Meet our hosts, Rachel and Louise
Rachel is from Wales and has a disease called Hirschsprung’s Disease, which her two sons also inherited, and led to them all to having a stoma bag. Rachel uses her platform to not only educate and share her life experience but to also celebrate what having a stoma means to her.
Louise is from Kent and has Crohn’s disease, which she has been living with for 20 years. She has had 3 stomas in total – her first was due to a bowel perforation during a C-section, her second and third were due to her perianal Crohn’s disease. Louise uses her platform to raise awareness and prove that you can continue to live life to the fullest with a stoma.
E16 | Angelina
In this episode, Angelina shares her experience of being diagnosed with Crohn's disease at just 12 years old after enduring debilitating symptoms. She also opens up about her recent pregnancy journey with a stoma and how she navigates motherhood while looking after her health.
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E15 | Natalie-Amber
DISCLAIMER: This episode contains discussions on eating disorders, which some listeners may find distressing.
In this episode, Natalie-Amber shares her journey with Crohn's disease, her experience of living with a stoma, and undergoing a reversal. She reflects on her emotional journey toward accepting her scar and her dedication to breaking down stigmas while promoting body acceptance.
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E7 | Summer
In this episode of Beyond the Pouch, Summer shares her experience of being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, undergoing stoma surgery, and Barbie butt surgery, all within a span of three years. She also talks about coping with relationships and body confidence with a stoma.
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E5 | Natalie
In this episode of Beyond the Pouch, Natalie opens up about her experience with undiagnosed Crohn’s during pregnancy, the challenges she faced with contraceptives while having a stoma, experiencing a Crohn’s flare in the vagina, dealing with heavy periods and much more.
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E4 | Ant
In this episode of Beyond the Pouch, Ant opens up about being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis during university, how he manages a prolapsed stoma and adapting to stoma life while maintaining a positive energy throughout. Ant also touches on how he doesn’t let his stoma hold him back — from becoming a ambassador for the ostomy community, to running his first London marathon with a stoma.
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E3 | Mohammad
In this episode of Beyond the Pouch, Mohammad opens up about his battle with colon cancer, along with having emergency stoma surgery after the tumour in his abdomen grew to the size of a watermelon. Mohammad also shares his passion for being an advocate for the cancer and stoma community, as well as raising awareness for ethnic minority groups in the stoma and medical field.
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E2 | Philippa
In this episode of Beyond the Pouch, Phillipa opens up about almost losing her life due to multiple organ failure whilst she was in a coma, as well as having sepsis, C.difficile and a perforation of her bowel. A month before this, Phillipa had a stoma formed after being diagnosed with both Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, but unfortunately due to the perforation of her bowel, she had to spend two and a half months in hospital – learning to walk and sit up again.
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E1 | Navigating the stoma world
In this episode, Rachel and Louise open up about their stoma stories, including navigating the ups and downs of life with an ostomy. Rachel discusses both her and her son living with a stoma as a result of Hirschsprung’s Disease, while Louise opens up about her Crohn’s journey, along with waking up to her first stoma as a result of a C-section.
Listen on Spotify® or Apple®
