Rick, I have a hernia; I probably have had it for 3 years now. My surgeon has offered to repair it, but she would use mesh, which brings its own baggage. And, there is no guarantee that I wouldn’t develop another one, and I really don’t want to get on the never ending surgery track. So, I have chosen to live with it for now. That might make me more at risk for a blockage, and therefore emergency repair, but I’m still in no rush. I wear a hernia belt when I am doing anything that might strain my ostomy, and I do plank abdominal exercises every day to strengthen the muscles in the area. I am hoping that there will be a new method of hernia repair developed in the near future.

Laurie

@tigerlily

Apparently the appearance of a parastomal hernia is quite common and I had it show up sometime after ileostomy surgery. The shape is pretty rigid, not floppy like a breast - I'm a male. I found that some appliances were uncomfortable because the adhesive base plates were somewhat stiff. I prefer two piece appliances. For example, the standard base plate of Coloplast SenSura Mio Click Ostomy Barriers have an oval shape and are somewhat stiff. The problem for me is they essentially need to be shaped to the shape of the hernia and want to to be more planar creating a pull that was somewhat uncomfortable. There's no problem with the adhesive not sticking during three or four days of wear, though. Hollister New Image CeraPlus Skin Barriers get around this problem as the material they're made from is very flexible as it's pretty thin and made with tiny square holes through the outer layer to which the adhesive is attached. The result is the base plate conforms to the shape of the hernia quite nicely and I don't have that pulling sensation as they try to become planer. The adhesive also lasts the three or four days of wear.

One solution I like best is a newer product from Coloplast - the SenSura Mio Convex Flip ostomy barrier 2-piece Click. These barriers come in four sizes - small, medium, large and extra large and have a somewhat dome shape to fit to the hernia. I measured my hernia around the base, and distances from the right, left, bottom and top to the center of the stoma and contacted Coloplast through their web site. Their service person contacted me by voice phone call and sent me two each of the medium and large Flips with the appropriate pouches. The large fits perfectly and generally I don't even know it's there for my usual wear time of three or four days! I also use eakin Cohesive SLIMS barrier seals. Obviously, Your Mileage May Vary.

Eric has a video review of the planar Colorplast SenSura Mio Cick Ostomy Barrier (planar) showing the somewhat unique features of its coupling. It would be nice if he would review the Flip version.

Coloplast has the usual types of pouches available - with filter transparent or opaque, without filter transparent or opaque. I use the transparent pouches without filter with the addition of an Osto-EZ Vent, reviewed in a video by Eric.

Good luck finding a solution to your difficulty with the parastomal hernia, hopefully without surgery.

Hi Dickie. Thanks for your reply. I actually am not having problems with my hernia at this point. I do use the Coloplast Mio Sensura system, and like it, although I use the stickie system, not the click system. I had a conversation with my surgeon about a week ago - she said she could repair the hernia with just sutures, but the repair wouldn’t be as strong as mesh. I’m not in a hurry to repair it, so we’ll see what develops. The problem with a repair is there is no guarantee that I wouldn’t develop another one. 

Laurie

I got mine only 2 months post stoma formation. I had a large, 400lb goat doe with uterine cancer the same time I had bowel cancer. I got the hernia digging her grave by hand here on my farm. Yes, a large, human sized, 6 feet long and deep and 3 feet wide. Took me 6 solid hours, but I had to do it as part of my grieving process. My wife was not happy with me!

The hernia thankfully does not cause me pain or problem, and it reduces when I'm laying down. My surgeon retired last year so I'd have to find a new one. Right now, I'm in a wait and see, keeping close eye on my stoma for loss of blood flow and hoping not to go back under the knife!

Of those who have had hernia repair, what has been the recurrence rate? I’m having mine repaired within the next couple of months. Would prefer not to have a standing surgery date every other year but I can’t stand how far out it makes my stoma stick out. 

I’m 3 ½ months out from a colostomy. My surgeon told me not to pick up anything over 10# but never mentioned the possibility of getting a hernia. I think it would have been helpful if they had told me to use a belt (Stealth Belt) or wrap. I have an appointment with the surgeon because I think that I have a hernia. Although I read that a parastomal hernia is very common with ostomies, why don’t you get some counseling or physical therapy to help avoid one. 

@billie Yes, I think that patient education about hernias would be extremely helpful, since it would avoid future complications, surgeries, and issues. This should be something that a stoma nurse should make patients aware of, and if a support product is appropriate, they should help to fit and acquire one for their patient. 

It should be noted that products like the stealthbelt or wraps are *not* going to give enough abdominal support to prevent or support a hernia. Hernia belts usually have a stiffer material that presses against the abdomen. 

@veganostomy 

I was worried that the Stealthbelt might not cover enough area to support a hernia. This week I have been wearing the Brava Support belt. It really does feel like my stomach is supported but it is hot and sweaty so not as comfortable to wear all day. BTW, the Brava Support belt can have a hole cut in it for the wafer/pouch. I have not done that yet. My stoma is (knock on wood) pretty regular about doing output first thing in the morning and sometimes again about 7-9 pm. So I feel okay about wearing it during the day but I need to check in with my stoma nurse to be sure I’m not putting too much pressure on the convex wafer and stoma. 

Posted by: @billie

This week I have been wearing the Brava Support belt. It really does feel like my stomach is supported but it is hot and sweaty so not as comfortable to wear all day.

That belt looks great and should offer the support you need. Yes - some belts can be hot and sweaty. I would have a look at some of the stuff that Nu-Hope offers, since you can get them in a "cool comfort" material that's more breathable and should help with that. 

Posted by: @billie

but I need to check in with my stoma nurse to be sure I’m not putting too much pressure on the convex wafer and stoma. 

Yes! Please check with your nurse as the added pressure can be problematic for some. If I try to use a hernia belt, my stoma tends to prolapse, which isn't a great experience.😳

It would be interesting to know even if a doctor can predict a possible colostomy prolapse?

A quick search at UOAA showed 4 posts about colostomy prolapse. Nobody really comnented suggesting its a rare occurrence.

You should see evidence of too much pressure if it existing? Redness,  sore areas. 

As far as pressure on stoma, i often wear a wetsuit for several hours throughout  summer.  If i have too much output, it will push under flange.  But i too have mostly early morning and some evening output.

Posted by: @dogtalkerer

It would be interesting to know even if a doctor can predict a possible colostomy prolapse?

I'm sure they can on a risk-factor scale. I get prolapses when I exert a lot of pressure on my abdomen (i.e. improperly lifting something heavy), and it's amplified when I wear a hernia belt. I wouldn't even want to experiment with a convex wafer, since they are designed to push the stoma out. 

Because prolapses do tend to be non-emergencies, and often times simply go back on their own, I wouldn't think that a ton of people are talking about them. I have a friend who had quite a problematic prolapse for a while - it was a nightmare for him, and the guy was in great shape.

Posted by: @dogtalkerer

You should see evidence of too much pressure if it existing? Redness,  sore areas. 

For sure. The bigger problem happens when bruising or pressure sores develop, and by then, it's already a complication that will need attention.

Not as much of a concern with a hernia belt on its own, but certainly more of a problem when you add a convex product to the mix. 

@veganostomy Finally received my Stealthbelt and wearing it today. I understand that it will not support a hernia in the full sense but I just came in from a 2 mile fast walk and it was definitely better than walking without any support. I also like that it holds the edges of the bag to the body and I’m not talking about the wafer. It is stuck to the body but the hernia causes the bag to be away from the body. Not sure how it will all work with a 2 piece appliance, closed end bag with a liner. But I seldom have to empty during the day. 

Posted by: @billie

it was definitely better than walking without any support.

Yes, you'll notice a huge difference in comfort when your bag is supported like that.

Glad you like it 👌

Posted by: @rick

Anyone have.had one?  Living with it or surgery?  How is the hernia repair?

thanx

Got mine 3 months after I got my stoma. I had no counseling about hernia prevention, and got my hernia digging a standard sized grave, 6 foot deep and long and 3 feet wide for my 400lb   Saanen goat doe who had cancer the same time I did.

I've tried various belts and support garments the last 7 years without finding anything comfortable enough to wear long term.

I had my colostomy surgery on March 31, 2021 and my hernia appeared in October.  I finally went to the doctor about it in January because I had output that had escaped past the ring regularly and my skin was suffering.  This was after I changed to the Coloplast barriers for "outward curvatures" (lol!)

Surgery was scheduled and delayed because of COVID and I am now planning on repair surgery on April 13th.  Some questions for those of you who've had the Sugarbaker repair: Will I still have to wear the special hernia barriers? How flat did the hernia get? I have a flush stoma now; is it possible to ask the doctor for one that sticks out just a little?

I'm in the opposite camp. I started off having a prolapse (with volvulus & Intussusception) all at once requiring emergency surgery to save my life. Now 2 years on I've developed a hernia, it's currently not too big though so it's being treated conservatively with a belt.

According to the research I did (so don't take this as 100%), hernia occurs in around 30% of all stoma patients and if you do have surgery the reoccurrence rate is about 50%. So even if you have the thing repaired it's a coin toss as to whether it comes back.

I have a connective tissue disease compounding issues so I'm probably more at risk of reoccurrence. But I also have had a prolapse and have a pretty dodgy intestine so the increased risk of prolapse with a hernia is troubling too. We're damned if we do, damned if we don't. haha