🐝Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford🌱Patient Advocate🩺

#IBDSuperHeroesMovement is on YouTube! 🧘♀️💪

Gentle, accessible classes created for the #IBD community. Join us: buff.ly/QCOrXEQ

#IBDSuperHeroes #YogaForIBD #ChronicIllnessYoga #OstomyYoga #AccessibleMovement #Crohns #Colitis #CrohnsDisease #UlcerativeColitis #IBDawareness #CutTheCrap

🌍 Today on #WorldOstomyDay, we’re raising awareness of the diverse realities of living with a #stoma.

For some in our #IBD community, it’s life-saving, liberating, and brings relief. For others, it can feel overwhelming, isolating, or a reminder of what’s been lost. 💜

📣 NEW from #IBDSuperHeroes 💫

We’ve launched movement classes designed for people with #Crohns, #Colitis & #ChronicIllness.

These free videos are made to meet you where you are — no pressure, no expectations.
🎥 Available now on YouTube: tinyurl.com/IBDSHMove

#YogaForIBD #OstomyYoga #IBD

4 months ago, I received a message alerting me that one of my old images had been "lifted" to create a meme... and then posted in "sick f*cks" Facebook group. Don't even get me started on why a group like that would exist 🙈

Anyway, h...https://www.instagram.com/p/DNdMIvdMieU/?igsh=YjJhOWxxNjEzcTJx

I realise I've been AWOL for a while. It's just life. It's been busy (by my standards). To most people, my life probably doesn't look busy, but #ChronicIllness means not having the same in the stores as "normal, healthy people." Every day, I weigh up... instagram.com/p/DNaxTihMSqQ/

which until last week I thought was bird food only! This is hulled, whereas bird feed is not...

If you've any suggestions, I'm all ears 👂

#PatientAdvocate #IBDSuperHeroes #Crohns #Colitis #IBD #CrohnsDisease #UlcerativeColitis #IBDawareness #IBDVisible ##InflammatoryBowelDisease

Quite difficult to do when you have to avoid foods with insoluble fibre due to intestinal blockages!

Anyway, during the last few weeks I've been exploring different wholegrains and pulses - quinoa, red lentils, mung dal, and today, we have millet,

Always learning 📖

Just last week, I learnt that cous cous is not a grain ❌️ It's actually durum wheat 🙈

I've been making some dietary changes. I mentioned my mission to increase my fibre intake in a previous post, due to the multitude of health benefits.

Happy #GuruPurnima to my friends and community who are always teaching me about resilience, strength, dignity, and survival.

Forever grateful for the wisdom we share 💜🙏

#IBD #IBDjourney #Crohns #Colitis

Some of them have become like family to me, and I honestly don’t know what I’d do without them.

This is why I share. To raise awareness. To connect. To make the invisible a little more visible 💜

#PatientAdvocate #IBDSuperHeroes #Crohns #Colitis #IBD #CrohnsDisease #UlcerativeColitis #IBDawareness

or manage complex health issues behind the scenes every single day.

But invisibility doesn’t mean insignificance.

And not all invisible things are difficult. There's a whole community of people who truly get it, who offer support, strength, humour, and compassion.

how we socialise, sleep, and even how we show up in the world.

You can’t see #ChronicFatigue, pain, #BrainFog, nausea, or the daily disruptions that come with life after bowel disease. You probably wouldn’t guess I’ve had seven major abdominal surgeries, live with a #stoma,

📸 It’s #GutSelfie time again with @gutscharityuk.bsky.social – and this year’s theme really hits home: #MakingTheInvisibleVisible.

So many of us live with invisible conditions that shape many different areas of our lives; how we eat, move, plan our days (or can’t plan them at all),

A quickie of my latest #BotanicalSleeve 🌸💮🏵🌺🌻🌼🌷🪻 Not a rose or Lily in sight 😂

#Tattoo #TattooGirl #InkedLife #SleeveTattoo #TattooSleeve

🫖 Herbal tea selection
💧 Oral rehydration solution tabs
🕯 Scented candle set
💎 Chakra aromatherapy bracelet

#PatientAdvocate #IBDSuperHeroes #Crohns #Colitis #IBD #CrohnsDisease #UlcerativeColitis #IBDawareness #IBDVisible #InflammatoryBowelDisease #ItTakesGuts #NoColonStillRollin #Ostomate

Final call to take part in my Instagram giveaway! Ends at midnight on June 30th!

Head to my Insta profile & the pinned post to take part www.instagram.com/sahara88uk_

Includes:
🧖‍♂️ 3 collagen face masks
🛌 Hyaluronic acid night cream/mask
📒 1 adult activity book
📖 1 things to do while you poo book

This is not a complaint, just a reminder that “everyday activities” often take extra everything when you live with #ChronicIllness.

#PatientAdvocate #IBDSuperHeroes #Crohns #Colitis #IBD #CrohnsDisease #UlcerativeColitis #IBDawareness #IBDVisible #InflammatoryBowelDisease #IBDWarrior #CutTheCrap

🧼 I have to thoroughly wash all the chlorine off my skin and scalp to avoid a #psoriasis flare and ensure quick hydration of the skin. Plus, I have to completely dry my #OstomyBag - because nobody wants a damp crotch situation.

Went to aquacise this morning and came away thinking about the fact that when you live with health challenges, everything seems to take that bit more time and effort. There’s no quick rinse after the pool for me.

Saturday morning chores 💊

The joy, and reality, of #ChronicIllness life.

#PatientAdvocate #IBDSuperHeroes #Crohns #Colitis #IBD #CrohnsDisease #UlcerativeColitis #IBDawareness #IBDVisible #InflammatoryBowelDisease #ItTakesGuts #NoColonStillRollin #Ostomate #Stoma #Ileostomy #Ostomy

We sleep on an earthing sheet every night now, and honestly – we’d never go back.

If you’re curious, check out @getgrounded.bsky.social – they’ve got loads of great info and products to get started.

You can use code SAHARA10 at checkout for 10% off too 💜

#PatientAdvocate #IBDSuperHeroes

The earth has a natural negative charge, and when we connect directly with it, our bodies can absorb those negative ions. Research has shown this can help reduce inflammation, support better sleep, ease pain, and even regulate cortisol levels (our stress hormone!).

#Grounding, also called #earthing, might look simple – just me with my bare feet on the earth – but there’s real science behind it 🌿⚡

Modern life tends to leave us positively charged – thanks to things like electronics and synthetic materials. Grounding helps rebalance that.

Totally see you too Sahara, it's hard not to think worse case scenario at the first twinge. I've had many blockages over the years, I drink lots to try to make things easier to pass (if only it was that simple). I've added new foods to my 'avoid' list lately too that have not been an issue before 😕

💕 I'm sorry to hear that x

Thanks so much to everyone who’s entered and shared so far 🫶

#PatientAdvocate #IBDSuperHeroes #Crohns #Colitis #IBD #CrohnsDisease #UlcerativeColitis #IBDawareness #IBDVisible #InflammatoryBowelDisease #ItTakesGuts #NoColonStillRollin #Ostomate #Stoma #Ileostomy #GiveawayContest #GiveawayTime

🎁 GIVEAWAY REMINDER 🎁

In case you missed it, I’m running a #giveaway until 30 June to help rebuild my account after it was hacked.💜

📌 Check the pinned post on my profile to enter!

It takes 30 seconds and would really help spread the word as I try to rebuild this space 💬

that most people never see.

💬 If you’re dealing with frequent blockages too, I see you. What’s helped you reduce them (if anything)?

🎁 P.S. I’m rebuilding my instragram account after being hacked — giveaway open until 30 June! See Instagram grid for details 💛

#PatientAdvocate

Every time I feel abdominal pain, nausea, cramping, or no output, my stress levels quickly rise. I have to make a real conscious effort not to catastrophise and end up freaking out about needing a hospital admission (thank you, #PTSD).

It’s a constant background stress

I’ve had more bowel obstructions than I can count.

They’re scary, painful, exhausting, and they’ve shaped how I eat, move, rest, and live 👎

I chew more thoroughly. I avoid certain foods. I’m constantly thinking about hydration, fibre, medication, and movement.