Identifying a Hernia with an Ostomy

How do I know if I have a hernia with my ostomy?

I didn't know until my wife pointed it out. I got a huge bulge around my stoma. I went to the surgeon, and he looked at it and said, "Yes, it's an ostomy hernia." I told him I did no exertion or any heavy lifting to get it. He said, "It happens at times doing absolutely nothing. Remember, I gutted you like a fish on the table, so it's understandable. We'll fix it nice and neat when we do your reversal."

I took away from that conversation that hernias happen frequently due to the surgery that was performed. Muscles, etc., get moved around. Ask your doctor. He will be glad to check it out. I did.

Your doctor or stoma nurse will know. If you feel you may have one, set an appointment. They can see them on cat scans too.

They feel like they are pulling your abdomen forward and causing heaviness. A bulge in the abdomen behind the stoma sometimes causes problems with the bags staying on.