Young YouTuber Proves You Can Have Body Confidence With A Stoma Bag

Having a stoma bag is a reality that thousands of people live with every day, but not many people dare to talk about it. Hannah Witton, a young YouTuber and author, is spreading awareness of the realities of living stoma, while proving you can still feel comfortable and comfortable in your own skin.

From an outsider's perspective, Hannah is the picture of perfect health, however she struggles with an inflammatory bowel disease and lives with a permanent stoma.

This can be a debilitating life adjustment for many people, and while it has knocked her confidence in some ways, Hannah doesn't let her stoma hold her back.

"[I've] needed a lot more reassurance and felt embarrassed and ashamed of my body," Hannah told Stylist. "But it is absolutely 100 per cent possible to still feel confident and comfortable in your own skin."

Explaining what it actually means to have a stoma bag, Hannah said: "An ostomy - or a stoma - is an artificial opening of an organ in the body created during an operation. I have an ileostomy, which comes out of the ileum which is a part of the small intestine.

"But there are other kinds too, like colostomies which comes out of the colon and urostomies, which come out of the urinary system."

Despite the fact stomas are rarely talked about publicly, Hannah explained that "around one in 500 people in the UK are currently living with a stoma, and that includes a lot of young women."

Admitting she has had confidence issues of her own as a result of her stoma, Hannah said it "can definitely take a knock to your confidence and have an impact on your sex life."

Hannah has done a number of YouTube videos showing off her stoma to her followers because while it can cause confidence issues, what matters most to her is her health.

"Having a stoma, although it being a lot to adjust to is so much better than being ill and I am really grateful for my health. There are health professionals who can help, online resources and fellow estomotes all over the world on social media, we can offer support, and their own tips and tricks.

"Yes, I have a bag of poo attached to me at all times, but it is absolutely 100 per cent possible to have a stoma and still feel confident and comfortable in your own skin."

What an incredible woman.

Topics: Life News, Real, Health

Emma Rosemurgey

Emma Rosemurgey is an NCTJ trained Junior Journalist at Tyla. She graduated from the University of Central Lancashire in Preston and started her career in regional newspapers before joining the team in 2017. Contact her on [email protected]

@emmarosemurgey