The Beautiful Bag

This episode is from 2021 with guest Angie Davenport as she shares her journey with her ostomy.

In this episode, I’m sharing some real-life experiences and lessons learned that I think so many ostomates will connect with. First, I talk about my recent travel through airport security in Italy — and the unexpected moment when a security guard didn’t understand what my ostomy pouch was. That experience reminded me how important it is to find ways to communicate across language barriers so we ca...

In this episode, LeeAnne Hayden speaks with Sandra Mannon about her journey with scleroderma and the decision to undergo an ileostomy. Sandra shares her experiences as a trauma nurse and the challenges she faced after being diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease. The conversation delves into the complexities of her medical journey, the emotional impact of transitioning to life with an ostomy, an...

Summary In this episode of the Beautiful Bag podcast, host LeeAnne Hayden is joined by Kimberly Coleman and Jessica Miles to discuss their personal journeys as ostomates, their experiences with Hollister products, and the importance of skin health and advocacy in the ostomy community. They share insights on choosing the right products, the significance of skin care, and the need for support and ed...

In this episode, LeeAnne Hayden interviews Elizabeth, who shares her personal journey with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Elizabeth discusses her diagnosis, the challenges of living with IBD, her experiences with various treatments, and the impact of lifestyle changes on her health. She also talks about her surgeries, including the decision to have a stoma, and how she navigated life duri...

In this episode of The Beautiful Bag podcast, host LeeAnne speaks with Nina Hayes, a nutritionist and yoga instructor who shares her journey with ostomy and how it has transformed her life. They discuss the importance of yoga and meditation in healing, the challenges of nutrition for those with ostomies, and practical tips for traveling with an ostomy. Nina emphasizes the significance of intuitive...

In this episode, LeeAnne Hayden interviews Michelle Valentino, who shares her inspiring journey of living with an ostomy after years of battling chronic illness. Michelle discusses her early health struggles, the challenges of motherhood while managing her condition, and the impact of her surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. She emphasizes the importance of community support, self-acceptance, and...

In this episode, Krista shares her inspiring journey of living with Crohn's disease since childhood and her decision to undergo ostomy surgery. She discusses the challenges she faced, including pain and incontinence, and how she advocated for her health. Krista highlights the positive changes in her life post-surgery and offers encouragement to others facing similar health challenges. Takeaway...

In this episode of The Beautiful Bag podcast, host LeeAnne Hayden speaks with Lauren Beach, a Crohn's disease survivor who shares her journey from diagnosis at a young age to living with an ostomy. Lauren discusses the challenges she faced during her teenage years, including health struggles, body image issues, and the impact on her dating life. She emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance...

In this episode, LeeAnne Hayden shares her personal journey with small bowel obstructions and adhesions, detailing her experiences in the hospital, the impact on her health, and the dietary changes she has made to manage her condition. She emphasizes the importance of understanding adhesions, the challenges of navigating health issues, and the need for community support. LeeAnne also explores alte...

In this episode, Kim Fleck shares her personal journey through health challenges leading to her ileostomy. From her background as a special education teacher to her struggles with misdiagnosis and autoimmune issues, Kim's story highlights resilience and the importance of community support. She discusses her experiences with various treatments, the impact of her health on her life, and her explorat...

In this episode, Molly shares her unique journey of living with an ostomy, starting from her childhood struggles with chronic constipation to her eventual ileostomy surgery. She discusses the challenges she faced, the importance of community support, and how her perspective on life has changed since her surgery. Molly emphasizes the significance of mental health and acceptance in navigating life w...

In this episode of the Beautiful Bag podcast, LeeAnne Hayden explores the multifaceted nature of burnout, particularly in the context of living with an ostomy. She delves into the emotional, physical, and behavioral signs of burnout, emphasizing the importance of recognizing these symptoms as the first step towards recovery. LeeAnne shares practical tools for assessing life balance through the &#3...

In this episode of the Beautiful Bag Podcast, host LeeAnne Interviews Danielle and Joe as they share their personal journeys with ostomy surgeries due to Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. They discuss how they met through social media, the birth of their advocacy platform 'Double Bagging It', and the importance of community support. The conversation highlights the transformative impact of os...

In this podcast episode, Stephanie Benson shares her inspiring journey of living with Crohn's disease and navigating life with an ostomy. From her initial diagnosis to the challenges of dating and self-acceptance, Stephanie discusses the importance of community support and finding strength in adversity. She offers practical tips for managing health, fashion choices, and maintaining a positive...

In this episode of The Beautiful Bag podcast, host Speaker interviews Tom, a rectal cancer survivor who shares his journey from diagnosis to recovery. Tom discusses the initial shock of his diagnosis, the challenges of chemotherapy and surgery, and the adjustments he has made to life with an ostomy. He emphasizes the importance of support from family and community, the dietary changes he has exper...

In this episode of The Beautiful Bag podcast, host and guest Brianna share an insightful conversation about living with an ostomy, her journey with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and the importance of raising awareness about ostomies. Brianna discusses her initial struggles, the adjustments she made after surgery, and how her perspective on life with a stoma has evolved over the years. She emphasizes tha...

In this episode of the Beautiful Bag podcast, LeeAnne Hayden shares her personal journey through marriage, love, and the challenges she faced, including a cancer diagnosis and the impact it had on her relationship. She emphasizes the importance of communication, commitment, and resilience in navigating the ups and downs of marriage. LeeAnne reflects on her experiences, the lessons learned, and the...

In this episode of The Beautiful Bag podcast, Yvonne Holly, known as Crohn's Mummy on Instagram, shares her profound journey with Crohn's disease, which began at the age of 11. She discusses her diagnosis, the challenges of living with a colostomy bag, and her experiences with pregnancy while managing her health. Yvonne's story highlights the resilience required to navigate chronic illness and mot...

Summary In this episode of The Beautiful Bag podcast, host LeeAnne Hayden speaks with Kaya, who shares her journey with ulcerative colitis and living with an ostomy. Kaya discusses her diagnosis at a young age, the challenges of managing her health, and the emotional toll it took on her. She also shares her experiences with pregnancy, the transition to a J-pouch, and the support she received from...

In this episode of the Beautiful Bag podcast, host LeeAnne Hayden celebrates her ninth anniversary with her stoma, sharing her personal journey from being an accountant to facing cancer and ultimately embracing life with an ostomy. LeeAnne reflects on the challenges she faced, the support from her community, and the lessons learned throughout her journey. She emphasizes the importance of sharing s...

In this episode of the Beautiful Bag podcast, LeeAnne Hayden discusses the concept of 'chic confidence,' which combines inner self-esteem with outward style. She shares personal experiences and practical tips on how to boost confidence through fashion, self-care, and community support. LeeAnne emphasizes the importance of feeling good inside and out, and how personal style can reflect one's unique...

In this episode of the Beautiful Bag podcast, host LeeAnne Hayden returns after a seven-month hiatus to reflect on her experiences in 2024 and share her goals for 2025. She discusses the importance of setting personal, family, and business goals, and emphasizes the need for clarity and planning in achieving them. LeeAnne also invites listeners to engage with her and share their own goals as they e...

Leanne Watanabe shares her journey with ulcerative colitis and the decision to undergo surgery to remove her colon. She discusses her late discovery of fitness and her initial motivation to work out for weight loss. Leanne talks about her mentor who introduced her to marathon running and helped her believe in her abilities. She shares her experience training for her first marathon while dealing wi...

Summary Dana shares her 17-year journey with ulcerative colitis and the challenges she faced before ultimately getting an ostomy. She reflects on her carefree college years, multiple surgeries, and the disappointment of the J-pouch not working as expected. Dana discusses the emotional toll of living with a chronic illness and the importance of therapy and self-care. She highlights the silver linin...