© Pete Lord 2010-2012
The Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire IA is a UK registered charity and
forms part of the Ileostomy Association, whose primary aim is to
help people who have to undergo surgery which involves the
removal of their colon (colectomy) and the creation of either an
ileostomy or an ileo-anal pouch.
Established in 1956, the Ileostomy Association has been providing support for over
56 years.
The Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire IA committee are looking for members to play an
active part in making this website the best resource for members that it can be. We
welcome your suggestions and feedback on the layout and content of this website
and encourage you to take an active part in it’s continued development. After all, the
website is here for your use and benefit. We hope you find it both informative and
easy to use.
Over the coming months we will be arranging more events for members than ever
before which makes it a very exciting time to join. The more inclusive and involved
we are the stronger we are and so we welcome feedback and suggestions from
members at any time. Tell us what you want to do and we will do our best to exceed
your expectations.
Please make sure that you have renewed
your subscription for 2012 by either
renewing on-line from the national site or
send your cheques to the treasurer,
payable to Nottinghamshire IA.
So far 131 members have
renewed their membership
this year
65 members are still to renew
Keep your membership
current and renew today
Swimathon 2012 Update
The Swimathon was held on 27th -
29th April and your Treasurer swam in
aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care.
The swim was 5KM, or 3 miles which
is 200 lengths of the pool.
Target time was 2 hours so it was
great to see the swim completed in 1
hour and 57 minutes
Thanks to all who sponsored Pete in
his efforts and anyone else whishing
to donate to this worthy cause please
click on this link.
What is an Ileostomy?
An ileostomy is part of you. Your bowel needs to be diverted away from its usual route
and out onto your abdomen. This means you will no longer sit on the toilet to open your
bowels as your bowel motions and any wind will pass into the bag. The consistency of
the motion will be a mixture of bowel liquid and semi-solid motion with some wind.
However, you will still be able to pass urine in the normal way.
Your ileostomy will be on your abdomen, usually on the right of your belly button. Its
size and shape will vary, but within a month or two it should be about the size of a 50p
piece or smaller. Its normal colour is pinkish red and it may not be round.
It is usually referred to as a stoma - it will always be moist and may bleed if touched,
and is similar to the inside of your mouth. It will protrude a few centimetres from your
abdomen.
Internal Pouch
Internal pouch surgery (or restorative procto-colectomy to give it the surgical term) is
increasingly being offered to patients who require surgery to remove their colon as a
result of chronic bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis or FAP (familial
anedomatous polyposis).
For those who are offered the option, there are many difficult decisions to make, and
many questions - "What should I do? Will I get permanent diarrhoea? Will I have to
stay close to a toilet all the time? Can I still have children?" - the list goes on. The
Pouch Group website contains useful information for those people, and for others who
are interested in the subject.
The Pouch Group co-ordinator serves on the association’s National Executive
Committee to represent the interests of members with an internal pouch. It is the
responsibility of this person to identify the needs of those members and ensure that IA
is meeting those needs.
For local information and advice on internal pouches please get in touch with our
Pouch rep Rio Diedrick at pouchrep@nottinghamshire-ia.co.uk
National Young IA
Young IA aims to support the association’s younger members, and other young
people, either pre-surgery or post-surgery, who undergo either an ileostomy or an
internal pouch operation.
The National Young IA co-ordinator serves on the association’s National Executive
Committee to represent the interest of its young members. It is the responsibility of this
person to identify the needs of those young members and ensure that IA is meeting
those needs. At present IA's young members are defined as those under the age of
40.
Young IA organises an annual social weekend when all young members are invited to
join together to share experiences and make new friends. More information on this and
other subjects affecting our younger members can be found on the Young IA website.
Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Young IA
Locally we have a growing and active group of Young IA members and through the
efforts of our Young IA co-ordinators Fiona and Rio.
Regular events are organised throughout the year, both in Derbyshire and
Nottinghamshire specifically to enable our younger members to get together and
discuss the issues affecting them, be they related to their surgery or otherwise.
Now is a great time to join the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Young IA, so if you are
under 40 and need some info, drop Fiona and Rio an email at
youngiarep@nottinghamshire-ia.org.uk