Living with a Parastomal Hernia: Seeking Advice and Tips

I now have what my surgeon calls a parastomal hernia.  I would like to hear from anyone who also has one and what they do about it on a day to day basis.  My surgeon does not want to perform surgery unless it begins to bother me.  What about a parastomal hernia belt?

Hi SHRONB,

You've come to the right place! This community is full of people who are ready to share their experiences and offer support. You're definitely not alone in this.

Regarding your parastomal hernia, many people find that wearing a hernia belt can provide extra support and comfort. It might be worth trying one to see if it helps you manage day-to-day activities. It's also a good idea to keep an eye on any changes and discuss them with your healthcare provider.

With thousands of members here, you can use the search feature to find others who might be nearby or around your age. Connecting with someone in a similar situation can be really helpful. Take care!

We are suceptible for hernia because of the stoma. I had one develop after 27 yearswhich cause some irregularity and discomfort.

the surgery with mesh is hard to repair if it comes back again which is also common. The surgery to stitch the muscle is easier to repair and this is what I chose. It made a major improvement for me. If you have any discomfort I would recommend a second opinion from another surgeon.

all the best

Bill

Hello SHRONB.  This is a recurring problem which has has a great deal of correspondence in the past which I found helpful. You can find this in 'CONTENTS --Premium Contents--hernia and stoma' located in  the left hand column on your screen. 

I decided not to go for repair, based on what I read and my own preferrence for staying as far away from hospitals as I can. I made a template to fit exactly round my stoma and used it under the hernia belt, which seemed to have helped it stay in place and not get any bigger. 

Best wishes

Bill

Hi all i,ve got a hernia about the size of half a grapefruit and it usually doesnt bother me unless i overdo it like yardwork, my regular doctor has looked at it but doesnt want to do anything unless it causes a lot of problems. 

Same here.  I was at an ostomy conference where one of the speakers explained that one half of ostomates develop a hernia at some point.  My surgeon said in his experience it is actually 100%.  You can get a hernia belt to prevent hernias and to help prevent an existing one from getting worse

Living with Your Ostomy | Hollister