Look at that transformation #WorldOstomyDay #TakeStepsMichigan #MyOstomyStory #UncoverOstomy pic.twitter.com/dBYZK63gqr

— Bianca Siedlaczek (@biancasid) October 3, 2015

Check out @alliyajoy's #MyOstomyStory on our Instagram! https://t.co/5GhCSqOd4j #worldostomyday pic.twitter.com/YM1eZgbfJk

— Uncover Ostomy (@uncoverostomy) October 4, 2015

#Crohns-15 yrs & #ostomy~9 yrs. Nearly died after a colonoscopy perf. I <3 Bikinis & Barre classes! #myostomystory pic.twitter.com/ZcNTAuyRDH

— Melissa Zapinski (@Moonlight_RN) October 16, 2015

#MyOstomyStory #worldostomyday

A photo posted by @pickwick12 on Oct 3, 2015 at 7:43am PDT

Don't be afraid to show the real you - scars, crazy tan lines, and even your #ostomy - to the world. Happy #worldostomyday everyone! When I saw my #stomasister @yulady share her first ostomy #selfie pic this morning, it touched my heart because this day couldn't have come at a better time for me to celebrate and take care of my stoma Marvin. That's what my injury is right now...if I do too much core work or too many backbends, he starts to hurt...a lot. #livingwithanostomy can be a 24/7 job, which is why I can sometimes fall behind so easily on things. But I wouldn't be alive today if I hadn't made the decision literally 2 years ago to get my ileostomy for the unique reason Yulady and I both had these surgeries. But look at us now! Both practicing yoga and sharing our journeys with you. Thank you IG for supporting us and all ostomates today and everyday! As my love Yulady and her wonderful husband @geraldsaluti say #bekindallthetime! Namaste!😍❤🙏 #ostomyyogi #yogaeverydamnday #yoga #igyoga #igyogafamily #thankful #grateful #loveyourself #love #aimtrue #loveyourbody #iwillwhatiwant #namaste #HHI #yogadaily #yogisofinstagram #beyou #girlpoweryouareenough #feeltheyogahigh #yogainspiration #inspire #allyoucanyoga #MyOstomyStory

A photo posted by Katie Schroeder (@stomiyogi) on Oct 3, 2015 at 7:47am PDT

It has been quite some time since I have written anything or shared my story. I figured what better day than #WorldOstomyDay to share #MyOstomyStory. I have had #crohns for 19 years. Tomorrow markets the 9 month anniversary of my surgery, a day that has forever changed my life. It was the day I went under the knife to have a small, scarred portion of my colon removed and woke up to my worst nightmare, my surgeon telling me that things did not go as planned and in order to save my life he had given me an #ileostomy. Oh the horrors that ran through my head at the time and the amount of tears that were shed. After a few self-pitying moments, I decided that I wasn't going to allow my #ostomy to stop me from living my life. I can't tell you how many blogs and stories I read in the first couple of months after surgery, some quite dark and depressing, while others were oh-so-positive and uplifting. So far I have started my own blog, traveled quite a bit and have even done some things I had never imagined doing before. I'd have to say that the last few months have been a crazy roller coaster ride for me with major changes in my personal life and my professional life. I am making major strides at work toward my certification as a commercial real estate appraiser and taking on new projects, in the process of buying a house and continuing to be the social butterfly that I am. #StormyStoma #worldostomyday2015 #getyourbellyout #ostomyawareness #ostomate

A photo posted by Tia Belisle (@tiabelisle) on Oct 3, 2015 at 9:42am PDT

Look at that transformation #WorldOstomyDay #TakeStepsMichigan #MyOstomyStory #UncoverOstomy pic.twitter.com/dBYZK63gqr

— Bianca Siedlaczek (@biancasid) October 3, 2015

Check out @alliyajoy's #MyOstomyStory on our Instagram! https://t.co/5GhCSqOd4j #worldostomyday pic.twitter.com/YM1eZgbfJk

— Uncover Ostomy (@uncoverostomy) October 4, 2015

#worldostomyday is today, which means it's just another day to get awareness out to get this stigma to go away for good!I've had my Ostomy more than most who get one, since I was 3 weeks old and I can honestly say I wouldn't change a thing about my life, I love it! Personally I never had a choice for this lifesaving surgery, I was going to die without it as a baby, but I went through my fair share of anger and self esteem issues with it as a teenage girl but I'm so glad I chose to rise above that and be the "normal" 24 year old that loves boys as much as wearing a bikini. After all it's how you deal with what life hands you that makes you the strong person you are! #myostomystory #uncoverostomy #youarenotalone #repost #chronicillness #spoonie #stillsexy

A photo posted by Sarah Vasilakos (@misssarahv) on Oct 3, 2015 at 8:03pm PDT

#Crohns-15 yrs & #ostomy~9 yrs. Nearly died after a colonoscopy perf. I <3 Bikinis & Barre classes! #myostomystory pic.twitter.com/ZcNTAuyRDH

— Melissa Zapinski (@Moonlight_RN) October 16, 2015

This new workout gear I got as a lovely gift from @athaliaboutique makes me feel like a super hero! The highwaist is just perfect for my ostomy. They had an Instagram give away, for #pink #workoutgear to raise awareness for #breastcancer ! And I guess I was lucky enough to be the recipient. Before you all judge me and go 'oh jeez, she's putting up a scandalous pic' I would like to say - this covers me more than a bathing suit would... And I'm insanely proud of how good my body looks after getting #majorsurgery less than 6 months ago. I work really hard to gain my weight back in healthy foods, like proteins instead of just fattening things. It would be easy to pack on pounds eating cheetos every day.. But I don't want my body to work any harder then it has to. This just makes me proud to say, I have an #ostomy, and I'm looking good, and I never dreamed that this could be a reality all those years ago when I thought having an ostomy would steal anything attractive about me. Let no medical issues, whether it #breastcancer or #crohns or something else, steal the fact that you are a powerful and wonderfully made person, and beauty comes from inside.. You can really see it! #ibd #uncoverostomy #crohns #crohnsstrong #crohnsdisease #breastcancer #breastcancerawareness #cancer #fit #workout #fitgirls #stoma #healthy #myostomystory

A photo posted by Bethany (@minarbr) on Oct 21, 2015 at 3:18pm PDT

So today is #WorldOstomyDay I would not normally post a picture of me with my top off put its spreading awareness and hope it can help others to not be ashamed of having a bag My Story, I have had my stoma now for 1 year this month. #ileostomy from ulcerative colitis all happened so quick diagnosed in 2 weeks with UC then a week later it was server Colitis steroids weren't working and my 2nd infusion (infliximab) I had an allergic reaction to! While I was waiting for my surgery to remove my colon It perforated I was high dependency it had to be removed ASAP I was so close to nearly dying! I spent 2 months in hospital having more complications with my low white blood cells platelets and losing blood having 4 blood transfusions and loosing my belly button😕. I never heard of a colostomy bag before until I was wearing one it's been a hard year coming to terms with it all but it's apart of me now I'm more positive and respect life. Its not the end of the world it's the beginning to a new me this stoma saved my life!! Thanks again to my lovely girlfriend and family for helping me through this. X #ibd #Ileostomy #UC #Crohns #Colitis #Stoma #Hospital #Coloplast #Life #MyOstomyStory

A photo posted by Simon Gadsby (@sigadsby) on Oct 3, 2015 at 5:36am PDT

Today is World Ostomy Day, so today in conjunction with Uncover Ostomy I want to share with you #MyOstomyStory It's really hard for me to distinguish between Geoff's story and mine, in a way I diminish and simplify a lot of what has happened so that I was able to cope with all the hospital stays and watching someone I love in pain. So this is our story. Some of you may know that my husband Geoff had emergency surgery in early 2014 to remove his colon. He had been diagnosed in 2010 with mild Ulcerative Colitis which flared up during times of intense stress. While we were in Emergency, ileostomy surgery was first mentioned. 2 days later it became more likely. After nearly a full month in isolation and after prolonged steroid and Remicade treatment, it was the only option left. Geoff has had 2 subsequent surgeries, including j-pouch creation and ileo takedown, but has been hospitalised on at least 6 different occasions for post-op infections, internal abscesses and drain insertions. As someone who has also has digestive issues, I remember thinking it would be the end of the world to end up with an ostomy...except it isn't. I am so happy that I still have my husband here to share good days and bad, because there is a definite possibility that without the surgery he wouldn't be here at all. Geoff's ostomy never bothered me, at all. What did bother me is seeing how much it had affected Geoff's confidence, and I wished that he could see that it had not changed how I felt about him in any way. An ostomy doesn't stop you living your life, it's giving you most of your life back. You can keep living, and doing everything you want because you aren't in pain or tied to the nearest bathroom (which is what UC was like). If you know, or support someone with an ostomy - share your story today to help break the stigma surrounding ostomies.

A photo posted by Angela McConnell (@angelamcconnellphotography) on Oct 3, 2015 at 7:04am PDT

#MyOstomyStory pic.twitter.com/5iRTylhHuU

— mona lisa. (@lisajanexox) October 3, 2015

Without my ostomy, it's pretty safe to say that I probably wouldn't be here. I was living before going back to an ostomy but it was more of a state of "being" not really living. Now, with Stella the stoma, I can do things that I wasn't able to do before. Yes, I do have my ups and downs but my life has drastically improved from this bag on my abdomen. This ostomy has given me more confidence and my life back. #Ostomy #ostomybag #ulcerativecolitis #crohns #ibd #myostomystory #stoma #worldostomyday #worldostomyday2015

A photo posted by Megan, The Front Butt Youtuber (@the_front_butt_youtuber) on Oct 3, 2015 at 12:43pm PDT

Today is my second #worldostomyday come even further now from accepting my situation to starting to push myself deeper into social situations. Big love to my ostomates and to people suffering from #crohns and #ulcerativecolitis all the way to those battling bowel cancer.

A photo posted by Ollie Avis (@ollivanderavis) on Oct 3, 2015 at 2:14pm PDT

It's #WorldOstomyDay & this is #MyOstomyStory (very condensed due to 15 years of severe disease): I was diagnosed when I was 7, almost 8. Symptoms since I was 6. I have spent most of my life in and out of the hospital. Barely made it through elementary, middle, & high school.. Resorting to #tpn and homeschooling by the end. College has been a hit or miss, having to drop semesters and take time off because of flare ups. I've had an #ostomy since I was 18, it saved my life, and I'm on my third ostomy right now. My disease is severe, with #ulcerativecolitis too, and recently my #peristalsis has stopped working, causing chronic blockages. I have many other secondary illnesses. Life is pretty tough right now.. BUT! Every second I get that's a little healthy, I love to dress up in fashionable clothes, do a photo shoot or two, cook fancy food, go hunting, work out, volunteer with my therapy dog, drink good wine and beer, be outside.. And generally love life. This picture shows all the different stages I've went through for the last months.. From surgery, to beach, to makeup confidence, to hunting. The fight is real, and extremely tough.. But I'm not giving up - and this disease is going to have to kick me a lot harder before I'm going to turn in the towel... "Because I've still got a lot of fight left in me. 😎" #undercoverostomy #ibd #crohns #ibd #ostomyday #ostomy #ostomyawareness #spoonie #stoma #crohnsdisease #chronicillness #invisibleillness #invisibleillnessweek #sick #uniquebeauty #girlswithguts #gotguts #guts #getyourbellyout #bellyout #uncoverostomy #myostomystory @uncoverostomy

A photo posted by Bethany (@minarbr) on Oct 3, 2015 at 5:47pm PDT

#MyOstomyStory From chemo to choreography. #ostomate #youngadult #colorectalcancer #survivor @uncoverostomy pic.twitter.com/m9YW1e7xkc

— LISA (@cancersheek) November 2, 2015

I have crohns disease I have a permanent ileostomy bag. I also have a few tattoos and most of all I have 4 beautiful kids and life very much goes on ...#lifegoeson #livelife #bestrong #fight #nevergiveup #CrohnsFighter #crohns #ibdfighter #ostomy #tattooed #inkedskin #inked #instaink #MyOstomyStory

A photo posted by Pip Ramsey (Tattooed Pipster) (@pip_ramsey) on Oct 8, 2015 at 1:25pm PDT