Louise Thompson says she’s ‘turned a major corner’ in her PTSD recovery as she returns to Antigua two years on from having to cut short a trip to the island to have her colon removed

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Louise Thompson recently opened up about her ongoing health struggles as she continues to heal from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Oh my gosh, you guys, I’m SO proud of her! She’s been dealing with some really tough stuff – PTSD, can you believe it? – and she’s actually in therapy, which is amazing. But the biggest thing? She just went back to Antigua! Two years ago, she had to rush home and have her colon removed, it was awful! So going back… it’s like she’s reclaiming her life, and honestly, it’s giving me chills! I’m seriously living for this moment.

In 2018, she received a diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis. While on a trip to Antigua in April 2024, her condition worsened, leading to significant blood loss, difficulty walking, and the inability to care for her son. As a result, she required emergency surgery to fit a stoma and had to return home on the next available flight.

Louise recently shared that she revisited the place where a difficult experience happened, this time with her four-year-old son, Leo, and her partner, Ryan Libbey. She explained that it felt good to create new, positive memories in that location and heal from the past.

Louise shared beautiful photos of herself and her son by the water, along with a heartfelt message about how she was feeling.

She shared that Antigua is a beautiful place, and she’s been wanting to return for a while. She first visited two years ago, but unfortunately had to cut the trip short due to a serious health issue – she needed emergency surgery to remove her colon after a severe flare-up of ulcerative colitis.

It was wonderful to have a chance to revisit those memories and process them in a healthier way. As I mentioned on the podcast, I was a bit nervous beforehand…

Traveling with PTSD can be challenging. I usually feel really disconnected around the second day of a trip because my brain gets anxious when my normal routine is disrupted. But surprisingly, I haven’t felt down at all in the almost two weeks we’ve been away!

I’m feeling incredibly happy and like I’ve made a huge step forward in my recovery. I wanted to share this update in case it offers some hope to anyone else who is struggling right now. I’m just feeling really good – truly full of joy and well-being. And to clarify, I am healthy.

I’m focusing on simple things: being active, enjoying the sun, eating well, positive thinking, and getting plenty of sleep. I’m also trying to limit screen time. My family isn’t very tech-savvy – we’re still using older iPhones and actual paper maps when we travel!

Did you know that most of your serotonin – around 90 to 95% – is actually made in your gut? So it makes sense that when I was sick for so long, my mental health really suffered.

It impacts digestion, blood clotting, and many other vital bodily functions. I’m getting a bit off-topic, but I’d like to investigate what happened to me with SSRIs, my gut health, digestion, bleeding, and my nervous system – they all seem connected. I’m still experiencing unusual bleeding.

I can go places, but it’s difficult to find accommodations that are suitable for a woman during her period. It’s really challenging. A few years ago, I worried I’d never be able to travel again, but here we are, traveling as a normal family…

To be honest, I’ve packed a lot of things to help me feel secure and comfortable. I think it’s just being practical. I’ve got all sorts of remedies – lotions, probiotics, muscle balm, bath soaks, and teas – basically, anything that reminds me of home and helps me relax.

I’ve even started using a special cream for anal fissures – something I never imagined I’d need! I’m not sure if it’s the change in air pressure, but my last visit here involved a pretty serious issue, so things have definitely improved since 2024. I think everything has helped me get better.

Two years after a life-saving operation required her to have a stoma bag fitted, Louise recently shared a heartfelt letter she wrote to it last month.

Ulcerative colitis is a long-term illness that causes inflammation and sores (ulcers) in the lining of the colon and rectum, often leading to bleeding.

A stoma is an opening created during surgery on the abdomen. It allows bodily waste to be diverted into a collectable medical pouch. The woman playfully named her stoma ‘Winnie,’ referencing the character Winnie the Pooh.

To mark the anniversary of getting her Winnie device, she posted a heartfelt video expressing both her thankfulness for how it changed her life and her complicated feelings about it.

I wrote about Winnie, who’s two years old. We’ve been incredibly close ever since she was born. I don’t usually get along with people born under the Aquarius sign, but this connection wasn’t something I actively sought out. Our lives simply became intertwined because of the circumstances.

This has been quite a ride. I’ve learned so much from you, and I’m really grateful. Our relationship is complicated – sometimes you’re the best friend I could ask for, and other times I feel completely frustrated.

You’re smart and determined, but a bit too blunt. Honestly, I don’t need such a thorough explanation of my health. It’s strange to consider you could be a permanent part of my life.

I held on as long as I could, but it’s been two years and I’m still trying to come to terms with things. I even tried to treat myself with a massage on Valentine’s Day, but I surprisingly felt a lot of anger towards you at that moment.

It was just too much effort to correct the kind massage therapist, who mistakenly thought I was talking about stomach issues when I actually meant my stoma bag.

I nodded, hoping she wouldn’t get too close – she’d be shocked if she did. Sometimes I wish you weren’t here.

Lately, you’ve been waking me up every night, pulling me from my best sleep. I suppose it’s good preparation for when we have another child…

Everyone needs to vent sometimes, but I rarely do. I’ll playfully mention minor annoyances, like a chipped piece of furniture or the dogs being noisy. But I could never complain about my daughter, Winnie – not even when things are tough. I think I’m pretty good at keeping things in perspective.

Life is generally good. I’m taking a moment this morning to think about things, and I’m especially thankful for the surgeon who performed my colectomy. It’s amazing to think about that!

The earliest known colectomy – the surgical removal of part of the colon – was a right hemicolectomy carried out in 1732 by French surgeon George Arnaud de Ronsil. This operation took place in the early 18th century…

I’d hate to be the patient undergoing that surgery. I’m grateful to the team who performed mine so well (hopefully!) and kept me safe, and also to everyone who participated in trials before me. It makes me wonder what future treatments will be like for people with IBD or colon cancer.

‘If anyone has any questions please fire away as I know it’s a little unusual.’

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2026-03-24 18:08