Ostomy News Physiotherapist

Hello!

My name I Fern, I am a Chartered Physiotherapist from the North East of England. I have been qualified 4 years and currently working in a major trauma centre in North Yorkshire. I am a specialist respiratory physiotherapist; I work very closely with patients who have had surgery, to those in intensive care, to those with chronic long terms conditions, and also occasionally children. What I love most about being a physiotherapist is my ability to help patients recover from being so unwell though movement. A quote that has always made me smile is: “Doctors can save lives, Therapists make lives worth living.”

What makes me unique to the Secure Start project is that I too have a stoma. In 2015 I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. Having reached the ceiling of care with medical management of my condition, I underwent surgery in 2018 for a Total Colectomy with an end Ileostomy. As many of you reading this will know, after years of drugs such as biologics, steroids and immunosuppression, I welcomed my surgery. Despite this, I was still very unsure of what my future would look like with a stoma. Could I still work in my job that was very physically demanding? Could I continue my passion for long distance running? How would I manage with a stoma?

I have been very lucky in the fact that since having my stoma, which I named ‘Poppy’, I have been able to thrive both in my job and with my hobbies and life in general. I no longer have the debilitating factors of Ulcerative Colitis holding me back. I wanted to share this in my bio in the hope that it may bring some comfort to a reader, and perhaps ease the feeling of being alone. I never knew anyone who had a stoma back then and would have loved to have a support network such as the Secure Start space.

Because of my own experience, I feel very compelled to help those who have a stoma in anyway that I can. I feel honoured to use my knowledge as a physiotherapist to improve the health and wellbeing of those, like myself, who have stomas.

As a new mother, a health care professional, and a crazy long distance runner I can assure you that having a stoma is by no means disabling, it is very much the key to living a fulfilled life.

I am looking forward to answering any questions you may have via the ‘Ask the Physio’ link. I also welcome new topics and Ideas you may want me to research cover in future articles.

Fern.