About the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire IA

A BRIEF HISTORY of the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire IA 1964 15 February – first meeting of the Nottinghamshire & Lincolnshire Branch of IA Midlands Division (the second such new local branch to be established as the Midlands Division expanded) 1965 Derby Branch established 1968 Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire form separate branches 1977 Nottinghamshire becomes a Division in its own right 1978 Bow Heath elected Chair of Notts IA Derby becomes a Division in its own right 1979 Annual meeting of the IA National Council, organised by Notts Division, held at Nottingham University 1993 New national constitution for IA approved to conform to the requirements of the Charities Act 1992 – included model constitution for local groups 1994 Notts IA (and other local divisions) registered as autonomous charity and member organisation of IA 1998 Separate group for Derby discontinued and members transferred to Nottinghamshire IA 2008 Notts IA web site launched (www.nottinghamshire-ia.org.uk) 2009 The Notts IA changes its name to the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire IA to better reflect its membership Bow Heath steps down and is replaced by Phil Nokes as Chair. Pat Eades steps down and is replaced by Pete Lord as Treasurer 2011 Phil Nokes steps down at the AGM due to personal commitments and Fiona Harrison is duly elected as the new Chair The Committee

Fiona Harrison - Chair, Young IA lead & Events sub-committee My ileostomy was formed on 7th April 2007 as an emergency following toxic mega colon. I'd had no real symptoms of what they now think was Crohns disease so the operation came as a big shock. It was as serious a matter as life or death so there was no real decision to be made at the time as to whether it was the right choice. Coming to terms with the ileostomy for the first few months out of hospital was a real struggle. My emotions swung from one extreme to the other. Anger at what has happened, to feeling deeply grateful to the bag for keeping me alive. I wouldn't have been here without the bag yet I couldn't come to terms with having to live with it. Gradually as I settled into a routine the feelings of anger subsided and my ileostomy began to feel normal and part of me. Contrary to what I first thought, my stoma has not stopped me doing anything I want to do or eating anything I want to eat. I returned 3 months after the operation to my job as an architect and am able to do all the activities that I did before I had the operation. I am undecided as to whether I will opt for an ileo-rectal pouch in the future but for now I'm happy with my ileostomy and have no immediate plans to get rid of it. I found that meeting other young ileostomates following the operation was invaluable and it really did help me to feel 'normal' again. I therefore joined the local IA committee as a Young IA rep in 2009 as I want to help support other people who have been through the same experience.