This topic is about living with a large parastomal hernia after ileostomy surgery, especially when further surgery isn't an option. A 64-year-old woman, who has COPD and is on oxygen around the clock, developed a large parastomal hernia after her ileostomy surgery. Her surgeon advised against further surgery due to the risks associated with her respiratory condition. She is looking for advice from others who are managing similar situations without surgery.

Here are some insights and advice from others who have been in similar situations:

1. Some people live with parastomal hernias for a long time and delay repair because:
- Their hernias are manageable or only cause mild discomfort.
- Surgical repair often has a high chance of recurrence, so delaying surgery might extend the time before another repair is needed.

2. One person shared their experience of having a combined surgery for kidney cancer removal and hernia repair, which improved their quality of life. They suggest considering how much the hernia affects your daily life when thinking about surgery.

3. Another individual with desmoid disease avoids surgery due to high risks, showing that large hernias can sometimes be managed without surgery for many years.

4. Common ways to cope with a large hernia include:
- Accepting changes in appearance.
- Wearing looser or larger clothing to accommodate the hernia.
- Keeping an eye on any increase in pain or functional issues before deciding on any intervention.