Patient Stories Hub

Patient Stories

Patients often become experts on their own medical condition – find out how these community members manage their healthcare, and learn from the experts. Everyone with a bladder or bowel control problem will have a different story to tell and we are proud to be able to share so many of these with you.

These bladder and bowel patient stories can offer hope, inspiration and practical guidance to others in a similar situation.  Being able to identify with someone and make a connection can be the first step towards an eventual recovery – each story could help change someone’s life.

Please contact us to find out how you can share your story and how this could help raise awareness.

By working together we can help people understand more about these problems, the challenges faced and how and where to access health professional support.

Read some of our recent stories below.

Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)

When Sheree Hargreaves aged 15 realised that all her friends had started their periods, she felt left behind. She decided to visit her GP to see if there was anything wrong. Nothing could prepare her to be told that she had already gone…

Speaking out helps me deal with IBS

Over 1 in 10 people in the UK are thought to have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) in the UK. It’s not really known what causes IBS but there are certain triggers such as emotional stress, sensitivities to certain food, a gut infection such…

My Stoma gave me Freedom

Amy Davidson tells her incredible story of how she grew up with Hirschsprung's Disease and never let it stop her from living the life she'd always wanted. Despite the many challenges including ileostomy surgery, she has gained the ability…

Fitness gave me confidence after stoma surgery

After years of suffering uncontrolled Ulcerative Colitis, Dan Callaghan underwent stoma surgery in the hope of getting his health back on track. Exercise and fitness had always been a big part of Dan’s life and this wasn’t something he…

Urinary Tract Infections have ruled my life

Community member, Anna Somerville-Large has kindly shared her story with us about living with lifelong urinary tract infections and urinary retention. Despite living with chronic bladder issues, Anna has lived in all corners of the globe…

Bowelbabe Saved my Life

Mags tells us how a chance listening to Deborah James' (aka Bowelbabe) podcast ‘You, Me and the Big C’ made her realise her symptoms were bowel cancer. Here Margaret tells us about her diagnosis of Stage 2 Bowel Cancer in January 2019 and…

Lucinda’s Story – BAD/BAM

Lucinda Barton suffered with what she was told was Irritable Bowel Syndrome for over 20 years, despite constant trips to her GP and several gastrointestinal specialists for tests and  following various diets over the years, her symptoms…

Endometriosis is more than just a Bad Period

What is endometriosis, and what are the symptoms caused? We share three community stories from women who have experienced the condition first hand, and learn why it can take up to 8 years to be diagnosed.

Dysautonomia and my Catheter

During February we organised a catheter awareness week on our social media channels to raise conversation around conditions such as Fowler’s Syndrome, Sacral Agenesis, Urinary Retention, Bowel Cancer and Dysautonomia, all of which can lead…