On this episode, Tina shares her personal journey with Crohn’s disease (a form of inflammatory bowel disease), Sjorgen’s, and inflammatory arthritis. She explores the significant cultural stigmas surrounding chronic illnesses, modern medicine, and surgeries like ostomies within South Asian and other communities of color. She reflects on the challenges of navigating family dynamics and cultural expectations, which delayed her use of medications and other treatments that ultimately improved her quality of life.
Cheryl and Tina emphasize the need for increased education, representation, and awareness about autoimmune conditions and treatment options to reduce stigma and support patients globally.
Cheryl and Tina also discuss Tina’s advocacy work, including her blog Own Your Crohn’s and contributions to South Asian IBD Alliance (SAIA), focused on creating community and amplifying patient voices across diverse populations.
See full episode show notes including a transcript here!
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Click here for full episode show notes including a video of this conversation and transcript.