TV star Mollie Pearce, known for her appearance in the second season of The Traitors and currently starring in Dancing on Ice, has opened up about her life living with a chronic health condition. She’s been battling ulcerative colitis, a long-term bowel condition affecting 300,000 people across the UK.
Mollie was diagnosed at the age of 11 after passing blood in her stool, initially mistaken for menstruation. However, her father also suffers from the same health issue, which made her parents alert to the warning signs.
According to the NHS, ulcerative colitis causes inflammation in the colon and rectum, potentially leading to ulcers that can bleed and produce pus. Speaking to the Times, Mollie said: “We had to go back and forth with the doctors, and they tried to tell us that it was an infection.”
But it turned out to be something more serious.
Mollie was born with a visible limb difference on her hand and worked as a disability model
(Image: Getty Images for the NTA’s)
Once she started treatment, managing her condition proved challenging. She had to take prednisolone, a medication that caused side effects, reports Surrey Live.
Mollie shared that she had to start high school with a “puffy moon face” and endure being “all hairy and starving all the time”. She added: “Just locking the door after leaving the house would trigger something in me”.
It got so bad that she “couldn’t walk to school”, despite it only being “five minutes away”.
Mollie had surgery for the condition and now has a stoma bag she dubs Sid
(Image: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
Mollie, born with a visible limb difference and who has embraced her role as a disability model, underwent an operation for her condition which resulted in her having a stoma she affectionately calls Sid. Recalling her newfound sense of freedom post-surgery, Mollie shared with the BBC: “The first time I went out with my dad to a McDonald’s drive-thru [after having the stoma], I remember not feeling panicked about needing the toilet. It was magic!” Ulcerative colitis emits red flags such as diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and an urgent need to defecate; others include fatigue, loss of appetite, and weight reduction.
The NHS encourages immediate GP consultation for those manifesting these signs without a prior diagnosis, whereupon blood or stool examinations can be conducted. Those diagnosed and experiencing a severe flare-up should reach out to their GP or care team; if that proves impossible, contacting NHS 111 or after-hours services is advised.
For further insights into ulcerative colitis, consider visiting the dedicated website.