© Pete Lord 2010
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 50 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.
We have a number of events currently in the planning
stages and further information will be posted on here as
they develop.
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Have you renewed your membership.?Anyone
not renewing their membership by 30th
September will lose their membership status
and the benefits that go with it.
If you are struggling to afford your
membership costs maybe we can help. Please
contact the Treasurer for more information.
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.
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 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 subjexts affecxting our younger
members can be found on the Young IA website.
