'I was bedridden in agony every day - then Barbie butt surgery saved my life'

A young woman has opened up about her life-changing 'Barbie butt' surgery to help educate others and remove stigma. She says the procedure saved her life

A woman with a 'Barbie butt' has shared how it saved her life after she was left with life-changing implications.

At the age of 23, Meghan Cary Brown had surgery to have her colon and rectum removed due to a dangerous complication with Crohn's disease. She then had to have her rectum sewn shut - which is informally known as a "Barbie butt".

After years of being bedridden and laying on the bathroom floor in pain, Meghan was given the option of having the life-changing surgery or risking developing colon cancer. Meghan, from Virginia, now has a stoma bag and uses her experience and humour to educate others.

"I was first diagnosed with Crohn's disease at age 13 after suffering years of pain, fatigue, and hospitalisations," recalled Meghan, now 32. "As a teen, I had to be home-schooled for a year because my symptoms were so bad I was bedridden most days. My parents would find me lying on the bathroom floor because I couldn't even walk to the bed. I was in so much pain, and I was constantly exhausted."

Despite her Crohn's going into remission, her symptoms returned when she was at college, and doctors had said her colon had become precancerous. "I was adamant that I wasn't going to have my colon removed. I thought my life would be over if I had that done. I was in a very dark place," she said and added: "But I knew I wanted to one day have children, and the prospect of facing cancer as a young mum - even if it was years down the line - pushed me to undergo surgery. I decided to look at this as my second chance at life."

In just one operation, her colon was removed, an ostomy bag was fitted, and her rectum had been sewn shut. Meghan said it was a shock seeing the changes to her body and the recovery was "challenging" but the hardest part was not being able to sit.

She recalled: "For two weeks following the surgery, I had to remain in a 45-degree position in bed to avoid putting pressure on the stitches, which could cause them to tear. Standing was painful, and the constant soreness made even simple tasks difficult." Meghan also developed a painful rash and said she had skin "falling off".

"My mum helped me care for the area, using diaper rash cream and a fan to keep it dry. Eventually, the skin healed," she explained. Having her colon and rectum removed meant she couldn't go to the toilet the usual way and instead waste is collected in an ostomy bag attached to a stoma - an opening in her abdomen where part of her intestine is connected.

She continued: "I don't have the urge to go to the bathroom anymore; it just happens. I empty my bag six to eight times a day. Although living with a stoma comes with its own set of challenges, I am grateful for the quality of life it has given me. Before the surgery, the unpredictability of Crohn's disease made social situations and travel anxiety-inducing. I was always worried about finding a bathroom. Now, I have peace of mind."

Meghan said it was hard to adapt to having the bag, especially when it came to being intimate with her husband Thomas. She said at the start she wore "beautiful lacy wraps with a pocket to tuck the bag in during intimate moments" which helped with her body image, but has now reached a point where they are comfortable enough to "laugh off any awkward moments."

She has used her experience to share her journey online and spread awareness about living with a stoma. Her content is a mix of humour and education, addressing common questions about stoma life - like whether her intestines could ever "fall out" (known as a stoma prolapse) and what it's like to have her "Barbie Butt" sewn shut.

"Sharing my story and finding humour in what has happened to me helps me put things into perspective. Life is short, and I'm so happy to be healthy and living life to the fullest. I have two beautiful children, Cora and Colin, and an incredibly supportive husband. I can't control my bowels anymore, but I also don't have to worry about it. I feel free."

Do you have a story to share? Email niamh.kirk@reachplc.com