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Empowering the Chronically Ill & Disabled to Lead Fuller Lives

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  • Colorectal Surgery,  Crohn's,  hydration,  living with IBD,  Mental Health,  Minority Health,  Nutrition,  Ostomy,  Ulcerative Colitis,  World Ostomy Day

    Saravanan’s Exercise Tips as a Crohnie & Ostomate

    September 30, 2021

    As an ostomate and IBD patient, many people often ask me if I am able to play sports. I tell them ‘YES’. Yes, we can actively participate in sport activities, but there may be  some restrictions. For example, Larry  Nance Jr. is an NBA star who has Crohn’s disease (CD). But his illness does not prevent him from staying active. Although I am not a professional athlete, I do play sports for fun with my friends and it helps my physical and emotional well-being. However, as an ostomate and CD fighter, I have to take extra precautions while being physically active. I used to play football, badminton and volleyball before…

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    Tina Aswani Omprakash

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    In the Name of Science & Research

    June 25, 2019

    Bachatera with a Bag: Theodora Shattering Ostomy Stigma Through Dance

    April 27, 2021

    IBD Motherhood Unplugged: Womanhood Questioned by Crohn’s Disease

    February 22, 2021
  • advocacy,  autoimmune disease,  Colorectal Surgery,  Crohn's,  Dating & Relationships,  Gastroparesis,  invisible illness,  living with IBD,  Minority Health,  National Minority Health Month,  Ostomy,  Ulcerative Colitis,  Women's Health

    Bachatera with a Bag: Theodora Shattering Ostomy Stigma Through Dance

    April 27, 2021

    Elegance, beauty, confidence, and rhythm: these are some words used to describe a female Latin dancer. Chemistry, passion, sensuality: these often come to mind when describing or watching a Latin dance couple. Each genre of dance comes with its own culture. Dance shoes, music and certain beats accompany each genre and of course, that exists within bachata, a form of dance I love to practice. Nationally and internationally, people congregate to study, perform and/or socially dance the bachata together and there is absolutely nothing quite like it! Being a bachatera (a female bachata dancer), and 50% of a bachata dance partnership with my husband Marcos, I am fortunate to experience…

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    Tina Aswani Omprakash

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    An Interview with News 12 NJ: How Does Coronavirus Affect YOU?

    April 6, 2020

    Clinical Trials: The Next Frontier for Diverse Populations of IBD Patients

    July 31, 2019

    As a Chronically-Ill Brown Woman, Here’s Why I Share My Survival Story

    May 16, 2019
  • Cultural Stigma,  endometriosis,  Minority Health,  Ostomy,  Women's Health

    ~OYC Trailblazers~ Tanya’s Journey with an Ostomy & Endometriosis

    March 25, 2021

    My name is Tanya and I live with endometriosis and a permanent ileostomy. I’m of North African and Asian background from Mauritius. For years, I experienced uncomfortable bowel pains and no one could diagnose me properly. I struggled with retaining weight as all of my food would pass through me. It felt as though I was intolerant to all foods. I often found blood in my stools, and I felt permanently bloated. I eventually resorted to eating the same meals everyday to avoid upsetting my stomach. Work colleagues would notice and question why I had the same lunch everyday.  Like many suffering from endometriosis, I was misdiagnosed with IBS and…

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    Tina Aswani Omprakash

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    Madhura’s Journey in India: Coping with Stigma around IBD & Feeding Tubes

    May 16, 2021

    How Ostomy Surgery Impacted My Life

    October 5, 2024

    Demi’s Journey: Coming Out with Ulcerative Colitis as a Filipino Woman

    May 3, 2021
  • Colorectal Surgery,  Crohn's,  Egg-Freezing,  fistula,  IBD Parenthood Project,  living with IBD,  Minority Health,  Motherhood,  Ostomy,  Pregnancy in IBD,  Ulcerative Colitis,  Women's Health

    IBD Motherhood Unplugged: Womanhood Questioned by Crohn’s Disease

    February 22, 2021

    Motherhood is so much more than a word—it’s an expectation and an identity. It’s a right of passage many girls dream of when they think about their future and what their family will look like. But family planning, pregnancy, and motherhood are far from a given, especially for those with chronic illness. This week my post kicks off IBD Motherhood Unplugged, an ongoing series that will be shared on my dear friend and fellow Crohn’s advocate, Natalie Hayden’s blog: Lights, Camera, Crohn’s. My post has been in the works for 2+ years sitting in my drafts folder with me hoping that I’ll eventually be able to speak up for women…

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    Tina Aswani Omprakash

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    OYC Trailblazers: What Healing Means to Natasha

    March 26, 2019

    The Top 10 IBD Blogs to Follow in 2019

    March 15, 2019

    ~OYC Trailblazers~ Brandi’s Journey into Motherhood with a Redone J-Pouch

    May 12, 2019
  • Coronavirus,  COVID-19,  Crohn's,  immunocompromised,  J-Pouch,  Minority Health,  Ostomy,  Pregnancy in IBD,  Ulcerative Colitis,  Vaccinations

    Demystifying the COVID Vaccine for IBD Patients

    January 10, 2021

    By Tina Aswani Omprakash Originally published in Everyday Health on January 8th, 2021 We open the new year with hope after a dreary year filled with ups and downs from the COVID-19 pandemic. As a woman with Crohn’s disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), I have been practicing every precaution recommended by my doctor, from masking up to practicing social distancing and avoiding crowded, indoor spaces. While I’m used to being home a lot as a result of surgeries related to my disease and regular flare-ups, the pandemic was doubly hard for me because I have been in remission, and in good health to go out and about.…

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    Tina Aswani Omprakash

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    ~OYC TRAILBLAZERS~ Spotlight on Malaysian Crohnie & Ostomate Saravanan

    April 22, 2020

    Managing IBD in the Era of COVID-19

    April 19, 2020

    Taryn’s Journey: Navigating Relationships and IBD During the Pandemic

    April 1, 2021
  • Colorectal Surgery,  coping with flares,  Crohn's,  J-Pouch,  Kock Pouch,  living with IBD,  Ostomy,  Ulcerative Colitis,  Women's Health

    ~OYC Trailblazers~ Mara Living Her Best Life with a Kock Pouch in Germany

    December 7, 2020

    My name is Mara and I am from a small state in Germany called Bremen. I was diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease in 2016 when I was 21. Shortly after my diagnosis, I celebrated my 22nd birthday. I am pursuing my Ph.D. in Marine Microbiology working to learn more about unknown microorganisms found on the seafloor. One week after handing in my Bachelor’s thesis, I became severely ill with sudden and bloody diarrhea. I could not leave the toilet at all. A few days after having these initial symptoms, I was admitted to the hospital. The verdict was clear: I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. I thought this would be…

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    Tina Aswani Omprakash

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    Highlights from ACG 2024: SAIA’s IBDesis’ Patient Experience

    December 4, 2024

    How Ostomy Surgery Impacted My Life

    October 5, 2024

    Real Talk about Ostomies

    October 5, 2018
  • Body Positivity,  cervical cancer,  Dating & Relationships,  diversity,  Mental Health,  Minority Health,  Ostomy,  Self-image,  stigma,  Women's Health

    ~OYC Trailblazers~ Jennylyn’s Ostomy Love Story in the Philippines

    October 30, 2020

    My name is Jennylyn Ajes and I’m 32 years old from Laguna, Phillippines. In 2018, I was diagnosed with stage 2b cervical cancer, which means I had a tumor that had grown beyond the cervix and uterus.[1] During this time, I had undergone chemotherapy, radiation therapy and brachytherapy. I had to do these therapies for 5 months total and none of it was easy. The brachytherapy required internal radiation therapy to get to the source of the cancer and try to wipe it out. I felt fine for the first 3 months after treatment but I really struggled with my confidence losing most of my hair and eyebrows due to…

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    Tina Aswani Omprakash

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    Lilly Singh’s ‘Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai?’: My Anthem for Body Positivity

    April 1, 2019

    Why My IBD Scars Make Me Proud

    May 23, 2019

    Weekend Long IBD Retreat Helped Me to Own My Crohn’s

    August 24, 2019
  • colorectal cancer,  Colorectal Surgery,  Coronavirus,  COVID-19,  Crohn's,  immunocompromised,  Ostomy,  Ostomy Awareness Day,  Ulcerative Colitis

    Managing Ostomy Care in the Era of Covid-19

    October 21, 2020

    Many of us with chronic illnesses have struggled throughout this pandemic with accessing timely care. One issue I’ve faced is because of my gastroparesis and other functional gastrointestinal conditions (IBS, SIBO etc.) acting up, my weight has been fluctuating a lot these last several months. As a result, my stoma size has been changing every week or two. With that, I’ve suffered a lot of ostomy leaks but even more skin irritation. While I’ve worked with my ostomy nurse virtually the last couple months to get my skin issues under control, I keep thinking of my ostomate family online and how you all may be handling your ostomy care in…

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    Tina Aswani Omprakash

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    The Beauty of Ostomates Worldwide

    October 17, 2019

    7 IBD-Inspired Gift Ideas for Valentine’s Day

    February 14, 2019

    Real Talk about Ostomies

    October 5, 2018
  • Uncategorized

    Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in IBD ~ A Live Discussion with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation

    August 24, 2020

    Pelvic pain is far more common in inflammatory bowel disease than often discussed or addressed. In a recent live discussion with Dr. Tayyaba Ahmed (pelvic pain physiatrist at Pelvic Rehabilitation), Dr. Neilanjan Nandi (IBD specialist at Penn Medicine), Kara Mortifoglio, DPT (pelvic floor physical therapist at Solstice Physiotherapy) and me in conjunction with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, we discuss the various ways in which pelvic pain manifests in IBD patients. Given that pelvic pain is often confused with IBD symptoms and flare-ups, we discuss symptoms and how to get help to alleviate this pain and achieve greater quality of life. Please check out the video below to learn more:…

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    Tina Aswani Omprakash

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    The Song That Makes Me Proud of My Scars

    March 23, 2018

    Welcome to “Own Your Crohn’s”

    March 23, 2018

    How I Combat Election-Related Anxiety as a Crohn’s Patient and Ostomate

    April 4, 2018
  • Ableism,  acceptance,  advocacy,  awareness,  Crohn's,  Dating & Relationships,  living with IBD,  Ostomy,  stigma

    Indian Ostomate Podcast Show: Episode 1 with Tina Aswani Omprakash

    July 23, 2020

    I recently had the honor of being interviewed by the very kind, positive and uplifting Indian ostomate and advocate named Dinesh Kundnani. Dinesh is someone who I came across early in my own journey as an ostomy advocate and it’s amazing to witness how he’s transformed from new ostomate to a seasoned one. Dinesh now helps others in India especially by showing his ostomy and helping to destigmatize what is considered to be a very taboo medical device. Early on in our interview, Dinesh asked if I would do this podcast show in the Hindi language! I was dumbfounded in the moment but I quickly agreed as I realized how…

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    Tina Aswani Omprakash

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    University Accommodations in the COVID-19 Era

    September 7, 2020

    Inspire’s #KeepUsAllSafe COVID-19 Campaign

    April 12, 2020

    The Beauty of Ostomates Worldwide

    October 17, 2019
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Recent Posts

  • Feb 18, 2025 How to Own Your Crohn’s & Ostomy While Traveling to India
  • Jan 05, 2025 Key Takeaways from Advances in IBD (AIBD) 2024
  • Dec 05, 2024 Navigating Mental Health in Crohn’s Disease 
  • Dec 04, 2024 Highlights from ACG 2024: SAIA’s IBDesis’ Patient Experience
  • Nov 18, 2024 SAIA is proud to announce Tina Aswani-Omprakash, MPH as our full-time CEO!

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