Louise Thompson has been in hospital for two weeks after suffering from septic shock after an emergency surgery, her fiancé Ryan has revealed.
The former Made In Chelsea star, 34, has faced a difficult health journey over recent years, documenting it on social media.
She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, the inflammation of the lower end of your digestive system, before she was pregnant with her son Leo in 2021, and when she gave birth to him, began to experience near death complications.
Louise later suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms as well as post-natal anxiety, which she has spoken openly about, and was diagnosed with Lupus in December 2022, a condition which can be incredibly debilitating.
In April 2024, Louise shared that she had been fitted with a stoma bag or colostomy which she called: ‘Le bum bag.’
It’s now been revealed Louise has been in hospital for almost two weeks, after suffering from agonising pain.
Speaking on their podcast He Said She Said, Ryan said: ‘I don’t know how much more she can take.’
He told followers: ‘Sadly Louise is not here this week. She had to go back into hospital almost two weeks ago for another emergency operation in the same tummy area that she’s been recovering from since earlier this year with her stoma surgery
‘It was completely unexpected.’
‘It feels very real and my heart rate is skipping around all over the place just talking to you now,’ he went on.
‘It’s completely unfair,’ he added, saying he was ‘broken’ after being at her bedside for more than a week.
‘Her recovery has been up and down. Post-surgery she was in septic shock, which shows the severity of how bad things got.
‘She was heavily medicated, she had all kinds of pipes and tubes and cannulas all over her body.
‘So to see that again in intensive care was completely heartbreaking.’
Ryan added that Louise is now out of the intensive care unit, which is a sign of progressive, saying: ‘Hoping we’re on the home straight so she’ll be home again soon.’
He added that her health struggles have been ‘soul destroying’, saying: ‘It takes the wind right out of your sails, it leaves you completely dumbfounded because you just don’t know why someone would deserve to go through countless bouts of bad health like this.’
Earlier this year, Louise announced she had been fitted with a stoma bag that ‘may well have saved my life’.
Writing on a video of her looking gorgeous in a grey ruffled top, Louise showed followers her stoma bag underneath her jeans and said: ‘Not exactly a glamorous announcement but not something I want to keep hidden forever.’
What is ulcerative colitis?
Ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition where the colon and rectum become inflamed.
The most popular theory is that the immune system mistakes harmless bacteria inside the colon as a threat and attacks the tissues of the colon, causing inflammation.
The colon is the large intestine (bowel) and the rectum is the end of the bowel where poo is stored.
Small ulcers can develop on the colon’s lining, and can bleed and produce pus.
recurring diarrhoea – which may contain blood, mucus or pus – stomach pain, and needing to poo frequently.
Other symptoms include extreme tiredness, loss of appetite and weight loss.
Some people may go for some time with very mild or no symptoms at all (remission), but this is followed by flare-ups and relapses, which can cause various other problems too.
During a flare-up of ulcerative colitis, people can also experience painful and swollen joints, mouth ulcers, bumps and patches under the skin, irritated or red eyes, and problems with bones.
Specific triggers for flare-ups are often unknown, although stress or a gut infection could be potential factors.
In the caption, she wrote a poem describing her journey, as she began: ‘HOW DO I DISCLOSE THIS SORT OF NEWS?’
‘It’s not exactly exciting like a big pregnancy or gender reveal announcement!’ she added, quipping: ‘Hey look i’m having a boy… Hey look i’ve got a stoma!’
She then wrote: ‘So I guess i’ll just stand here / Proud in stature / With my new friend / Le bum bag / that represents life / And hopefully a better one.’
Louise explained: ‘Isn’t it bizarre that this little grey pouch is the price I pay for good health! I say good riddance to that nasty menacing colon!’
She then signed off: ‘Please be kind. 🤍’