Bowel disease sufferer proudly shares intimate underwear selfies with her stoma bag on show
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A woman who was almost killed by her debilitating bowl condition has proudly shared intimate bikini selfies with her stoma bag on show to encourage body confidence.
Harriet Williams was diagnosed with an inflammatory bowel condition at just 14-years-old and it has left her needing to go to the toilet more than 25 times a day.
After eight years of agonising pain and discomfort she opted to have an ileostomy bag fitted and, despite being told she could have it reversed, has decided to keep it.
Now the pretty 25-year-old has shared stunning photos of herself on holiday in a bikini and posing in her underwear in a bid to raise awareness and show support to others with a stoma.
(Image: Mercury Press & Media)
The market researcher suffers from ulcerative colitis - a chronic condition that causes inflammation of the large intestine.
Harriet, from London, said: "I had the symptoms for about six months before they diagnosed me. I had diarrhoea and stomach cramps and had lost about two stone.
"I was taken to hospital and ended up in intensive care. I couldn't eat or keep food down and they thought I had an eating disorder.
"I was bleeding, going to the toilet sometimes more than 25 times a day with a severe urgency. I was losing so much weight, I had a severe potassium deficiency from all of the vomiting.
"The symptoms can look a lot like irritable bowel syndrome . By the time doctors did take it seriously I was on the verge of dying."
She spent a month in hospital and was given steroids, which affected her immune system.
It led to her putting on so much weight that she claims family members didn't recognise her.
Harriet said: "It was mortifying for me at 14 to be diagnosed with it. You have a disease that is to do with poo and you get really fat from steroids.
"Coming up to my GCSEs I had to have a separate room to sit in in case I needed to go to the toilet."
(Image: Mercury Press & Media)
Harriet lived with the pain for eight years and, as the medication wasn't helping, she decided to have an ileostomy bag fitted.
Harriet said: "They started saying you might have to have surgery but you could get it reversed so it doesn't matter.
"It was a scary thought, they made it sound like it would be a negative experience but actually when you live with the bag it's not a bad thing.
"People's perception is that it is something old people have, it smells bad or that you can't wear clothes you want to wear.
"As bowel disease becomes more recognised more younger people are ending up with one.
"I think it's difficult for them - they think why would you want a bag? I say, think about a time when you have had the worst food poisoning or gastric flu.
"It's like that but that is your life. You have that every day and the way you can get rid of it is by taking drugs that wreck your immune system and impact the way you feel and look. Having a bag is significantly better.
Harriet says there are certain foods she cannot eat anymore because of the bag, but she does not regret the decision to have it fitted.
(Image: Mercury Press & Media)
She said: "I was told I couldn't eat apples or nuts, anything that is difficult to digest, but you try a little bit every now and then and see what happens. You learn when your body is reacting badly.
"Now I don't notice the bag at all, it's improved my life massively and no-one ever looks at me and thinks 'she has got a bag'. The way I live is completely normal."
Just over a month ago Harriet started sharing pictures on social media after hearing negative comments about people with ileostomy bags wearing bikinis.
Harriet said: "They said they shouldn't do that - it's disgusting. I said 'why shouldn't they? There is nothing you can see that is unpleasant'.
"I was being defiant and wore a bikini all the time on holiday. I was a bit worried at first because I thought people would be looking at me but I try to remember everyone is concerned about the way they look on the beach.
"The reaction I have had online after sharing the images has been incredibly positive.
"I posted pictures of what the scarring looked like so people know what to prepare for after surgery. I have had a lot of comments from people who say they are now less scared of the disease.
"I wanted to show you can be confident in yourself and should not be ashamed to be confident.
"You can do everything you could before. I was worried about things like not being able to wear tight dresses of a wedding dress, but you can.
"I think it has made me more body confident - I'm a lot more confident since having the bag anyway."
Harriet, a supporter of the getyourbellyout campaign, said she's been overwhelmed with messages of support and is enjoying helping others on the same journey.
(Image: Mercury Press & Media)
Harriet said: "I now have nearly 900 followers and I never thought I would get close to that.
"It made me realise how positive the message can be and how much people need to see that you can live with it and your life can carry on and be better.
"At the moment I'm focusing on people going through the same thing but hopefully it's challenging the perception for people who do not have them."
Harriet, who has been in a relationship for six months, revealed she had been quizzed about how she handled dating with her bag.
The brunette said: "You do have a crisis of confidence and worry that they are not going to find you attractive or sexy. Having a strong support network around you is important.
"Since the start of this year I was using dating apps. Most of the time I didn't tell them about it until I knew them better, but if you get to the point where they may end up seeing the bag you would have to tell them.
"I've not had any negative reactions at all which is uplifting - I think I've been quite lucky. It doesn't make a difference. I've been with my boyfriend for six months and it's not been a problem.
"It doesn't change you as a person and there is nothing you have to do differently."
(Image: Mercury Press & Media)
John Walsh, founder of charity Stomawise, agreed life for people with stomas can carry on in a relatively normal way.
John said: "The more awareness that can be raised for this the better as it is perceived that it is a condition older people suffer with.
"As you can see there is no age barrier associated with it and there are so many reasons for the need for this surgery.
"A lot of people live their lives hiding the condition due to adverse comments and the taboo.
"The likes of Harriet are doing an amazing thing bringing this into the media and helping remove the stigma."