Hernia Belt Irritation and Slippage Issues

Replies
7
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189
gary4760789
Aug 05, 2024 8:37 pm

Hi all,

I have recently been given a hernia support belt which has given me great confidence. However, I have noticed that it presses on my stoma and irritates the area around it.

I have loosened the Velcro and given plenty of space around the area, but it still feels uncomfortable.

I have an issue with the belt moving down when walking. I have tried wearing two T-shirts to try and prevent movement of the belt and support it.

I love the way it supports but don't like the irritation.

Anyone have a similar experience and how do you deal with it?

Replies are greatly appreciated.

Jenpen1
Aug 05, 2024 9:11 pm

Hi there, I was fortunate to purchase a custom-made hernia belt out of Montreal, Canada. It is made specifically for your measurements and has a hole in it to accommodate your ostomy! I can send it if it was approximately 300.00 Canadian dollars.

Penny

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Beachboy
Aug 06, 2024 12:10 am

I have a colostomy, for about 18 months. I had the same problem when I began wearing hernia support belts. The skin around my stoma would be irritated from being pushed down. I have a medium parastomal hernia.

I tried different belts, a looser belt fit. Finally settled on this:

I cut the hole in the wafer bigger than normal. I form a moldable barrier ring around the stoma, where the skin and stoma meet. Then I put on the wafer. This takes the compressive belt load away from the stoma/skin interface, and puts it on skin about 1/8 (.125) of an inch away from the stoma.

This works well for me. No irritation, even when I wear a belt all day, and get active: riding my bike or walking long distances.

After a week, when I take the used wafer off, my stoma base looks funny, like the side of a volcano. After several minutes, it flattens out. But my skin looks great.

I use 2-inch diameter, 1/16-inch thick Brava moldable rings and Nu-Hope 3 and 4-inch wide hernia support belts.


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Wafer with a larger than needed hole. And a barrier ring ready to be molded around the stoma base.

Jenpen1
Aug 06, 2024 12:21 am
Reply to Beachboy

That doesn't seem like a fix. Do you have access to an ostomy nurse? I'd recommend you seek it out through your urologist!

Beachboy
Aug 06, 2024 12:49 am
Reply to Jenpen1

Actually, it does work for me. Increasing the wafer hole diameter takes the pressure away from the stoma/skin area and puts it farther away on the skin. I can get away with it because I have a colostomy with thicker, well-formed output. So, I don't get any leaks around the stoma.

In the beginning, belt pressure was exerted right down on the base of my stoma because I cut the hole with minimal clearance.

Cutting the hole so I had generous clearance worked well. And my skin is happy.

Not for everyone... but it works for me. My Urologist deals with my prostate cancer. 😉

 

Living with Your Ostomy | Hollister

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gary4760789
Aug 06, 2024 6:06 am
Reply to Beachboy

Many thanks

Axl
Aug 06, 2024 9:11 am
Reply to gary4760789

Ebay offers many cheap options.

 

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gary4760789
Aug 09, 2024 6:44 pm
Reply to Beachboy

Thanks for your help. I have tried cutting the wafer hole wider, which did help and ease the irritation.

I will try to experiment with this option because I think you may be onto something.

Many thanks and sending you lots of thanks and good wishes.