Hernia

Hi everyone!  I read somewhere that hernias are very common for ostomates. I'm currently waiting to see the doc (gotta wait on that dang referral) but i have a bulge right above my stoma.  First time the doc saw it (it was about 2 months ago) he said it was not a hernia and i was not worried about it and now i sent pics and he said it might be a hernia. the bulge has gotten bigger and my stoma grew too... I used to cut my bag at the 1 inch mark now i'm at 1 and 3/8. I'm really worried and freaking out so i thought i would take to the site because all of you are really nice and have helped me thru so much.  Also, when i lay down it goes away and some days it pops out more than others. I'm a worrier and have super bad anxiety which i am aware of and really try to control it but it's getting the best of me right now.  In the past i tried many, so many, belts to try to prevent a hernia but none fit me well, i have a short torso and since surgery lost 52 lbs so i'm on the thinner side now.  I have a colostomy and am 5 months post op.  Any advice until i can see the doc?? i walk 2-3 miles a day and have been for some time and sometimes with output, i do have pain but only sometimes, i guess when it's thicker.  ugh, i'm so worried now... 

MoeMoe, there are many people  on here that have dealt with  the dreaded hernia. Try not to stress too much about it. You have a Dr.  appointment   ,so wait and see what your options are. I am sure others will jump on and give you their experiences. I just want to acknowledge  you.

Howdy MoeMoe,

I have a permanent colostomy.

About 4 months post op I noticed my stoma got larger and was noticably pointing toward my navel.  Also had a medium sized mound under the stoma.  Visited my surgeon.  Had a CT scan.  Yep... Peristomal hernia. 

A bit of my small intestine is pushing up at the side of my oblong stoma.  Which shows up as a large bump at my stomas base and causes the stoma tilt.  Looks like hell, but comes and goes.  Doctor said not really a problem.... but if I get pain or stoma changes color to grey, go to emergency room ASAP.

My stoma can swell up huge, then deflate to a smaller size.  It can stick way out, then recede.  Depends on what I eat, how active I am.  I sometimes wear a Nu-Hope 3 inch wide support belt which flattens out my hernia.  Comfortable and perfect width for a tiny guy like me.

Now at 1 year post op, my stoma is bigger diameter.  I cut the maximum hole size in  my wafer/flange.  I use a moldable barrier ring I place against my stoma at the base.  The ring is a real time saver and comfortable.  With the ring, I don't have to cut the wafer hole exactly to fit my stoma.  I cut the wafer hole bigger and the ring seals against the stoma.

What your experiencing is normal.  There is no evidence I've found, wearing a support belt will prevent a hernia.  Your Ostomy itself is a controlled hernia.  

If you experience unusual pain, output blockage, or stoma color change... go to emergency room at a hospital.  Do not go to an Urgent care facility.  I get slight, brief pain when passing thicker stool.  Only happens once in a while.

Peristomal hernia repair is usually not done unless it is causing major problems, or the hernia is really huge.  Surgical success rates are low.  Reoccurrance happens alot.  Moving the stoma to the other side of your stomach usually only transfers the problem.  Even a successful repair can cause other trouble.  Like uneven skin surface texture causing wafer leaks.  

At first... I was pissed.  I hated the hernia, and my large, protruding stoma.  But really... it's just cosmetic.  There are other Ostomymates who deal with real tough, ongoing problems.  Leaks, skin damage, pain, allergies, cancer, arthritis, more surgery, digestive diseases, and partners who turn tail and run away.

Like Popeye said: "I yam, what I yam.

 

Hey MoeMoe

 

I had my illeostomy last June and initially had a lot of issues with swelling and complete blockages. My stoma side of my abdomen sticks out about 3-4 inches farther than the other side and they initially told me it was just the swelling and it would go down and be at the level of the other side. Unfortunately 6 mos later, while everything else has calmed down, I still have a massive lump on the stoma side. It is a large paristomal hernia and is extremely unsightly to me. I cannot hide my appliance under clothing at all as the hernia actually sticks out farther than my bust. Add to that my stoma itself protrudes even farther and will get bigger or smaller over the day. I do not have pain and have not had a blockage since things settled down post op.

I have seen a specialist and they will do the repair but....thats another major surgery and its only been 6 months since the last one. They use mesh to repair it but eventually most people will herniate again eventually as a stoma is a hernia. It has gotten larger since the original surgery and I struggle with how awful it looks sticking out through my clothing like a 3rd boob but, I am going to wait on getting it repaired until it causes an actual problem or until its been much longer since the last surgery. Specialist says its not an issue as long as its not causing pain or blockages, its just part of having an ostomy unfortunately. Don't stress about it, your specialist will probably tell you the same thing.

 

 

Very well explained.  

And definitely not a complication I ever thought about

Take care

Technically a stoma is a hernia so everyone on here has a hernia. Now with the stress relived🤣🤣🤣. I have had an ileostomy for 25 years, I’m a plumber, I have 7 kids, 11 grandkids. I have had a hernia for 20 years ( not a good thing to brag about ) have had 4 hernia repair surgeries. Finally learned to take at least 8 weeks of gentle healing and PT after surgery always wear an 8” Nu Hope hernia belt with a central hole, study the mechanics of lifting. I have finally made it 3 years without a hernia PTL.  And theirs still no guarantee. But I believe the belt is the key and it helps with how often I have to change my pouch. My original surgeon told me I should be on a 10 pound weight lifting restriction for the rest of my life. Although not practical it’s probably sound advice. 
good luck I will be praying for you 

cplumber 

Sounds like one to me. 

Thank you everyone for sharing! I appreciate all of you, so much! Getting this colostomy has got to be one of the hardest thing I’ve had to go thru emotionally as an adult. Just when I think I’m getting used to all of this, something new happens and sends me into a spiral LOL Hopefully the referral will go thru soon and I can get checked out. I thank all of you for being so quick to respond and candid in sharing your experiences. I appreciate you! Gonna drink some tea and try to relax my brain 🙂 

So glad you benefited from the responses you have received.  I too am a worrier and this site and all the folks on here have helped me “deal with it” for the last couple of years…I have an ileostomy and a paristomal hernia - kinda looks like a 3rd boob… sometimes it isn’t as large as other times and I figure it’s kinda like the “old days before my ostomy life”. Sometimes bloating from gas or whatever tends to expand the belly - think it may be the same with a hernia.  Fortunately I have no pain from it so I don’t stress over it - occasionally I will wear a belt but it is not comfortable after a while.  My best bet is to wear skinny pants or jeans - they hold everything in place comfortably.  Best wishes - jb

Yes sounds like a hernia...mine started with a small bulge, now I look pregnant even though I lost a bunch of weight through my ordeal!  I got my hernia from a terrible cough that wouldn't let up.  I am also a worrier and I felt really scared about getting a strangled bowel from it.  My surgeon assured me that would be rare (disclaimer, this is not medical advice so obviously if you have pain with your hernia see your doc!), so I felt better about it and it really hasn't caused me any issues except it's unsightly to me. Sometimes I wear my custom hernia belt if I have a cough or know I will be active that day.  Mine will get repaired during my reversal in January, but my surgeon said he won't use mesh.  He said it might return later, but if I walk every day and keep the weight off, there is less of a chance of it returning.  Try not to worry, you will be ok!  Best wishes!

I deff feel much better today and all the responses make me feel much better about my situation. Thank you!! 

I am glad you are feeling better!  Oh and yes, mine also fully retracts when I am laying down.  When I'm up, sometimes it's bigger than other times -depends on what I've eaten, etc.  But the wound nurse said it retracting when you lay down is normal.  And my stoma has definitely gotten bigger as the hernia is pushing it out more and more.  Take care and happy holidays!

I wonder if the stoma will stop getting bigger…. Mine used to be small like a button now it’s like a 1/2 dollar. So you can get a hernia even after you get a reversal??? Hhhmmm so even with reversal you aren’t really “clear” from the likelihood of a hernia. Wow, so many questions I have for my doc now.