomed another...

In this episode of The Bowel Chronicles, I sit down with Joshua, a 19-year-old from Birmingham, whose story is both inspiring and authentic. Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2023, Joshua underwent ileostomy stoma surgery just eight days after being admitted to the hospital. Despite the challenges, including navigating the loss of dignity as a young adult with IBD and a stoma, Joshua has reclai...

In this powerful episode of  The Bowel Chronicles , we sit down with Charlotte from Birmingham, a true warrior who’s faced Crohn’s disease head-on for over 21 years. Her journey began at just 16 with a life-changing bowel resection, sparking a cascade of complications that tested her resilience. From unexpected symptoms like blood clots, abscesses in her eyes, and painful skin breakouts, Charlotte...

This week on  The Bowel Chronicles , we welcome Lucy, a 30-year-old from Coventry with a passion for coffee, cooking, and living life with resilience. Lucy’s health journey is a testament to strength and perseverance. From living with a slow colon transit to managing a suprapubic catheter and an ileostomy stoma, Lucy opens up about the challenges of rectovaginal stage 4 endometriosis and the reali...

In this inspiring episode of The Bowel Chronicles , we chat with Harvey, also known as @mr.colitisstoma on social media. Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at just 14, Harvey’s life took a major turn at 17 when he underwent stoma surgery and a full colectomy. Now, at 21, he’s thriving as a triathlete and Ironman competitor, proving that life with a stoma is truly a life for living. Harvey shares hi...

In this episode of The Bowel Chronicles, we’re joined by the incredible Fiona from Scotland, whose health journey is nothing short of inspiring. Fiona shares her unique experience of living with not one, but two stomas—a colostomy and a urostomy —alongside her GJ peg for tube feeding. She opens up about living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, slow colon transit, and GI dysmotility, and how these condi...

In this episode of The Bowel Chronicles , we sit down with the lovely Hollie from Kildare, Ireland. At just 28 years old, Hollie shares her journey of living with stage 5 endometriosis and how life has transformed since undergoing ileostomy surgery. From navigating debilitating symptoms to finding hope and joy on the other side of her diagnosis, Hollie offers invaluable insights and practical advi...

In this episode of The Bowel Chronicles, we sit down with the inspiring Vicky from Durham, UK, as she shares her journey with ulcerative colitis. Diagnosed three years ago, Vicky has chosen a path of positivity, relying on medication to manage her condition and embracing life to the fullest. Vicky talks openly about her love for fitness, mindfulness, and how staying active in the gym helps her thr...

In this heartwarming episode of The Bowel Chronicles, we meet 8-year-old Katie from Leeds, along with her amazing mum, Kelly. Katie has faced a tough journey since birth, living with chronic idiopathic refractory constipation, slow colon transit, and GI dysmotility. But in April 2024, her life changed after undergoing colostomy surgery. Katie shares her inspiring journey from struggling with every...

In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with the inspiring Rachel, known as @gutsy.mum on social media.  A 35-year-old mother of two, Rachel has lived with Hirschsprung’s disease her entire life and has undergone stoma surgery twice. But her journey doesn’t end there—both of her young boys have also been diagnosed with Hirschsprung’s disease and are living with stomas. Just seven months postpartum,...

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with the beautiful and resilient Catriona from Inverness, Scotland.  Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2020 after a difficult hospitalization, Catriona has spent the last four years navigating treatments, including biologics.  Now in remission and thriving, she shares her journey of finding balance as a mother of two young children, while learning to prior...

In this powerful and authentic episode, we meet Gethin Owen, who has bravely battled Crohn's disease for over 15 years. After undergoing emergency surgery for a fistula in Feb ‘24 he tells us how he woke up with a colostomy.  Gethin shares his raw and inspiring journey through life post-surgery. From his Crohn’s diagnosis to living with a stoma, mental health struggles, and overcoming addictio...

In this episode of The Bowel Chronicles, I sit down with the inspiring Sophie Kirk, known on social media as @monastoma_and_me  Sophie was diagnosed with Serrated Polyposis Syndrome, a pre-cancerous condition of the colon followed by Inflammatory Bowel Disease.  After years of struggle, she underwent emergency life-changing stoma surgery, including an ileostomy and proctectomy.  Today, Sophie is t...

In this vibrant episode of The Bowel Chronicles, we chat with the inspiring Karen McGuinness, a social media sensation known for her lively street busking TikToks and reels.  With 12 years of experience living with a colostomy bag after an emergency hysterectomy, Karen has become a passionate advocate for ostomy awareness and self-love. As a brand ambassador and model for ostomy brands—and even br...

In this powerful episode of The Bowel Chronicles, we sit down with Tom Wilding, a graphic designer and social media influencer known as @intestinesareoverrated who has been living with Crohn’s disease for over 16 years.  Tom shares his remarkable journey through countless treatments, biologics, immunosuppressants, and steroids, leading to a life-changing subtotal colectomy. He opens up about the c...

In this episode of The Bowel Chronicles, I sit down with Mike, aka @bagforlife.mike a software developer and fitness enthusiast who has turned a life-changing diagnosis into a story of resilience and triumph.  Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at 18 and undergoing a procto-colectomy ileostomy surgery at 24, Mike now lives life to the fullest, embracing fitness, travel, and even completing Europe&#...