( CNN ) -- In general , digestive diseases are hidden in the bathroom . You do n't talk about anything that happens there unless it 's with your spouse or a close friend . Being ashamed and scared , you tend to pull back and hide . Nobody wants to stand out on a corner and say , `` I 've got an ostomy , '' myself included . I have an ostomy -- just like more than 500,000 people in the United States , according to the United Ostomy Associations of America . An ostomy is a surgically created opening in the body that allows for the external elimination of body waste . They call mine a colostomy because it involves my colon . There are many types of ostomies , such as those involving the bladder or the ileum ( the final part of the small intestine ) . My path to this crossroads involved being diagnosed with Crohn 's disease at the age of 17 . The chronic disease left me doubled over in pain during flare-ups that sent me to the bathroom frequently for days . Some of the symptoms people experience are nausea , life-threatening bowel obstructions , incontinence , dehydration , intravenous feeding , fatigue and depression . Living with Crohn 's disease : 'Today I will fight again ' My illness was punctuated by multiple surgeries , hospitalizations and a body fighting to stay alive . I am thankful for the amazing doctors and nurses at UCLA who saved my life not once but twice . Six years ago , my Crohn 's had gotten so bad , I had a temporary ostomy where my colon was reattached several months later . I remember my emotional status after that : I did n't want to leave the house . If my bag filled up , I did n't want to use a public restroom to change it . I found myself facing a permanent colostomy in 2010 . I knew that I needed the procedure to save my life , but I was faced with the impending realization that my body and my life would change forever . FAQ : Adapting to life after an ostomy . I would no longer be able to hit the beach and take my shirt off without people staring or getting grossed out . Nor would I be able to sleep with my shirt off , because it would mean one less layer of protection against a leak . I was afraid to leave my house or even let anyone see my bag ; I have even hidden it from my inquisitive 8-year-old daughter . I found myself trying to cover up noises and smells that I was convinced others always heard and smelled , although they rarely did . I knew that I had to make a choice between living my life in fear or meeting this new challenge head-on . Eventually , I came to a realization : I refused to be part of a stigma and go into hiding because of embarrassment . Now I am sharing my story in an effort to help educate the general population about ostomies . We need to start a national conversation about ostomies and let people know they are not alone . David Rudzin , president of the United Ostomy Associations of America , agrees . `` It would break the stigma and the silence , since no one talks about ostomy surgery . People consider it disfiguring and gross , '' he said . `` Ostomies , like mastectomies , save lives , period , '' he said . `` Unfortunately , all people focus on is crapping in a pouch . '' Designs to disguise and emphasize external devices . You see , all of my fears 2Â½ years ago were for nothing . Besides my efforts to raise awareness , I have traveled , gone to the beach ( my shirt stays on , though ) , swum freely in pools and oceans , and even gone ziplining . Having the ostomy has done nothing to impede my way of life . If anything , it has improved it . I am no longer living a life inside the bathroom . My mission now is to convince everyone to start the conversation about ostomies . Maybe then we can reach those people who feel lost and scared , educate the public about greater acceptance and , most important , raise awareness so that no one fears having an ostomy or knowing someone with one . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Doug Yakich .
Yakich has had Doug Yakich 's disease for about two years ago . Crohn had a life-changing colostomy more than 20 years . He hopes his essay will inspire a national conversation about ostomies . Have a personal essay to share with the world ? Submit at CNN iReport .