GLOCONTACT Vol 23 Issue 1, Jan, 2007

The newsletter for the Gay/Lesbian, and Bisexual Ostomate (or other type of diversionary procedure) their Partners, Family, Caregivers and Friends

From the Editor:

This issue of GLOContact is dedicated to the subjects of dating, sex and body image. There are articles from several sources on these subjects. You might read something and feel as if you’ve already read it. The fact of the matter is that there are limits to how many ways you can say the same thing over and over again.

GLO does not endorse any product or service. We offer all information for our readers' benefit to use as they see fit.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

If you have not renewed your membership, your dues are delinquent and this is the last issue of GLOContact that you will receive. If you are not sure to what point your dues are paid, please contact Fred Shulak: thadbear@sbcglobal.net and I will check it out for you. If your dues are due on a date after 10/01/06 you were notified of the due date.

What An Ostomate Should Know About Medication

Via: Winnipeg Ostomy Association, Sept/Oct, 2006, via South Nevada Town Karaya; Edmonton, AB: Metro Halifax News, June, 2006

Liquids are faster acting than pills. The degree of compression of a tablet determines the rate the medicine is dissolved in one’s system. The amount of medication absorbed by the body depends on the amount of intestine available. Therefore, the type of drugs to be taken must be base on the “absorption power” you have.

Time-release capsules are not for the ileostomate. They do not have enough time to dissolve in the short remaining intestine and are passed virtually intact. Time-release medicine will completely dissolve at once if alcohol is consumed with it or shortly thereafter. An overdose would result!

Most medication is available in a variety forms - be sure to tell your pharmacist that you have an ostomy so that he/she can provide the right form of the prescribed medication.

The Question of Intimacy

By: Aileen Gould, MS, NCC, LMHC

I am a single person who has had an Ostomy for 15 years. When I first had my surgery I was very upset because I enjoy intimacy. I did not know how I would be able to continue that pleasurable experience with this new appliance so visibly hanging from my side. One of the wisest statements said to me before my surgery, by my brother, also an Ostomate, was that ”When I accepted my Ostomy as no big deal, I found that my partners treated it the same way”. I’d love to tell you that those words of wisdom immediately took root and I never had an awkward moment sexually, but I won’t lie to you. It takes time to heal both physically and emotionally. I had to come to grips with what happened to me. I had to mourn the loss of an intact body image. I had to think long and hard about whom I was willing to tell about my surgery and determine when the appropriate time to do so was to occur. In other words, I had to move myself from the place of Helpless Victim to the position of Empowered Person.

Initially, because I felt so much better physically and was proud of what I went through to get healthy, I became the poster child for Ostomies. It was as if almost as soon as I met a prospective partner, I would hear myself saying to them: “Hi, I’m Aileen. I have a Colostomy. Can you deal with it?” I soon realized that this shock factor approach was not serving my purposes effectively. I was not allowing anyone the chance to know me as a complete human being. They weren’t given the time to appreciate me for all the fine qualities and attributes I possess. I didn’t provide them with the opportunity to care for me and value who I am. At the very outset of our meeting, I had made a very scary statement to them without even explaining what it meant.

I saw that it was time to begin formulating a new and better approach to handling this topic. One of the first empowering thoughts I had was that I might not even want to be intimate with a person I just met. I began to ask myself questions like: Is this person a good human being? Do they have a good heart? Is this someone I would want to be with in a long-term relationship? Am I treated with respect and consideration? Does this person acknowledge that no one in the world is perfect and that each and every one of us has some imperfections? Is this individual a human being of quality who will accept me exactly as I am? I know these questions cannot be answered on a first date, nor should I feel compelled to sleep with anyone on a first date. So my process began by giving both my prospective partner and myself the sufficient time necessary to get to know each other before even venturing into the topic of my surgery and our possible ensuing intimacy.

After several dates, I began to learn how to discriminate between the worthy and the unworthy people. I decided to let go of the unworthy ones without even broaching the topic of my ostomy. I did not expose them to this very personal issue and was therefore not vulnerable to the rejection of an unkind or thoughtless individual. With the good ones (and I’m pleased to say there have been more than one or two over the past 15 years), I waited until I felt more secure about their feelings for me. When I could acknowledge to myself that there was more than just lust between us, I looked for the appropriate time to explain my Ostomy.

The time to explain my Ostomy was not 10 seconds before we were about to enter the bedroom. I learned to carefully choose the correct time. It was after we had spent some pleasurable time together. I made sure we were alone in a quiet and comfortable environment. I tried to make my explanation as succinct as possible. They did not have to hear every gory detail of my 9-year struggle with disease. I simply said that awhile back I had been very sick and the best way to rectify the situation was to have surgery. I tell them my doctor performed an operation called a Colostomy and ask them if they have ever heard of it. If their answer is yes, I feel like I’m almost home free. If their answer is no, I tell them my disease was in my digestive system and it was necessary to divert part of my bowels to improve the quality of my life. (Urostomates and Colon Cancer survivors can just change the wording slightly to accommodate their own personal experiences). I then say I have a permanent bag attached to the side of my body. Yes, I know the word “bag” is not the most politically correct terminology, but it is a word far easier for them to understand than the word appliance and all the connotations that might arise in their minds from that word (no I am not wearing a toaster oven or iron on my side!). I tell them it’s somewhat like a big bandage that doesn’t hurt me and won’t affect the quality of our intimacy at all. I just wanted to let them know it was there so they wouldn’t be surprised when we were intimate.

Now I felt ready to have our first intimate encounter. As I navigated my way effectively through the timing of explaining my surgery, I also took as much control as possible over the timing of when and how we were going to be intimate. I waited until the evening and lit several candles in my bedroom. Candlelight certainly gives a softer, gentler hue to a room than broad daylight does. Sensual music playing in the background also helps to set the mood I want to achieve. I had planned ahead of time what I intended to wear. As a women, I could consider a pretty pouch cover or maybe some intimate wear that had snaps or an opening at the crotch. Men can wear luxuriously feeling silk boxer shorts that already have an opening in the front or one of the nicely colored cummerbunds that I have seen on websites that feature intimate wear for ostomates.

I am pleased to tell you that I am currently in a very fulfilling relationship with a kind-hearted, generous of spirit, caring person who is also quite sexy in the bedroom. This is not an overnight miracle for me. I spent years working on the above process and to this day continue to look at feelings of insecurity when they arise. I personally spent time in therapy working through these issues. I then decided to go back to school and am currently a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. I specialize in counseling people with chronic illnesses, especially Ostomates throughout the United States. I feel that I have learned to live a happy and productive life. My dream is to share this knowledge and wisdom with anyone who has not been able to achieve this on their own. If you have already done this by yourself or with help from others, I say bravo to you. I welcome you to the ranks of our healthy, empowered outlook. Isn’t life grand?

If you have not yet achieved this level of inner peace and acceptance, I promise you that day can arrive. Trust in yourself and have faith that you can accomplish anything that you sincerely put your mind towards doing. I’m here for you, if you want my help in getting there. I have that trust and faith. I will gladly share it with you until you are able to internalize it for yourself. My wish for you is health, happiness and a life full of daily joy and contentment.

Note: Aileen Gould counsels individuals via telephone throughout the United States. For a free initial consultation, she can be reached at 516-759-0734 or e-mailed at: soulful@verizon.net. If you want additional information contact the author.

Self-Acceptance in Sex

Courtesy of: UOAA - July, 2006

Generally speaking, sex becomes a problem whenever drastic surgery has been performed. Frequently, the first thing that enters the patient’s mind, after all the necessary problems have been diagnosed, is: “Will I be a whole person in the eyes of my partner?” Accepting one’s self is the first step toward a happier marriage and sex life. By accepting one’s self, one’s partner accepts the patient. He/she sees an emotionally well-balanced and more relaxed person with whom most intimate relations can be accomplished. When you have fear of rejection, fear of being unable to perform, fear of being loved, you are a person with a big problem.

A mutual, emotional caring for and about each other’s well being plays the most important role in a relationship. A most important ingredient also is openness and a comfortable attitude that accompanies self-acceptance. This feeling encourages one to reciprocate in kind. You are concerned about how the other person will react to your body image. This is normal. The hardest part is accepting those things you cannot change. Once you manage to banish the anger of “Why me?” fear of rejection or hurt, and work toward rebuilding your emotional health and well being, you will be comfortable with your new image.

Your partner, who may have no physical changes, may have greater emotional hang-ups than you. This may be magnified by additional concerns for your emotional health. Positive attitude will go far in rebuilding the relationship and rekindle the “old spark.”

It is whatever turns you on that kindles the “new spark”. Whatever brings you joy and establishes and maintains a meaningful sexual relationship will be rewarding. If there are any unsolved sexual problems postoperatively which were not there before surgery, check with your surgeon.

We are generalizing. Individual needs must be addressed. Keep in mind, however, that a positive attitude will be most rewarding!

Sexuality, Intimacy and Body Image (excerpts only)

Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter, Dorothy Vailancourt, RN, CETN

How To Be Sexual With An Ostomy: Here are some answers and suggestions on how to be sexual with an ostomy.

1. When do you resume sex after surgery? Mainly it is when the person who had the surgery feels he or she is ready. It is necessary to consider any treatments, medications, or lack of physical strength that may limit desire. It should be noted that if the initial try fails, the person should not condemn herself/himself, it is most likely just the fact of not being quite ready yet. Sometimes the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak!

2. Proper hygiene is, or course, essential in successful sexual relationships. Making sure the pouch is empty and securely in place, lubrication, if appropriate, using an attractive pouch cover, a cummerbund or pretty crotchless panties are good suggestions for successful sexual activity. One of the best ideas is to use your sense of humor. So what if something goes wrong. Remember practice makes perfect, and it’s all worthwhile in the end. Partaking in sexual activity will not harm the stoma. The side-to-side position may be more comfortable if the stoma and abdominal incision are only a few weeks old.

3. You may need specific suggestions about communicating with each other. For example, miscommunication may lead a man to move to another bedroom to sleep alone when he is no longer able to have an erection, whereas his partner may be missing the hugging, kissing and snuggling aspects of their shared bed. An open mind, being able to talk with each other, expressing each other’s needs and concern, all go a long way towards a happy recovery.

4. If there are severe problems with sexuality, it may be necessary to consult a sex therapist for help. This may involve brief counseling to help the person to cope with the distraction of the ostomy, or intensive sex therapy, which involves communications training, behavioral treatment or other intensive therapy. Consultation with your physician would be helpful in this case.

5. For men who have erectile dysfunction, there are devices and treatments to assist in rehabilitation in this area. A consult with a urologist would be most valuable if this is a problem for you.

6. Females in the childbearing years have successfully borne children. Pouch modification during the pregnancy is usually necessary.

We are all sexual, and we all may have sexual problems, whether or not we’ve had any surgery. Keeping lines of communication open, seeking help when needed, expressing our concerns to each other and loving hearts, all help to insure a secure and loving life with our partners.

How to Tell Someone You Have an Ostomy

UOA Library

In this world of technological advances there are all kinds of people clamoring for information about you. Here are some questions you should ask yourself when giving out personal information. "How will I benefit from certain persons having certain information? How will the person asking the questions benefit from my answers?"

Thinking back to those critical days of adjustment just after your ostomy surgery, you may only have wanted people around you that you trusted and loved. At that time you may have needed the support of a spouse, friend or children. In order for those people to support you, they needed to know about your ostomy surgery. By sharing this information you were helped through what for some was a very difficult time. Once you were home, friends and neighbors started to call and then to visit when you felt up to it. The question arose as to "Where do I tell them about my surgery?" Probably you thought about each person and his or her relationship with you—the closeness you felt for that person and his or her relationship with you—and maybe, the sincerity of that person's concern for you.

After considering these factors you may have made a decision to tell the person about your ostomy. Based upon the reaction to your story, you made another decision—to either tell or not tell about your ostomy to those who inquired about your health.

As your health progressed and you begin to return to work, the question arose again. "Should I tell my employer about my ostomy?" Here again a couple of questions needed to be asked. "Do I need support from my employer because of my ostomy? How does my employer knowing about my situation help me?" This becomes situational. For example, if I work an assembly line and must take prescheduled breaks, and I'm still adjusting to emptying my pouch, I may or may not need a different schedule for breaks than those enforced. My employer needs to know that I'm not just breaking rules but have a real need.

How do you tell someone you have an ostomy becomes a matter of who has a right to know, and how you will benefit from they know. To tell someone you have an ostomy becomes clearer when the benefits are weighed. Simply explain that you had some surgery for whatever reason you had your surgery, and it necessitated having an alternate route made for emptying either your bowels or bladder. By having had this surgery you were given the chance to increase the length and quality of your life. Share with the person whom you have decided has a right to know about your surgery, using pamphlets and brochures available from UOA and other sources. Educate those persons you believe have a vested interest in your well being.

Gay Quotes

"On a spiritual level I believe that confronting the fear of coming out loosened up and freed all other aspects of my life." - Melissa Etheridge

Self-Acceptance a Must for Restoring Intimacy

UOA Library

Frequently, among the first things to enter a recovering patient's mind after major surgery is: "Will I be a whole person in the eyes of my spouse?”

Accepting one’s self is the first step toward a happier marriage and sex life (at any time, for that matter!). By accepting one's self, one appears as an emotionally well-balanced and relaxed person appealing to his or her spouse. When one has fear of rejection, fear of being unable to perform, fear of being loved, the fears can be self-fulfilling.

A healthy, mutual, emotional caring for and about each other's well being always plays the most important role in a loving relationship. Another most important ingredient is openness, a comfortable attitude that accompanies self-acceptance and invites acceptance by the spouse.

If you are concerned about how your spouse will react to change in your body that is normal, The hardest part is accepting what you cannot change, but you must for a healthy outlook. Once you manage to banish fear of rejection and the anger of "Why me? You can work toward rebuilding emotional health and toward becoming comfortable with your new image.

Your spouse may have greater emotional hang-ups than you, concerns that may be magnified by concerns for your emotional health. Your own positive attitude goes far in rebuilding the relationship, rekindling the "old spark.”

Dating, Sex and Body Image

Fred Shulak

At all UOA Conferences in the past, the subjects of the GLO session has always been “Dating, Sex and Body Image.” Questions are usually brought up at each GLO session and discussed openly, honestly and thoroughly.

We have many new GLO members over the period of the last several years and most of them have not attended a Conference. Most of the questions in their emails to us are concerned with dating, sex and body image. There has not been a lot written on these subjects. In order to respond to the many requests we have had, this issue of GLOContact will cover these issues as best we can.

When a person is told that he/she needs to have ostomy surgery many questions are raised. Some of these concern recovery time, length of time they will need to be away from work, the affect of diet on their ostomy, resumption of leisure activities and control of odor.

Many feel their new body is unattractive and are concerned about maintaining a relationship with someone with whom they are involved.

On a level of intimacy, other questions invariably involve the altered body and how the surgery will change life style. The most primary of these anxieties involve dating, sex and body image. These concerns are the same for heterosexual ostomates as they are for gay/lesbian ostomates.

Dating and Sex

When an ostomate meets someone with whom he/she wants to be intimate with, they are faced with the matter of telling the other person about their ostomy. How to tell is just as important as when to tell.

An ostomate eventually gets to the point of wanting to tell the other person about their ostomy. We are frequently asked what is the best way to tell another person. It is always better to keep the explanation brief and not offer details unless asked. Usually one could ask the person if they had heard of a colostomy/ileostomy/urostomy. If not familiar with the term one should state that because of an illness surgery was necessary in order to restore health. The surgery also enabled one to have the quality of life that they had before their illness. A further explanation could be that a portion of the bowel was diseased and had to be removed and the portion that was healthy had to be re-routed. Additionally, it could be stated that the surgery does not limit one from leading a normal active life and partaking in sexual activity.

If there is someone with whom you want to be intimate, the question also arises of “when” to tell about your ostomy. It is best to tell the person after you both get to know each other better. You should never tell about your ostomy minutes before you are ready to initiate intimacy.

Body Image

The gay/lesbian is concerned about self-acceptance of ones new body image as well as acceptance by a partner or someone with whom intimacy is anticipated. Will their partner or intended date find it repugnant? The most important factors are openness and self-acceptance about your ostomy. The most basic step in accepting your ostomy is accepting your body as it is. If you find your altered body to be unpleasant, others will also. If you accept your body as it is and not make an issue of it, others will do likewise.

You must accept your ostomy before anyone else will. There are many companies that make apparel items for men and women that are meant to make intimate moments a little easier and smoother. Their advertisements can be found in The Phoenix, the official publication of the United Ostomy Associations of America.

Many years ago there was a woman in my ostomy group who, before she would get intimate with a man, would tie a beautiful scarf around her waist, which would completely hide her ostomy pouch. If her partner asked about the scarf, she would simply say that she had a scarf fetish. It worked for her and it is a good solution for a one time only “date.” However, if you are contemplating intimacy with someone you’ve known for a while, the best approach would be to let your friend know about your ostomy when you start to feel that your friendship could lead to something more serious. The result will be a more relaxed and enjoyable encounter.

I Finally Came Out ... With My Ostomy

Rick Marshall GLO Member - Arroyo Grande, California

I actually took a shower at the gym last week. This was a big deal for me. I have had my ostomy for 22 years and never let anyone see it in a "public" setting like that. Individual men have seen it during intimate occasions, but only after that really elaborate explanation we feel we must give to prepare them for what they are about to witness.

I’m really fortunate to have found the perfect man, my partner Paul, who not only loves me a lot but appears to be genuinely attracted to my body in spite of all it’s been through.

A bit of background... I had an Ileostomy due to Crohn’s Disease in 1984, at the delicate age of 21. The only positive spin I could ever put on the AIDS epidemic, which was just exploding during those years, was that it scared me so far into the closet that I practiced the safest sex of all – abstinence. So for me, sexual intimacy has never involved not having an ostomy as part of the equation.

My Crohn’s disease flared up in 1989 and I had a revision. I became a "left-handed" ileostomate. Luckily, it waited until last year to stage its next recurrence. The last surgery has put me back to "normal" in the sense that my appliance is back on the right. However, the fistulas that were associated with the last flare-up did quite a number on my abdominal area in the vicinity of my left-side stoma site. I’ve got a doozy of a scar now prominently featured there.

Most of my life I’ve figured I was just at the mercy of this terrible illness and never really did much to take care of myself. In my mind, "skinny" always meant "sick," and so I just didn’t worry about diet, and I never exercised. Finally, last year (now in my mid-40's) I decided my body needs some extra help and I joined a gym. So far, I mostly swim laps (which doesn’t really need a shower afterwards, does it?) or take this one group fitness class which is mostly yoga. It’s pretty mellow, and if I go after work I also don’t really need a shower after class.

Well, one toasty late-summer day even my mellow exercise class had me just dripping with sweat. I decided it was time to brave the shower as a means to bring my body temperature back down. I played it cool, shielding myself with a towel on the trip from the locker to the shower room and back, and pretty much just faced the wall in the showers themselves. No one stared at me or said a word. It was just not as scary as I had led myself to expect!

I have been "out" as a gay man for years now. My partner and I got our picture on the front page of the local paper a while back, and we were interviewed on the local TV station. I certainly don’t mind if people know I’m gay, even in the locker room (a wonderful experience in other ways, which I wish I hadn’t waited so long to enjoy!). But it was a really big deal to put myself in a position where total strangers could see my appliance and my scars, and I overcame my fears and did it!

There was an article entitled “Commandments for New Ostomates" that I read in a recent GLO Network email that has inspired me to write this article. The specific Commandment read “Thou shalt not be ashamed of thy ostomy; it may have saved thy life."

The successful result of my risk-taking, in turn also inspired me to contribute this article, in hopes that someone else might be encouraged to face their fears and stop avoiding something that they otherwise really need. This may be in the form of a shower in the gym, an afternoon at the beach, or a chance for physical intimacy which you’ve been denying yourself.

Come on, guys and gals: we’ve already been through hell because of our concerns regarding our bodies after surgery. Don’t let our fears keep us down after we’ve returned to health!

Is It Always Necessary To Use Sealant On My Skin?

Via: Winnipeg Ostomy Association, Sept/Oct, 2006; South Nevada Town Karaya; Kawartha District Newsletter, Nov, 2005; Halton-Peel Ostomy News June, 2006; Vancouver Ostomy Highlife, July-August, 2006

You should try applying your pouch without this product a few times to see if you really need it. Some people get excellent wear time without using sealant. Others may find it improves skin health and pouch adhesion. Skin sealants such as Skin-Prep by Smith & Nephew, Skin Gel Wipes by Hollister, Allkare by ConvaTec and Bard Skincare Protective Film are available in different forms, such as small wipes, sprays or applicator bottles.

These products contain a plastering agent as their main ingredient and are used to provide a thin protective film on the skin surface. This film helps prevent injury to the surface layer of the skin during appliance removal. It also acts as a moisture barrier. For people with dry skin, the film actually improves appliance adhesion. Skin sealants also contain variable amounts of isopropyl alcohol. Because of the alcohol content of the sealant, burning and stinging often occur when the sealant is applied to damaged skin. Therefore, skin barrier powder should be used rather than a skin sealant on irritated skin. It is also important to know that skin sealants may not be recommended for use under certain skin barriers. The protective film may reduce the adherence of the barrier.

Gay Quotes: "Love is love. We’re told little boys should love little girls and little girls should love little boys. We know it’s not so." - Julie Harris

Rainbow Minute

rainbowguys@verizon.net

One of our members and former GLO chairperson, Judd Proctor and his partner Brian Burns are producing a radio program called the "The Rainbow Minute" which is heard on radio stations around the world.

Right now you can tune in every Monday, Wednesday and Friday just after 9am on WRIR (97.3 FM) in Richmond and also streamed on the web at www.wrir.org. Starting January 1, 2007 The Rainbow Minute will air every weekday just after 9am and at 4:30pm on Thursdays before the program "This Way Out." If you google "This Way Out" and go to their web page they list the 150 radio stations that carry their show by city.

The Rainbow Minute was born a week after Bush was re-elected in 2004. Instead of wringing their hands, Judd and Brian wanted to take a positive step against the needless hate toward the GLBT community. It is their hope to educate the community at large telling of the many contributions the GLBT community has made throughout the world.
Their new community radio station went on the air in January of 2005 - WRIR, 97.3fm, Richmond Independent Radio. Their tagline is, "Radio for the Rest of Us."

Judd researches the subjects for the show. His partner Brian edits the subject for style and length. They have a team of 35 people, both straight and gay, that have signed up to be the voices of "The Minutes."

Here is the text of one of the episodes on "The Rainbow Minute" - Poet Katherine Lee Bates

Katherine Lee Bates was born in Massachusetts in 1859. She graduated from Wellesley College in 1885, and stayed on to teach English. There, she met history professor Katherine Coman, and the two became bound as one.

Because female professors were poorly paid, both women also wrote books and articles. During a summer teaching job in Colorado, Bates traveled to the top of Pike's Peak. Inspired by the majestic view, she wrote a poem titled "America the Beautiful."
With the poem's popularity, it was set to music by Samuel Ward. This afforded the couple a steady income, and a custom-built house near Wellesley College.

In 1915, after Coman's death, Bates expressed her loss saying, "so much of me died with Katherine Coman that I'm not quite sure whether I'm alive or not." Bates herself died in 1929, having touched so many lives from sea to shining sea.

"The Rainbow Minute" is produced by Judd Proctor and Brian Burns and recorded in the
studios at WRIR in Richmond, Virginia and read by volunteers like me, Dustin Richardson.

A few of the many subjects of the “Minute” have been Harvey Milk, Gay Hero; Eleanor Roosevelt’s Love Letters; Gilbert Baker, The Creator of The Rainbow Flag the omnipresent symbol of gay pride; Jane Addams, Social Work Pioneer and Peace Activist; Martina Navratilova, Tennis Phenomenon; Gertrude Stein, Out Lesbian Across the Centuries; Leonardo da Vinci, Renaissance Man; Margaret Mead, Prominent American Anthropologist; Cesar Chavez, Latino Champion of Civil Rights; Alexander Hamilton, First Secretary of the Treasury and Leonard Matlovich, Decorated Soldier

Friends of Ostomates Worldwide

Fred Shulak

The Friends of Ostomates Worldwide-USA is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization providing ostomy supplies and educational materials to ostomates in need around the world.

FOW-USA collects new and surplus ostomy supplies from generous individuals and organizations in the United States and ships them to developing countries where ostomates do not have access to these vital supplies.

A team of volunteers gathers at the warehouse regularly to unpack and organize the supplies, and match the donations with needs and repack them for shipment overseas. A volunteer Shipping Coordinator communicates with organizations in the receiving country, such as hospitals, clinics, ostomy associations and other groups. From its founding in 1986 through June, 2006, FOW-USA has shipped 211,896 pounds of ostomy supplies to 55 countries worldwide. The value of these supplies is estimated at $10,587,235.

FOW-USA needs your donations of unused and unwanted ostomy supplies, financial memberships and contributions to continue its’ important work. The FOW-USA office/warehouse is located at 4304 Regency Drive, Glenview, IL 60025.

Their website is: www.fowusa.org. Email contact at info@fowusa.org

Please notify us if...

 you have moved;

 you have a new E-Mail address:

 you want to volunteer

Gay Quotes: "Do you want to protect your children from gay influence? Very well. Destroy the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, silence Messiah and Swan Lake, and burn Moby Dick and The Portrait of a Lady. Gay culture is all around you - and it belongs to everybody" - Bruce Bawer

Emergency Room Information For Ostomates
Via: Metro MD and Re-Route (Evansville, Indiana Ostomy Chapter)

Ostomates have special information which is very important to their well-being, The following list of information may save your life if you are taken to a hospital emergency room. What kind of surgery did you have and how long ago? What is your doctor's 0name, phone number, and the name of the hospitals he/she works out of? What kind of medication and what dosage are you taking? Are you allergic to any medications? Is your skin sensitive to any of the preparations usually used by ostomates? What is your stoma size? Where can your next-of-kin be located? What type of medical insurance do you have?

Take a little time and write a brief medical history about your surgery and other important medical information about yourself. Make a few copies and be sure to take a copy along with you when you travel or have to go to the hospital.

Keep a copy of this information and tell someone that this information is available and where it can be found. This information will come in handy and you (or a family member) won't have to try to remember dates and procedures under pressure.

Since emergency rooms are not advised as well about ostomies as we would like them to be, this information could be very helpful and may even save your life.

CONNECTIONS

GLOCONTACT, the newsletter for the gay/lesbian ostomate is published by the GLO Network an independent network.

The GLO Network email: Glocontact1@aol.com

The GLO Network website (NEW): www.glo-uoaa.org

GLO Network Board Members:

Fred Shulak, GLO Network Chairperson: thadbear@sbcglobal.net

Eric L Floyd, Treasurer and Previous Chairperson: efloyd8264@aol.com

Bill Etnyre: bnyre@msn.com

Armand LaFleur: pallafleur@aol.com

Mark Nowak: macnak@juno.com

Tom Beem, Webmaster: Soaringeagle2@cox.net

Frank Mazzo, Membership: frankmazzo@hughes.net

The above names are listed as a ready resource of the GLO Network to be used by individuals seeking information, chapters looking for a trained visitor or for anyone wishing to expand their knowledge of the Gay or Lesbian ostomate.

Additional Resources

United Ostomy Associations of America: www.uoaa.org

Gay and Lesbian Medical Association: www.glma.org

WebMD: www.webMD.org

Mautner Project for Lesbians with Cancer: www.mautnerproject.org

Centers for Disease Control: www.CDC.gov

United Ostomy Association (Canada): www.ostomycanada.ca

International Ostomy Association (IOA): www.ostomyinternational.org

Menweb: www.menweb.org

Gay Ostomates (United Kingdom): www.gayostomates.org NEW

The J-Pouch Group: www.j-pouch.org/

The Pull-Thru Network: www.pullthrough.org/

The Continent Diversion Network: www.uoa.org/networks_cdn.htm

Living With A Colostomy: www.ostomysupport.info/index.html

Crohn’s Disease Resource Center: www.healingwell.com/ibd/

Ostomy Chat Room: www.stuartonline.com/id10.html

Quality Life Association - for Continent Ileostomates: www.qla-ostomy.org/

WOCN Referral Database - Find an ET:

www.wocn.org/secure/Source/cDirectory/NurseRefSearch.cfm

Healthopedia Colostomy Information: www.healthopedia.com/colostomy

Healthopedia Ileostomy Information: www.healthopedia.com/ileostomy

Shaz’s Ostomy Pages*: st80.startlogic.com/~ostomate/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl

(*) This site contains useful information and various message boards, including, one for Gay and Lesbian ostomates. The Gay and Lesbian message board is monitored by Nathan from Las Vegas. This site originates from Australia so it has an international point of view.

Additional links are listed on our website.

Newsletters:

Jacksonville, FL: - www.ostomymcp.com/chapter/Newsletter/page1.html

Evansville, IN: - www.ostomy.evansville.net/menunews.htm

North Central Oklahoma, OK: - www.ostomyok.org/newsletter/

Vancover, British Columbia: - www.vcn.bc.ca/ostomyvr/highlife.htm

Winnipeg, Manitoba: - www.ostomy-winnipeg.ca/woain_ot.html

Cleveland Clinic - Pouch-O-Gram: cms.clevelandclinic.org/digestivedisease/body.cfm?id=79

Gay Quote: "Are there many things in this cool-hearted world so utterly exquisite as the pure love of one woman for another?" - Mary Maclane

GYGIG Ride

Now here is some really good news! Judy Pacitti, the "Get Your Guts In Gear" Ride Director, attended the UOAA Monthly Board of Directors meeting in Chicago to discuss UOAA’s involvement in the rides scheduled for 2007. As a beneficiary of the fund raising rides held in New York this past June and in the Seattle area last August, UOAA received the benefits of a "ton" of great publicity about "ostomy," the diseases that necessitate ostomy surgery, the support groups organized to assist ostomates, and the fact that there is "nothing an ostomate can’t do. In addition, Judy was most pleased to present the UOAA with a check for their portion of the funds that were raised: $ 47,167 … wow!

The UOAA is very proud of their riders who endured the heat, wind, driving thunderstorms, hills and associated aches, pains and missing equipment in their valiant 3-day ride of 210 miles. UOAA’s cycling all stars are: Bob Baker, Brenda Elsagher, Julielynn Gibbons, Charlie Grotevant, Emily Mallar, George Salamy, and our friend from Hollister, Mark Kennedy.

In 2007 there will be three, 3-day cycling challenges:

Ride #1 in Central Texas, LaGrange to Austin, March 23-25;

Ride #2 in the Hudson Valley, New York City to Saratoga Springs. June 8-10; and

Ride #3 in the Pacific Northwest, a scenic loop of Whidbey Island & the Skagit Valley, August 3-5.

For more details about how to enter as a rider or crew member, visit the GYGIG website at www.IBDride.org To show UOAA’s support of this project and to encourage more people to "take the ride", UOAA will pay the $ 85 registration fee for each rider or family member who rides or crews in any of these 3 events.

With proper training, all GYGIG routes can be completed by a novice rider, yet are challenging enough for seasoned cyclists. Your participation in GYGIG enables you to be part of an activity that will reach thousands of individual sponsors and make a significant impact on the community of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis patients, as well as people living with ostomies.

There is a desperate need for riders, volunteers and donations. Your participation will insure a very valuable and worthwhile experience.

Gay Quote: "You must know that I am, of all men who were ever born, the most inclined to love persons. Whenever I behold someone who possesses any talent or displays any dexterity of mind, who can do or say something more appropriately than the rest of the world, I am compelled to fall in love with him; and then I give myself up to him so entirely that I am no longer my own property, but wholly his." - Michaelangelo

Phoenix Renewals

The next issue of The Phoenix magazine will be mailed on December 15th and should reach subscribers within 5 to 10 days.

A good number of you have been receiving subscriptions of The Phoenix magazine for the past year and it is now time to renew your subscriptions.

The articles in the Phoenix magazine are very valuable and informative and I recommend that you renew now - if you have not already done so. The subscription rate is $25.00 for one year and half of that amount goes to UOAA to help fund the organization. Make your check payable to Phoenix and mail to P.O. Box 3605, Mission Viejo, CA 92690. You can also subscribe online at: www.uoaa.org/Phoenix.shtml. Payment can be made by Visa and Master Card.

The Colon Club

Ken Aukett, President of the UOAA was first exposed to members of the Colon Club in June, 2006 at the New York City start of the GYGIG ride. The Colon Club, like UOAA, is a beneficiary of the rides’ proceeds. The Colon Club was founded in 2003 by Molly McMaster, 28, a colon cancer survivor who was diagnosed on her 23rd birthday, and Hannah Vogler, 30, whose cousin and Molly’s friend, Amanda Sherwood Roberts, died of the disease at the age of 27. Its main goal is to educate as many people as possible, as early as possible, about colorectal cancer in interesting and out-of-the-box ways.

Their wishes are for people to have “colon talk” in their everyday lives, to know the risk factors and symptoms, and to get screened when it is appropriate for them. The Colon Club has two innovative projects. For educational purposes they have designed and scheduled trips for CoCo, the Colossol Colon. CoCo is a 40 foot long, 4 foot high model of the human colon. People who crawl through it will see Crohn’s Disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulosis, hemorrhoids and cancerous and non-cancerous polyps. Since 2002 CoCo has appeared at events in 74 cities, in 34 states and Canada. The other project, a fundraiser, is the production and sale of its “Colondar,” a calendar using “young” colon cancer survivors as models. UOAA newly elected Vice President Bob Baker appears in the 2007 Colondar as “Mr. December” and on the cover in the upper right hand corner. See the Colondar website for a sneak peek at this great fund raising product. Their website is: (http://www.colonclub.com/colondar.html). The UOAA has agreed to sponsor a month in the 2008 Colondar. In addition to nominating a colon cancer survivor model, information will appear in the Colondar about UOAA and its Affiliated Support Group members. There should be more news about this project at a later date.

Time To Renew

On October 1, 2005 the GLO Network began a policy of paid membership dues in order to sustain itself as a viable organization serving the Gay and Lesbian ostomates. It is hard to believe that a year has gone by since then.