Warning signs of ulcerative colitis are revealed as Louise Thompson talks about her hospital stay after losing ‘cups of blood’ while on holiday

Former Made in Chelsea star Louise Thompson has revealed she was forced to rush home from Antigua after ‘losing cups of blood every 20 minutes’.

The 33-year-old spent two weeks in hospital being treated for a flare-up of ulcerative colitis, which she was diagnosed with before the birth of her son in 2021.

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic intestinal condition in which the colon and rectum become inflamed and small ulcers form on the lining of the colon, which may bleed.

The charity Crohn’s & Colitis UK reports that at least one in 227 Britons have been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. This amounts to approximately 296,000 people.

Here, MailOnline reveals the warning signs of the autoimmune disease.

The severity of symptoms can vary depending on how much of the rectum and colon is inflamed. For some people it can have a significant impact on their daily lives, the NHS says

Diarrhea

Having to poop more often or having looser stools more often is a common symptom of ulcerative colitis.

Some people find that their poop contains mucus or blood and it can also cause cramps and pain when you need to go to the toilet, warns Crohn’s & Colitis UK.

However, the severity of symptoms can vary depending on how much of the rectum and colon is inflamed.

For some people it could have a significant impact on their daily lives, the NHS adds.

Bleeding from your buttocks

The condition not only causes blood and mucus to appear in your poop, but can also cause you to bleed from your anus, says Crohn’s & Colitis UK.

This blood loss can make you feel extremely tired.

That’s because it can cause anemia: a reduced number of red blood cells, which means less oxygen is transported throughout the body. It is believed that approximately one in three colitis patients has anemia.

You’re more likely to get anemia if you lose a lot of blood or don’t eat well, the NHS explains.

The former Made In Chelsea star was admitted to hospital in London late last month after a series of health problems since the birth of her son Leo, two (pictured in Antigua)

The reality star was hospitalized for five weeks in 2021 with ‘serious complications’. She has suffered a host of physical problems since the traumatic birth, in addition to ulcerative colitis, which she was diagnosed with before becoming pregnant

Constipation

Although it is common for people with ulcerative colitis to experience diarrhea, constipation is also a common symptom.

The condition can make it more difficult to poop regularly or empty your bowels completely.

It can make you strain when you have to poop and can be hard and dry, adds Crohn’s & Colitis UK.

This is common with proctitis, a form of the condition that causes inflammation in the lining of the rectum.

Extreme fatigue

It’s not just anemia that can make you feel extremely tired.

Ulcerative colitis can also cause you to lose sleep if you keep getting up at night with diarrhea or pain.

However, the condition can make you feel generally unwell and even cause problems outside your digestive system.

In addition to fatigue, it can cause joint pain and swelling, mouth ulcers and rashes.