Minutes of Meeting

February 19, 2004

Couldn't make it to the meeting and wondering what you missed? Learn about what we discussed and the guest speakers who enlightened us.


Executives in Attendance

• Caroline Chiasson – President
• Heather Smith – Vice President
• Edith Scheliga – Treasurer
• Deanna Sterling – Secretary, Webmaster and Newsletter Editor

Co-Ordinators in Attendance

• Brenda Turner – Visitor Co-Ordinator
• Joy Ibsen – Social Co-Ordinator

ET Advisor in Attendance

• Kathy Kozell – St. Joseph's Health Centre

Guest Speakers

• Dr. John Howard – Gastroenterologist
  Cancelled due to a scheduling conflict.

• Brenda Turner – Cancelled due to illness.
  She will be speaking at March's meeting.

• 19 members, caregivers and guests attended
   (in addition to the above)

The meeting commenced at 7:00 p.m.

In the absense of guest speakers, the evening turned out to be an open "rap session".

Edith Scheliga, Treasurer, passed around LDOA's Financial Statement showing debits, credits and current balance in the bank. No comments were made with respect to the Financial Statement.

In addition to answering questions for approximately 45 minutes, Lina Martins asked anyone who may have a question but was too shy to ask in front of the group to anonymously write down their questions or concerns on a notepad which she passed around. These questions will be answered in the ET Corner in the next newsletter.

Some of the topics and questions that were discussed focused on the following:

  • Motility Disorder • Often confused with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)



  • Redundant Bowel • Condition wherein a person has too much bowel and the bowel muscles don't work as they should resulting in chronic constipation.



  • Ileostomates and Nutrition • Arguments for and against taking supplements (always best to go with your doctor's advice)



  • Blockages • What can cause a blockage (usually food) and how a blockage is removed (nasogastral tube or surgery). Several people shared their personal experiences with blockages.



  • Irrigation and Colostomies • Persons with a sigmoid colon colostomies are ideal candidates to perform regular irrigation. Those with ascending, transverse or even descending colon colostomies will most likely achieve unsatisfactory results, although those results are always dependent upon the individual. General rule: the "higher up" the digestive tract the colostomy is located, the harder it is to "train" one's colostomy with irrigation.



  • J-Pouch and Reversals • Lina explained what a J-Pouch was and why some ileostomates elect to have the surgery performed. Generally, the procedure is performed on persons under the age of 40 whose rectal muscles are still strong enough to control the internal pouch. While having a J-Pouch means you no longer have to wear an appliance, it does mean frequent trips to the bathroom, as often as 7 or 8 times a day.



  • Medic Alert IDs • A resounding "yes" to the question, "Should I wear one?"  Click here  for more information about Medic Alert bracelets and pendants.

The ADP grant and survey were discussed for the remainder of the meeting. Caroline Chiasson spoke about the phone conversation she had with UOAC’s President a couple of days beforehand. She had been told that UOAC does not involve itself in matters at a provincial level, but rather focused its resources, advocacy and support on national matters concerning ostomates throughout Canada.

The majority of members felt the grant should be increased to reflect the cost of living and the increase in the cost of supplies that have taken place over the past 11 years, but given the recent changes in the Ontario Government and cutbacks in health care, now was not the time to take action. The survey will remain open on the web site and continue to collect  votes and opinions.

No  50/50 draw  was held.

The meeting concluded at 9:00 p.m.


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