A DORSET businesswoman who battled inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and eventually had surgery to have a stoma bag fitted is now hoping to support others with the condition.
Beth Coldrick, 38 and from Southbourne, was diagnosed with IBD after living with symptoms for years.
Beth said: "I had always suffered with stomach issues since I was a small child, but how I felt in 2009 was like nothing I had experienced before.
"I was rushing to the toilet over 20 times a day, losing lots of blood, being sick, suffering from fatigue and not eating. Some days I couldn’t even move.
"I had to be put on so many different drugs, including really strong steroids for nearly four months. It was an incredibly harrowing time for me, and I saw both my physical and mental health deteriorate rapidly in a matter of months.
"In April 2019 I was hospitalised fully for the first time, it was a terrible night of bleeding heavily, losing all my strength and passing out. It was when I was in the hospital that the subject of surgery came up."
Later that year, Beth took the "terrifying" decision to have a stoma bag fitted.
Beth said: "I knew I had no choice."
Many people struggle after having a stoma fitted but Beth has not looked back. It has transformed her life.
As a result of the medication during her time battling IBD, she began suffering from sensitive skin. Her love of all things organic led her to develop her own skincare range, BAO Skincare, in 2012.
Beth started to create handmade natural skincare that was kind to her skin as well as the environment.
Beth now has plans to set up a platform that can support people who are going through what she has experienced.
Beth said: "The plan is over for the next year to obviously carry on with my BAO Skincare business but on top of that, I am also going to train for a level 5 nutrition diploma and open my own website.
"The website will provide loads of information on inflammatory bowel disease, surgeries, medications and links to relevant pages and people.
"It will all be free and will be somewhere people can go for help and advice.
"After I complete my diploma the plan is to become a nutrition coach so I can help people manage their diet while living with IBD."
Beth encourages anyone who needs help or support to contact her via Instagram @happy stoma life or via email hello@baoskincare.co.uk
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