Tim’s Stoma Journey

Tim’s journey started in 1999, when he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis which was kept under control through medication and diet changes.

In 2019 Tim became ill and a colonoscopy discovered a tumour inside his back passage. Two surgeons from Tim’s local hospital performed a total pelvic exenteration, removing his large bowel, bladder, prostate gland, rectum and anus. Tim now has two stomas: a urostomy and an ileostomy.

Tim is a retired mechanic and car enthusiast, married to his wonderful wife Denise they share 2 children, 4 stepchildren and 2 grandchildren.

Tim and Confidence BE^®

Tim had tried different bags but when Confidence BE^® came along he was eager to try it. “I knew straight out of the box it was all going to be fine. I was impressed with Confidence BE^® Urostomy just like my ileostomy bag”.

Elliot’s Stoma Journey

From 2021 Elliot hoped medical solutions would work to ease his ulcerative colitis symptoms, but unfortunately he was becoming more unwell, less confident and unable to live a normal life. Elliot opted for surgery in 2022 as his surgeon informed him his quality of life would improve considerably.

Elliot’s stoma provides new challenges, but life is so much easier than the challenges of ulcerative colitis.

Elliot lives with his girlfriend and works as a Marketing Manager. He is fitter than ever and regularly plays hockey and enjoys running.

Elliot and Confidence BE^®

“I was recently in the crowd at Glastonbury festival and realised it was the first time in as long as I could remember, I was purely enjoying the moment and not worrying about where the nearest loo was! I thought that it I can do this, I really can do anything!”

Carina’s Stoma Journey

Carina lives with her partner and has 3 children. She struggled to manage her Crohn’s symptoms for 10 years, was in constant pain and her work as a self-employed photographer was severely impacted. Following a severe flare up in 2022, Carina was admitted to hospital and had emergency stoma surgery.

Carina believes it’s important to share a positive message about having a stoma, for others suffering with Crohn’s, she wants to show you can live a nice life!

She loves going to the gym, eating out, going for long walks, watching movies, dancing and crafts.

Carina and Confidence BE^®

Having colour choice with Confidence BE^® impacts Carina hugely. Being sent home from hospital with a nude bag stuck to her body, stuck out like a sore thumb and felt like a medical device. When her stoma nurse visited a week later and showed her the black Confidence BE^® bag, she was drawn to them. “The black bags don’t feel medical, they feel like an accessory, and I can style them out with my outfits.”

Tom’s Stoma Journey

Tom’s journey began in 2021, when he noticed blood in his stools, later that year a colonoscopy showed an area of concern in his rectum and Tom was diagnosed with rectal cancer, for which he was treated.

In 2023 the cancer returned, growing through the rectal wall, Tom then had a lower anterior resection, it would only be one month later when Tom was rushed back into theatre to have a permanent colostomy formed.

Tom is married, has 1 son, a golden retriever and 2 rag dolls! Tom is an avid gym goer, loves boxing, food and socialising time with his friends and family.

Tom and Confidence BE^®

“The texture, the shape and the colour choices are it for me, they look the most fashionable bag out there”.

Paul’s Stoma Journey

Paul was diagnosed with rectal cancer 4 years ago following a standard screening test. Unfortunately, Paul‘s cancer was aggressive and immovable and kept coming back, major surgery was required to remove all of Paul’s lower bowel and formation of a stoma along with proctectomy surgery, followed by months of chemotherapy.

Paul‘s passions are his wife, children and grandchildren, he is also is a professional musician and fronts ‘60’s successful rock and roll band “The Viewers”. Using his platform to encourage other men to be open about their health and well-being.

Using his platform to encourage other men to be open about their health and well-being. Paul also works alongside his wife at their design agency in Cornwall.

Paul and Confidence BE^®

“I have seen first hand how much work Salts puts into advancing products for their patients. Finding the right product has helped bring me back to life not just physically but psychologically. It helps me feel ‘free’ to the point of sometimes forgetting that I have a stoma”.

Damian’s Stoma Journey

Damian was diagnosed with Crohn’s in 2011 following the discovery of an abscess in his bowel, at the time he suffered with extreme fatigue and unexplained weight loss – losing two stone in just two weeks.

In 2015, Damian became very ill, spending a week in hospital where a second abscess was found between Damian’s large and small intestine. New Years Eve saw Damian receive emergency surgery to treat sepsis. Due to the severity of his case, Damian woke up with an ileostomy and 2 fistula stomas on either end of his large bowel.

Damian lives with his wife and 2 children; he enjoys the gym and regularly goes cycling with his son.

Damian and Confidence BE^®

“Confidence BE^® doesn’t feel like a medical device, they don’t make that crunching sound and feel like a piece of clothing. The colours allow me to change things up, depending on what I’m wearing which gives me confidence and pride in my own appearance.”

Nathan’s Stoma Journey

In May 2007 Nathan started to bleed when he went to the toilet, by January 2008 he was going to the toilet around 20 times a day, was totally run down and losing weight rapidly.

He was eventually rushed to A&E with severe dehydration and was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis with his own colon poisoning him. The surgeons told him he had days to live, he then had life saving surgery, resulting in an ileostomy and proctectomy.

Nathan has a real zest for life! He loves to practice yoga, travel, get as many tattoos as he can and live his life to the fullest!

Nathan and Confidence BE^®

Nathan currently uses the Confidence BE^® range in black and says everything about the bag makes him feel secure.

Tanya’s Stoma Journey

Bowel problems began for Tanya in her early 20’s, constantly feeling bloated, going to the toilet several times a day and experiencing severe weight fluctuations. Tanya also experienced fatigue and period pains that left her bed ridden.

In 2019, she was diagnosed with endometriosis, resulting in surgical menopause. Stents were placed to help Tanya’s urethra strengthen, resulting in emergency bowel resection and a stoma – named Lola!

Tanya loves to travel, goes to the gym up to 6 times a week, has a keen eye for fashion and wants to feel as glamorous as she can.

With a real passion for sharing stoma awareness within all cultural differences, she hopes to support others to have a voice.

Tanya and Confidence BE^®

The overall feel of Confidence BE® makes such a difference to how Tanya feels. She’s used other bags, and they just don’t compare. “It’s like wearing the wrong lipstick or the outfit you didn’t want to wear.”

“On holiday and on the beach, I want to have the right bag for me. I want to look a particular way and when you look good, you feel good!”

Yvonne’s Stoma Journey

Yvonne Holley is a Mum to two young children and was diagnosed with Crohn’s at the age of 12. She spent much of her childhood poorly, missing lots of school and then at the age of 20 had a colostomy formed, along with proctectomy surgery. Yvonne also lives with arthritis and epilepsy.

Before her bag, Yvonne was going to the toilet up to 10 times a day, it didn’t matter what time of the day it was, she would sit on the toilet for hours. The toilet soon became her comfort zone she was in so much pain and totally exhausted. When she had her stoma, she tells us “I loved it to pieces, I could live my life again”.

Yvonne loves to travel, socialise and her family is her everything!

Yvonne and Confidence BE^®

“After eight years I found a bag that worked for me – Confidence BE^® – and I don’t know where I would be without it. When I first saw them, I thought they looked so pretty. The material was beautiful quality, and the colours were like nothing I’d ever seen.”

“I almost totally forget my bag is there, I just know it won’t leak or come off. If you don’t have the right bag, it will always wake you in the night. I thought I had to live with leaks for the rest of my life, but since changing to Confidence BE^® I can’t even remember the last time my bag woke me up.”

Ailish’s Stoma Journey

Before her diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis at just aged 16, Ailish always had to plan her life around being close to a toilet. Trying to live a normal life was difficult and stressful for Ailish, she was always in pain.

This early diagnoses gave her the chance to research the possibility of having a stoma, which was ultimately the case in 2020 due to failed medication attempts. Ailish has an ileostomy and proctectomy surgery.

Ailish lives with her boyfriend Billy and their dog Reg! She enjoys the gym and has recently re-discovered her love for running.

Ailish and Confidence BE^®

Ailish has the confidence to live her life to the fullest now. “I can trust Confidence BE^® to support me every day, I love my sleep and it’s never my bag that wakes me!”

Jessica’s Stoma Journey

Jessica was born with chronic constipation and had a colostomy formed at the age of 4 - with no known cause. Since having her stoma surgery, Jessica has developed diversion colitis and Levator Ani syndrome.

Despite still being chronically constipated, Jessica is extremely positive and says having her stoma (Apple!) has given her a better quality of life.

With her incredibly infectious personality, Jessica is extremely active in raising stoma awareness.

She is a positive, happy girl who loves to dance, sing, swim and do the occasional TikTok! She is very confident in changing her own bag and says having a stoma hasn’t stopped her from doing her favourite activities.

Jessica and Confidence BE^®

“The first time I went abroad to Spain in 2019 I wore the Confidence BE^® mini bags, this helped me feel confident I was able to wear my 2-piece swim suit – the white bags match and they stayed on really well. I was able to play all day in the pool without worrying, no one even noticed I had a stoma bag!”

Laura’s Stoma Journey

Laura has two stomas: a urostomy and a colostomy which were formed in 2017, during a total pelvic due to her bladder cancer diagnosis.

As a manager with a high level of responsibility, Laura leads a very busy life but also loves to take time out to cook and travel with her husband. Laura is a positive person and is very proud of all of her achievements.

Volunteering for a blood cancer charity and supporting lots of people on their journey means a lot to Laura.

“I don’t feel the bag on my body anymore... to not feel that you are wearing a bag is a winner for me.”

Laura and Confidence BE^®

I used Confidence BE^® first for my colostomy and knew what to expect when the urostomy option became available. I was very keen to have the matching bags. To now have two bags that are smooth, they give me a warm feeling and sort of hug me which is just great.