A strength athlete is commemorating three decades since receiving a J-pouch procedure and is now sharing his journey to encourage others facing similar challenges.

Ian Bain, 47, from Littlehampton, learned he had ulcerative colitis when he was 12 years old. The persistent illness eventually made life-saving stoma surgery necessary when he was 15.

Two years after that operation, medical professionals at St Mark’s Hospital in London fashioned a J-pouch, which is a pouch built from the small intestine that enables bowel movements without requiring a stoma bag.

To observe the 30-year milestone of that surgery, Mr Bain has authored a book titled My Life in the Bathroom (and Other Places Too), detailing his lived experience.

Mr Bain, who serves as a data analyst for NHS Sussex ICB, explained that the memoir represents a reconciliation with his younger self, demonstrating that despite everything he would become the person he needed to be, climbing mountains, marrying a remarkable woman, and raising two wonderful daughters. He noted that it would ultimately prove worthwhile.

He characterised ulcerative colitis as a condition that isolates, causes pain, produces embarrassment and can occasionally threaten life itself.

Mr Bain described his stoma as frequently active and often audible. He indicated that throughout the following two years, both during school and outside it, he experienced anxiety, stress and a strong desire to keep his bag hidden from others.

While the J-pouch enhanced his quality of life considerably, regular and urgent trips to the bathroom remain a feature of his everyday existence.

Even today, a brief stroll home alongside his daughter can necessitate an unscheduled stop at a toilet facility.

He noted that at 47 years old, people might assume he could manage to reach his own home, yet his body operates differently to most. After roughly ten minutes, it becomes clear he will need to locate somewhere with lavatory facilities before getting back.

The effects of ulcerative colitis also prompted him to access mental health support during his forties.

He disclosed that he came to understand, somewhat to his distress, that combined with the ongoing battle within his body and his struggle with self-acceptance, his mental state could no longer manage.

Mr Bain has subsequently discovered resilience through writing and powerlifting, and he hopes his narrative will assist others within the IBD community in feeling less isolated.