Personal Trainer 'Proud' Of His Stoma Bag | SHAKE MY BEAUTY

A PERSONAL TRAINER who was given a 20 percent chance of survival says a stoma bag gave him ‘his life back.’ Mesha Moinirad, 29, from Weymouth, UK, was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, an irritable bowel disease, which is an ongoing and life-long condition. After spending four years on medication, Mesha made a life changing decision to have his large intestine removed. Now healthier than ever, the fitness and nutrition expert uses social media to document his stoma story. Mesha told Barcroft TV: “Having a stoma massively changed my life for the better, by having my bag fitted it enabled me to have fun in my life again”. Mesha was a totally fit and healthy twenty-something regularly working out – nothing about his medical history would suggest he would soon be knocking on death’s door. He had aspirations of working with elite athletes in America and went to University to study nutrition. However, in 2013 the ambitious student had a severe bout of illness. That almost took his life. Over a 10-day period he lost 21lbs, initially doctors couldn’t work out what was wrong with Mesha. It wasn’t until his father took him to hospital where healthcare professionals discovered his appendix had burst – it was here Mesha was given a twenty percent chance of survival. Prior to Mesha’s diagnosis he began getting symptoms of severe abdominal cramping, fatigue and needing the toilet more regularly. It took almost eight months of blood tests, biopsies and colonoscopies until he finally got diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Mesha’s new diagnosis meant he had to constantly monitor his diet and was prescribed an aggressive dose of medication to combat the condition. After four years of treatment, he looked on social media for more information. Armed with this newly acquired knowledge he made the decision to have an ileostomy. Having his colon (large intestine) removed meant he has to have a stoma bag attached permanently. With social media becoming an ever-increasing part of people’s lives, the personal trainer admits overcoming his body issues post-surgery was a challenge. The twenty-something began posting online as, ‘Mr Colitis Crohn’s’ hosting Q&A sessions and posting information for people new to their stoma bags. The entrepreneurial 29-year-old is a personal trainer in a rehabilitative gym that is helping people from all walks of life achieve their fitness goals in an inclusive space. He hopes to change the perception of people who wear a bag, normalising it on his social media and teaching people that not every disability has visibility.