Understanding Peristomal Hernias After Surgery

Good evening everyone.  I am curious as to what exactly a peristomal hernia is.  I look on the internet and seems like everything under the sun is shown.

The reason I ask is my surgery was 4 months ago and the area above my stoma is starting to bulge out, basically the radius of my wafer, underneath the wafer it is ok.  I noticed after my surgery it was hard above my stoma and it is still hard, unless i lay on my back.  

I talked to my family doctor and he told me a peristomal hernia protrudes only close to the stoma.  He figures just weak muscles above the stoma.

I have been extremely careful and started wearing a hernia belt, just in case.  Or do I just need to start working on my core muscles?  Thanks

Hey there,

Has your stoma changed colors in any way, such as a super pale whitish pink or super dark? I would go back to your surgeon to have it looked at and checked out to find out what it is, and not a PCP. They know the concept of stomas, but they don't know the in-depth details. I know I have a hernia, and trust me, mine isn't textbook by any means. And have they done a CT to check at least?

No color change and no ct scan

Hi there, I have exactly the same question! I have a bulge above my stoma also, and am only just over 2 months since my surgery. I'll be seeing my stoma nurse in the next few weeks, so I'll let you know what she says!

That's good. No color changes. They should do a CT though to find out what it is.

Getting Support in the Ostomy Community with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister

I had a kidney transplant two years ago and have a urostomy. After surgery had a peristomal hernia and now wear a hernia belt during the day per the ostomy nurse. The surgeon on the transplant team keeps an eye on the hernia to see if it changes but it hasn't.  The surgeon said as long as nothing changes they will not do surgery. 

So is your hernia fairly big in size? My bulge is about 2" and wraps around the top to a little down the RHS. The bottom and LHS are all good. I also emailed my stoma nurses, and all they did was send back suggestions for a hernia belt.

I get the feeling from them and my doctor that if it isn't bothering me, don't worry about it. But I think I will push for a CT scan.

Rancher,

I might observe 'a stitch in time' may be made to good avail - by going back to the surgeon who made your ostomy. Very often, if tackled soon enough, it is my understanding that it is possible to stop a hernia from further developing. A six-week post-surgery may be a good wait. So your own circumstances will dictate your action.

BW

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I discovered last year that my 97-year-old mom has a hernia. Because of some dementia, she can't tell me how long she's had it. When I asked her PCP last year, she kind of blew me off and said it isn't bothering her, don't worry. Then late last year, we had an appointment with the same PCP, and at the end of the visit, I asked how long she has had the hernia. She blew me off and told me she didn't have time to do the research. So needless to say, her appointment coming up is with a new doctor. She had her ileostomy about 13-14 years ago. After reading about others, I have to wonder if the hernia was caused by the surgery.