I can't quite picture how your belt is configured. It sounds different from any of the styles I'm familiar with.
Is the belt going over your bag rather than under it? I'd think anything that goes over the bag could potentially cause leaks by putting pressure on the effluent. This is why I swear by the belts with holes that let me pull my bag through.
My hernia is the size of half a grapefruit directly under the ileostomy. The belt goes over the stoma, with the plastic cup inside the belt taking the pressure off the stoma. The pouch hangs down below the belt.
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I just finished reading the Ostomy Tips Book under COLLECTIONS at the top of the page. I did not realize how much information was there. It covers a lot
of things that people have questions about. Hope this may answer some things for people. Best wishes and stay safe
Thank you! I've never seen one like this.
I think the design of the belt is a problem. That cup thing looks like it will press on your bag if you bend over, which is likely the reason you are having leaks and reduced wear time.
Personally, I like the style with holes that lets you pull the bag through so the stoma and the bag itself aren't impacted by the belt. You will need a belt wide enough to support the entire area where the hernia is.
You have seen the entire conversation about holes vs. no holes. I still can't wrap my head around why a hole will matter. In my humble opinion, as long as the hole is smaller than the rigid part of your wafer, I don't think it will cause any trouble. It might provide some additional convexity, but I need convexity, so that's fine with me. I can't say much about the shifting around issue. Mine does not shift at all; it seems like the wafers hold it in place. But I also have two stomas, so mine may be more secure than a single hole belt. Whether or not your hernia is reducible (flattens out when pressed) may make a big difference. Mine is roughly tennis ball-sized and reducible. The belt flattens it out and holds it flat when I stand or sit (it naturally reduces when I lie flat).
You will need to judge the pros and cons for yourself. If you decide to try a different belt, make sure it is wide enough to support your entire hernia.
With the hole, there is less support. However, as I have a high-output stoma that I need to have a hose and drainage bag attached to, I've had to go down the hole route. The only time I wear it is when I go to the gym, just to prevent issues, as I previously had a hernia where my bowel twisted (for a second time), but inside the hernia... 💜💫
I struggle with this, and similarly, with any tighter clothing, it pushes all the air out and makes the output gather around the stoma.
Side note on pancaking: with my stoma bag, the filter cover has stickers, but they are an odd shape. I reached out to the company several times, and a lady said she was going to get them and see, and then I've been ghosted...
Am I safe with a seatbelt while wearing a colostomy bag in 2XL size, to use in the bath or shower? I can't trust the stoma bag itself in the shower as they tend to come loose.
Stoma support nurses have a duty of care, but only lately, they are not there for us now, and they have left me to suffer with a colostomy that has prolapsed by 20 cm long. The nurses don't want to touch it.
I am also interested in this subject. I was not warned about hernia prevention. I was simply told not to lift anything over 15 lbs the first few weeks. Then, after I got my hernia, I was told not to exercise or do anything that uses stomach muscles. I was then told to wear a hernia belt, which I didn't because of discomfort.
Eight years later, it is quite large.
So frustrating!
Update to my earlier post.
I received my Nu Hope belt today, and the holes are too large. (For a custom belt, they ask for the model numbers of your appliances rather than specifying hole size, so this is entirely on them.)
With too large a hole, it is obvious how the belt could cause problems. So if going for a belt with a hole, be very sure that **the hole sits over the rigid portion of your wafer**.
I'll be calling Nu Hope tomorrow. Sigh
I waited forever for my custom-made belt to arrive. What a letdown. The hole wasn't big enough to drag the bag through; it was so uncomfortable to wear that I never used it more than 2 times. I got the ultra-tight big knickers with it, and I could barely breathe in them. It started to cause reflux. So they too were discarded. Now I just wear stretchy big pants to give a bit more support. I'm done with items that make things worse.
I had strictures removed, a proctectomy (now I have the Barbie/Ken butt), and a rebuilt stoma last May. I recovered over the summer but developed a hernia about the size of a melon last fall while splitting firewood. I was forced to hang up the axe, buy a splitter, and get a custom hernia belt with the hole. The lousy thing works, but it is very uncomfortable to wear for any length of time, especially when sitting; I have to take it off.
I wear it for working with firewood using a chainsaw and stacking, and for going on walks, but I am always relieved to take it off. I have not had issues with leakage, but it does shorten the lifetime of the flange. I use the two-piece system.
It works best when I can wear the belt on the loose side, just enough support to hold up the hernia, which is on the left side of the stoma. Sometimes I go for walks without it; the less I use it, the better my appetite. The lousy thing feels like it's squeezing and crushing my internals, but it is one more tool in the box to manage life with a colostomy, and I am looking forward to getting surgery done for the hernia. The one thing I fear is that I was told sometimes it is necessary to rebuild and relocate the stoma, and at my age, surgery is hard on the body and takes longer to heal. I have less than half of my colon left, and my worst fears are waking up to an ileostomy because there was not enough colon left for the surgeon to work with for hernia repair.
You may be able to loosen the belt when sitting while still keeping it on.
Also, I was told you should be able to fit a couple of fingers between you and the belt or it is too tight.
I don't know if this will help, but just in case...
The instructions for a custom 2-hole belt do not allow me to specify hole size. I had to provide part numbers of my appliances instead.
When I called, they argued with me about the hole sizes. I had to send them 1 each of my bags when I sent the belt back. They insist that they will decide the hole sizes, not me. It's quite frustrating.
Those of you with 1 ostomy can avoid this nonsense by just specifying hole size and ordering off-the-shelf. I think my problem is unique to those who need a custom belt.