We will not be meeting in May so that everyone will be able to celebrate Mother’s Day with their families.

See you in June!

Frederick News Post “Letters to the editor”  July 25, 2018

Results from a research study, performed by a doctoral student at the University of Oklahoma, showed that nearly half of patients with ostomies (an opening in the abdomen for the discharge of body waste) felt they received inadequate information and communication from their medical providers about their ostomies.  This deficiency included how to care for their ostomies, what products to use and how to resolved issues that arose once at home.  Additionally, many identified a lack of emotional support and left the hospital with unanswered questions.

The members of the Frederick Area Ostomy Support Group (FASG), formed in 2016, agree with the findings.  Some felt they left the hospital with insufficient information.

Living with an ostomy can be a challenge.  The FASG’s mission is to provide support for people in Western Maryland and West Virginai with ostomies and their families.

Our support group meets on the second Sunday of each month at Frederick Memorial Hospital.  If you need support or know someone who does, please check out our Facebook page, Ostomyfasg, or our website, frederickmdostomysupport.wordpress.com, for meeting information.

Jean Barrick, Frederick, President, Frederick Area Ostomy Support Group

Select “United Ostomy Associations – Frederick” and a percentage of your purchase will be donated to our support group.  Thank you

The Regional Conference was held in Sterling, VA and hosted by the Ostomy Support Group of Northern Virginia with Mary Washington Healthcare and the Ostomy Connections Support Group of Fredericksburg, VA.

Things got rolling at 3 p.m. on May 4 and didn’t stop until noon on May 6.  This was my second time at this conference and I always learn new things, and come home with new ideas to share with the Frederick Area Ostomy Support Group.  I renewed acquaintances from the past and met new ostomates, from Canada to South Carolina; even spoke with the Georgetown University Hospital Stoma Clinic WCON, Anne McCardle, who helped me with my ostomy and related medical issues – it was a pleasure to speak with her again; as I’m sure many of you have the same feeling for your favorite WCON!

The Keynote Speaker was Collin Jarvis, nationally ranked middle and long distance runner until his surgery in 2013; he still loves running and has developed a passion for helping others with ostomies.

If you read this, and haven’t attended an ostomy conference, you should think about the next one.  Learn lots and have lots of fun as well!

“You’re a survivor, it’s written all over your body.”