Hi all, Any of us could get a hernia at any time, so it does pay to be careful. I couldn,t wait to get back to work but I am a self employed builder and while ill my Dad had been keeping the show on the road. All sorts went through my head was I going to have to give it up learn a new skill. but folks it like any problem work round it. It don,t matter we are retired or what job we do lifting and bending it part of life, its how we do it. My rule is if its heavy leave it and get help. can what ever is to be moved can it be done in smaller bits. yes wearing a support is important. know your limits and if you feel tired or sore its your body telling you to take a break. A house don,t arrive in one big piece! (not unless its a prefab, just in case any one points that out lol) it lots of little bits. So when taking in the shopping don,t try to take every thing in on one go make trips. Also when doing any lifing best done with an empty pouch. So my point is be careful and plan ahead

Thank you John, I heard of "the Hernia" problems more here, than in real life of the regular people.. Not that I am not a regular person-My Dr. always checked if I had one just in case-didn't know that we SO prone to this.  As I read of all if you makes me kinda scared. So, I shall answer my own question which is: I / We are in the TOP area of getting a hernia. (I am so darn smart-maybe just scared like it wont happen to me-but look at me)  Personally I hate binding of belts and pouch - all that goes with this out come-Sure don't want to have to wear another type of belt on top of what I have-Never mind another surgery... I wish anyone with a hernia my very best-as I see the worry's of different types of surgeries, and finding a proper system for this afterewards.  Looks like another kind of fight of getting yourselves back on track again.. Hope you all find the comfort that you need!!!! 

Thanks for the Info. John........

I have been very fortunate since my stoma never to have had one, it did however give myself one many years before, and it was through me thinking I was superman! totally my own fault. yes as ostomates we are of greater risk

John, Are u back to building houses? I find that is a born gift-to make things fit-- Your blessed as u can do almost anything and understand this type of field. My husband is or was (retired) Nuclear power Engineer-big brains-but???? That "Honey-To-Do-List" turns into a waiting list.  He just cant figure out the simplest things.. So, I do it... You should have seen him the night before Christmas TRYING to put together toy houses/garages etc. for our sons!! years ago--and I still  remember those days--they are impacted within my mind.... (most were returned to the store and the boys didn't get those gifts from Santa) MY FAULT!!   :-(  Not his thing..  But I always Daddy boy-I mixed cement,built decks, sawed lumber, carry 14'X12' wood planks high above the ground, on my shoulders, put up T.V. atteans..(sp) on the roof, I was his crew for sailing witch is hard work, -and I didn't like any of it!!!!!!!!! and I am not born with your gift!!! He was a BIG man, 6'7" with bely-so I had to do a lot... He "STUPID-VISED" me a lot loudly.......

back to it many years ago, everyone has a different skill, if we didn,t the world wouldn,t go round

Tony, doesn't that belt bind your pouch and make the out put harder to get to the bottom of your pouching? do u get leaks? * For anything- the models wearing such wears, are all so thin.. and when I/we order something, cant get the proper fit, their small is their x-large..... huh? agvergating (sp)....huh?  this = clothes etc.  I can imanage what you all go through for this type of fittings for comfort and support. Good luck!!!!!!! 

Yes, John, Every job is a SERVICE to others.  From the street sweeper to the president-king- these people are no different than each other. I believe this in full respect-no one is better than the other.. We all need each other!!!!!! I hate it when people that look down their noses at others, thinking that they are better than the other.. In my mind THEY are not dealing with a full deck of cards.. :-)......

Hey, Superman-how is that hernia doing after becoming an ostomate? 

your funny---

John, (superman) how do u know if you are getting one of have one? Any tell-tale signs?

Hi Marcie. I didn’t know anything about hernias either and wasn’t told. I now have a small one that I got pretty quickly after original surgery. Fortunately it has stayed small and usually stays inside but at times pops out cough sneezing etc. I wish someone would have warned me. I posted a while ago about having trouble with the hernia belt fitting. The nurses measured but have not found one to fit. Has anyone experienced this?  It think it is a female issue because I have a small waist and it slides up from my hips and ends up lifting the pouch and eventually would cover my stoma. I’d appreciate any ideas or advice. Thanks!

Posted by: Marcie

Tony, doesn't that belt bind your pouch and make the out put harder to get to the bottom of your pouching? do u get leaks? * For anything- the models wearing such wears, are all so thin.. and when I/we order something, cant get the proper fit, their small is their x-large..... huh? agvergating (sp)....huh?  this = clothes etc.  I can imanage what you all go through for this type of fittings for comfort and support. Good luck!!!!!!! 

Hi Marcie , it can cause problems if its too tight , the belt my stoma nurse recommended for me caused a big blowout (lucky for me I was close to home) 

If I find thats its causing problems I will use one of these

https://comfizz.com/product/comfishield-set-mens/

which gives the bag a little breathing room 

as for sizing I think they will make custom sizes if needed , I got the large one and its just right for me , 

I have a little(in my mind) extra weight as I was severely underweight after leaving hospital , about 130lbs  , but I might have overcompensated in the last 12 months , im now 190 lbs 

Hi Jattzl, No, Dr. really never mentioned how BAD this can be for us Ostomates.. They think that we know everything and we depend on them. A slight mention along with other things together, and they are out the door leaving  me some what confused. = depressions.. :<(

This is why the blog is so important to me and others to learn!!  I do NOT believe in stupid questions, all u get are stupid results.. I see many suffering with these hernias.. I would be rather blind sided if I got one- So I cant say I understand what they are going through, because I an not in that boat-but they have my prayers!!!!  

Well Tony, you have fighting weight-which I don't have anymore.. And with a hernia, u cant excerize like we did when we were younger/before becoming an Ostomate. 

I hope you get the right belt for your use. And be comfortable with it and not worry about "more" blow out issues than the norm of the rest of us on the regular basis. the basic is bad enough-never mind a belt that confusses u more and have to worry/get used to. As I can read, it is(belt) necessary. GOOD LUCK TONY!!               Is a  hernia painful? 

 Tony Thank You . After you posted that about Comfizz I looked at the site and that's the one I was looking at too . Do you like it ? Looks like what  I would like  . 

Marcie good for you that you do all those different things . I know girls who don't do that stuff and they don't even have issues like we do . 

John you are right lift a little at a time not all st once . Interesting that you build houses . I know there can be a lot of lifting bending twisting tight spots to work in . I too worked in construction for 35 years helping my brother who was a general contractor for awhile building cabins . But I am a retired electrician now . No more work for me except around the house . I feel like I should go back to work so I can get some rest ! Lol . But when they told me I wouldn't be able to lift more than 25 lbs. I was surprised I thought how can I do many of the things that I'm used to doing  . So far proved them wrong but like you say John don't over do it . I learned a long time ago to use my arms not my back and that's still what I try to do . And you are right not on a full pouch or full belly ! Haha

Hi Robert.. Gonna join my poem? 

I am learning so much about taking care of myself with lifting etc.   Got to follow you and Johns and Tony's advise..  Feeling o.k.?

My herria (pre stoma) was like a sharp sting when it happened, didn,t realise what I had done, then after a few days it was like a burning feeling and then a bulge! It would go back in at night when resting but soon reappear in the morning. The Doctor who seen me said it so easy done and most of the people he seen with one worked in an office and not on a building site! Seems a common way to do it is stepping up on a chair to reach some thing high. Putting a foot on the chair and hauling the rest of yourself to a standing position puts major pressure on the groin and tummy. So any one has to be careful. its doing things in a right way, just like warming up before working out. Robert my bro in law is a Spark like you. he says they are the only guys on a building site with any BRAINS lol

Posted by: Robert

 Tony Thank You . After you posted that about Comfizz I looked at the site and that's the one I was looking at too . Do you like it ? Looks like what  I would like  . 

Marcie good for you that you do all those different things . I know girls who don't do that stuff and they don't even have issues like we do . 

John you are right lift a little at a time not all st once . Interesting that you build houses . I know there can be a lot of lifting bending twisting tight spots to work in . I too worked in construction for 35 years helping my brother who was a general contractor for awhile building cabins . But I am a retired electrician now . No more work for me except around the house . I feel like I should go back to work so I can get some rest ! Lol . But when they told me I wouldn't be able to lift more than 25 lbs. I was surprised I thought how can I do many of the things that I'm used to doing  . So far proved them wrong but like you say John don't over do it . I learned a long time ago to use my arms not my back and that's still what I try to do . And you are right not on a full pouch or full belly ! Haha

Hey Robert regarding the comfizz I have only had it for two days and its good so far , I have a few small niggles , such as when you are closing it you have to make sure that you line up the velcro exactly or the edge of the velcro will rub against your skin and they have a label which could cause irritation on the skin side of the belt , but labels on clothes in general drive me nuts (I cut them all off .

I dont remember getting the hernia , its a small one and goes down as soon as I lie down, I dont have pain just a little discomfort so far , I think I might have got it coughing or sneezing but after my surgery one of the stitches dissolved earlier than the others and the stoma wen from round to an oval shape so that might have had something to do with it .

These dissolving stitches and gluing methods seem to cause trouble, know 3 folk who have been for various types of surgery this year and they all have had either an infection or the wound weeping or slightly opening. stiches or staples may not be as neat but they really worked.

I wrote a reply to the last post but it seems to has vanished,

John I agree that normal stitches and staples are probably better ,

I was lucky and the keyhole wounds healed without infection ,

But I did get c diff in the ward along with 4 others  , the hygiene in the ward was very poor (St James’s in Dublin) 

I had my surgery done in Dublin and while the surgeon was great I found the hospital overcrowded, dirty and very impersonell 

If I have to have more surgery I hope that this time I can get it in my local hospital the Mercy.

2 of our hospitals here in N.I are the same, you go in with one illness and come out with another, my sis in law had a baby in one of them in June and had a caesarean she a lot had wound trouble and then got C diff. We have seen 3 of our local hospitals closed or down graded due to government cuts. One of them still has an A AND E (E.R) BUT its 9-5pm.