Blackpool woman who couldn’t sit down for 10 years

A mother who couldn’t sit down for more than 10 years because of orange-sized abscesses covering her bottom has had the scar they left behind inked over with an enormous Cheryl Tweedy-style rose tattoo.

Nicola Fletcher, 36, from Blackpool, started developing the sores when she was just 19 as a result of Crohn’s disease, a condition which causes inflammation of the digestive system or gut.

After 10 years of ‘horrific pain’ – during which time she couldn’t even sit down and was forced to kneel or stand – surgeons agreed to operate, slowly removing parts of her right buttock cheek.

Though the surgery relieved her agony, it left the mother-of-six with a huge scar – which she’s now had covered with a rose inking, costing just £300.

Ms Fletcher, who is unable to work due to her condition, said: ‘I spent 10 years in horrific pain and although I was so glad that they were able to treat it, I was really embarrassed by the scar it left.

‘I’m so pleased with it. You would have no idea that there is a scar underneath. The tattoo gave me back my confidence and now I’m happy to show off my body.’

Nicola Fletcher, 36, from Blackpool, started developing the sores when she was just 19 as a result of Crohn’s disease

Ms Fletcher, in a relationship with Michael Causon, 37, started to suffer symptoms at just 10 years old, finding she was going to the toilet more often and losing weight.

Initially, she was too embarrassed to tell her late father Robert and mother Janet, 56, but after a few months, she confessed all and was taken to see her GP.

At first, it was thought she had an eating disorder because she was rapidly losing weight, but further tests revealed she actually had Crohn’s disease.

Ms Fletcher, mother to Paige, 14, Teejay, 12, Neeko, nine, Miqualer, six, Charlie-Brooke, four, and Frankie-Lou, three, said: ‘They started me on different medications, including steroids, but it was too far gone.

‘They told us that I would have to have an ileostomy – where the small bowel is diverted through an opening in the tummy and into a bag.

‘I was still young so I don’t think I quite understood but I was just glad they were doing something.’

Caring for her stoma bag 

Following the ileostomy surgery, Ms Fletcher learned how to care for her stoma bag, removing it once it was full of waste, her health started to improve.

But seven years later, when she was 19, she developed a painful sore on her bottom.

After 10 years of 'horrific pain' surgeons agreed to operate, slowly removing parts of her right buttock cheek

Though the surgery relieved her agony, it left the mother-of-six with a huge scar ¿ which she's now had covered with a rose inking, costing just £300

After 10 years of ‘horrific pain’ surgeons agreed to operate, slowly removing parts of her right buttock cheek. Though the surgery relieved her agony, it left the mother-of-six with a huge scar – which she’s now had covered with a rose inking, costing just £300

Ms Fletcher said: 'I spent 10 years in horrific pain and although I was so glad that they were able to treat it, I was really embarrassed by the scar it left'

Ms Fletcher said: ‘I spent 10 years in horrific pain and although I was so glad that they were able to treat it, I was really embarrassed by the scar it left’

She recalled: ‘It was completely out of the blue. I thought it was just a boil at first, but I kept getting more and more and more.

‘Eventually I went to accident and emergency at Blackpool Victoria because they had become really painful.

‘They took me for day surgery and they lanced it then set me home with antibiotics. 

‘From that point onwards, it just went on like that for years – going back and forth to A&E.’

Orange-sized abscesses 

From there, the abscesses became increasingly painful and grew in size, with one between her buttocks even reaching the size of an orange.

Ms Fletcher continued: ‘I had no life. I couldn’t sit down on my bottom for those 10 years. I had to either lean on my side, sit on my knees or just stand up.

‘I had to use a walking stick to get around and take morphine patches because I was in so much pain.

‘At that time, I had three kids, and it was really heartbreaking because I couldn’t do things with them. 

‘I knew it wasn’t my fault but I felt really guilty – like the worst mum in the world. I was very open about it. It was so painful I couldn’t hide it.’

Ms Fletcher, in a relationship with Michael Causon, 37, started to suffer symptoms at just 10 years old, finding she was going to the toilet more often and losing weight

Ms Fletcher, in a relationship with Michael Causon, 37, started to suffer symptoms at just 10 years old, finding she was going to the toilet more often and losing weight

Initially, she was too embarrassed to tell her late father Robert and mother Janet, 56, but after a few months, she confessed all and was taken to see her GP

Initially, she was too embarrassed to tell her late father Robert and mother Janet, 56, but after a few months, she confessed all and was taken to see her GP

At first, it was thought she had an eating disorder because she was rapidly losing weight, but further tests revealed she actually had Crohn's disease

At first, it was thought she had an eating disorder because she was rapidly losing weight, but further tests revealed she actually had Crohn’s disease

After 10 years of suffering, Ms Fletcher was referred to Salford Royal Hospital in 2011.

There, she was quickly diagnosed with perianal Crohn’s – where inflammation around the anus causes large abscesses to occur, which were filled with pus.

After being admitted straight away, surgeons spent six weeks slowly chipping away at the infection, as removing it all in one go risked it spreading further.

Though Ms Fletcher said being away from her children was ‘awful,’ she knew it was worth it for her health in the long run.

Living a normal life again 

And, though she faced a three month long recovery period, the surgery meant that she was able to live a normal life again.

Ms Fletcher said: ‘As soon as the infection started to leave my body, I immediately started to feel better.

‘It was amazing. I was able to play with my children and just sit down normally at the table with them. It meant so much to me to be able to enjoy time with them.’

However, the operation also left Ms Fletcher with a scar covering her entire buttock cheek, which saw her self-esteem plummet.

She added: ‘I would refuse to go swimming or do anything like that because people would see the scar. 

‘People would stare or ask questions and I didn’t really want to speak to strangers about the giant abscesses that I had on my bum.’

Then, last year, she spotted a post by local tattoo studio Modz ‘n’ Rockers in Blackpool, online about caesarean section scar cover ups, and began to think about what she could do to improve the appearance of her own wound.

Following ileostomy surgery, Ms Fletcher learned how to care for her stoma bag, removing it once it was full of waste, her health started to improve (pictured with her son TeeJay)

Following ileostomy surgery, Ms Fletcher learned how to care for her stoma bag, removing it once it was full of waste, her health started to improve (pictured with her son TeeJay)

Ms Fletcher continued: 'I had no life. I couldn't sit down on my bottom for those 10 years. I had to either lean on my side, sit on my knees or just stand up'

Ms Fletcher continued: ‘I had no life. I couldn’t sit down on my bottom for those 10 years. I had to either lean on my side, sit on my knees or just stand up’

After 10 years of suffering, Ms Fletcher was referred to Salford Royal Hospital in 2011. There, she was quickly diagnosed with perianal Crohn's - where inflammation around the anus causes large abscesses to occur, which were filled with pus

After 10 years of suffering, Ms Fletcher was referred to Salford Royal Hospital in 2011. There, she was quickly diagnosed with perianal Crohn’s – where inflammation around the anus causes large abscesses to occur, which were filled with pus

Ms Fletcher said: ‘I had been thinking about getting a tattoo for a while but it’s quite a complex, bumpy scar and I didn’t think it would be possible.

WHAT IS CROHN’S DISEASE?

Crohn’s disease is an agonising digestive condition that blights the lives of 115,000 people in Britain and as many as 1.6 million in the US.

Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhoea and potentially dangerous weight loss. Magician Dynamo is a famous sufferer. 

Eight out of ten patients will need a part of the intestine removed as it becomes so damaged it prevents digestion.

Its cause is still not known and there is currently no cure but some with the condition have considered their diet to be a factor.

However, bacteria is already known to play a major role in causing Crohn’s disease, in addition to genetics and diet. 

Conventional treatment is with drugs that suppress the immune system’s production of a protein called TNF, which causes inflammation.

‘They said I would have to go in and let them have a look and I thought, “Oh no, I’m going to have to get my bum out”. 

‘I eventually plucked up the courage and went into see them. He suggested a rose because it would give the illusion that it’s not bumpy.’

On November 28 last year, Ms Fletcher finally took the plunge and spent six-and-a-half hours sitting in the tattoo artist’s chair.

The finished design is strikingly similar to one singer Cheryl Tweedy had spanning her bum and lower back, which she joked ‘was probably the cost of a small car.’

She added: ‘It wasn’t painful. It might be for somebody else but when you have been through the pain that I have been through, getting a tattoo is like a walk in the park.’

Now, though her confidence has improved hugely, she still suffers daily from the effects of Crohn’s disease – but is determined that it won’t hold her back.

Underwear snaps 

She has started an online blog called Beauty and the Bag where she’ll post underwear snaps, her bag proudly on display.

Ms Fletcher said: ‘I’m quite a confident person and I’m not afraid to show off my bag. think people are afraid to talk about bowel movements but we need to be open.

‘I have found a fantastic community of people online with Crohn’s and Colitis and we all help each other. 

‘I really hope that by showing how we aren’t ashamed of our bodies, we will help to raise awareness of this condition.’

To follow Ms Fletcher’s blog, visit here.

After being admitted straight away, surgeons spent six weeks slowly chipping away at the infection (pictured with her daughter Paige)

After being admitted straight away, surgeons spent six weeks slowly chipping away at the infection (pictured with her daughter Paige)



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