Hernia Surgery Resulted in Flat Stoma: Can It Be Revised?

Coming out of hernia surgery 3 or so years ago, my stoma went flat. Does anyone know if they can revise this to fix the stoma or am I stuck with it? 

I haven't had a hernia, but my stoma went flat on one side and under the skin. It was revised a month ago.

That's exactly how mine is. It goes flat to one side, but left out of my convex bag for 15 or more minutes, it will go totally flat. In fact, when the stoma nurse pulls off the bag, she's like, "Oh, see, it's sticking out," and I tell them, "Just wait, you will see," and sure enough, in a few minutes or so, they are surprised seeing it totally flush.

How do you like your revision? Is it working out well for you?

 

That's what mine would do - it was a real pain and made me more prone to leaks.

Yes! The revision was an easy surgery and now the stoma is normal and no leaks (knock on wood)!

Are you using convex barriers or wafers? That did help me some.

I'm glad things are better for you. It makes things so much easier. Yes, I'm in a hard convex Active Life by Convatec with a Hollister Cera ring. It helps, but I don't care for this adhesive. It's a bit too much. I miss my flat Active Life. This sideways/flat stoma has turned my life totally upside down. I have to do things complicated and expensive because they don't cover everything.

 

I have this box with 9 of the 10 left. I tried it before the revision. If you can use them, I'd be happy to mail them to you. Just send me the mailing info.

Hi Hi,

They can revise anything, so the real question is what's involved in the revision. Normally, if you have no adhesions, they can simply detach the end of your stoma and pull it out a bit to make it stick out properly... and then sew it back on itself, and you're good to go. But if it doesn't pull out freely, they'll probably need to open you up and see what's going on. So they try the simple version first, and if that doesn't work, they go in. And that means you could be out of the hospital in a day or two... or 6-7. It just depends on what's happening in there.

;O)

Any issues with your hernia surgery?

Thank you very much for the offer, but I'm allergic to many adhesives. My size is 7/8, which is the size just under one inch. I'm not leaking; I'm just frustrated with the way I now have to do things. Changing the bag is a big production now when it used to be so easy.

No issues at all with the surgery itself.

He removed a bunch of adhesions while doing the hernia mesh surgery, he said. It was an open surgery, and he fixed three hernias: two parastomal and one umbilical. I'd imagine he would have to go in for open surgery again. I'm not too sure what this would all involve due to the mesh in there. I was in a study for the mesh surgery. They were trying two different ways on parastomal hernias to see which way worked out better. I think I had the Sugarbaker method.

I came back after posting this to you to say, I just set an appointment with the original surgeon to see if he can do anything.

 

 

 

How long was the recovery approximately?

It was not really bad or that long. I was supposed to be off work for 8 weeks, I think, but he allowed me to go back in 3 weeks because my job was all light-duty work anyhow. I was surprised at how smooth that recovery went. I would say that if anyone is thinking of this surgery, make it very, very clear that you do not want to come out with a flat stoma.

Your hernia surgery was successful? Hernia did not reappear at all? I consulted with my surgeon earlier this week about stoma revision and hernia repair. I've put it off for now, but might try to get it done this summer... if I don't chicken out.

It was very successful, but stupid me, lifting a heavy laundry basket at a client's, it did come back a wee bit but hardly noticeable. Stomach still flat. After surgery, I felt like I had a tummy tuck but did not. That horrible heavy feeling in the front is gone.

The key is to not lift over 25 pounds like they tell you. Don't lift awkward objects like a full heavy laundry basket, at least not without help. Don't try putting 50 million grocery bags on your arms to carry in groceries just to get it done faster. Just have to make more trips back and forth. Don't be moving furniture at all. Things like that. Just have to slow down a bit and get help or ask others when needed.

I think this is why so many get another hernia after hernia surgery. They think, oh, I'm fixed so now I can be superman/superwoman lol! I believe that if we were told all of this after first getting our stomas, we would not wind up with a hernia in the first place.

I had one of the best surgeons, and because it was a study, I believe they did an extra good job.

Don't be afraid of it, but consider a possible flat stoma. This is my one and only complaint. It's a big complaint though.

I'm a chicken about hernia surgery. I don't want my stoma moved, and I have severe adhesions.

My stoma sticks out from 1 to 2 1/2 inches. My little beast continuously changes shape all the time. At first, I was upset. Then I discovered it's best to stick out too much than too little.

So, I have a fairly large bump under my shirt. No wafer/bag troubles due to the hernia. Hernia is stable.

Do I risk surgery just to look aesthetically better? If I was 45... maybe. At 66 years old... hmmmmm no.

Some people have a "beauty mark." I have a lively lump.