How Do I Learn To Love My Body? Finding Beauty in My Scars

How Do I Learn To Love My Body? Finding Beauty in My Scars

Today, I wanted to share something quite personal, my journey of self-love and acceptance after my stoma surgery. It’s been a mixture of vulnerability, strength, and a lot of new experiences.

Pre Stoma

Before my surgery, I’ll be honest, I was always a little hard on myself, especially about my tummy. Having UC, it felt no matter what I did, I always felt so bloated. My confidence was already at a low, and then it was time for surgery, which left me with scars and a stoma bag. At first, these changes were difficult to deal with.

A New Perspective

But you know what? As I started to heal physically, my perspective started to shift. Instead of looking at my scars in a negative way I started to think of them as a reminder for all that I had overcome. I used bio-oil twice a day for a few months, my scars started to fade, and this helped to boose my confidence too – they just became a part of me (would 10/10 recommend bio-oil to reduce scaring!!).

Sunshine & Poolside Revelations

There was this one day that really started to change things for me. I was on holiday, by the pool, bikini on and stoma bag out. And guess what? The sky didn’t fall. No one pointed or stared. The world kept spinning, and I kept smiling. That’s when it hit me – the only person who was really worried about all this was me. Don’t be afraid to be yourself, don’t let having a stoma bag stop you from wearing a bikini.

Self-Love & Stomas

I’ve come to not just accept but truly appreciate my stoma. It ultimately saved my life and has given me a new lease of life. There are so many things I can do now as a healthy 20-year-old that I could have never done before. Take running for example, I am currently training for a 1/2 marathon. I would have never dreamed of doing this when I had UC, I was too ill to do anything like this. If I’m ever having a bad day, I think back to when I was at my worst with UC and think how far I’ve come because of my stoma.

Heart-to-Heart Advice

If I could sit down and have a heart-to-heart with you, I’d say this: Look at what having a stoma has opened up for you. It’s a new chance at life, let’s not dwell on the negatives. Let’s celebrate all the amazing positives, shall we? And love our bodies <3

Signing Off with Love

I hope by sharing my story, I’m sending out a little bit of courage and positivity your way. Remember, we’re all beautifully unique, and every scar, every stoma, tells a story.

Summer
@summers_stoma