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Pain due to hernia caused by colostomy
My colostomy was needed due to a perforated colon which required emergency surgery this past May at Mayo Phoenix. The Mayo system and the doctors and nurses are great. However, it took 5 or 6 weeks for me to adapt to dealing with the colostomy. My husband took care of me until I finally adapted. He still takes care of changing the skin barrier with flange, bag, etc, 2 or 3 times a week. My colon is supposed to be reconnected in November.
My big problem is a hernia that developed within about 2 weeks or so after the surgery. The hernia is about the size of a grapefruit. I am experiencing a very deep and constant ache related to the hernia. The pain interferes with my sleep. It hits me the minute I wake up, and is with me 24/7. It is wearing me down. I take 2 Tylenol 8 hour pills (500mg each) in the morning and 2 when I go to bed. It provides little help.
I also use two types of support belts. One is a 1 inch wide belt that attaches to the Skin Barrier with Flange. The other belt is an abdominal belt that is about 6 to 9 nine inches wide and has a hole to fit around the skin barrier with flange. I think the purpose of the belts is to support the weight of the bag and to push the hernia back into my stomach. Both help a little but are uncomfortable to wear so I can't wear them all the time.
Does anyone know of a better way to deal with the pain and discomfort of the hernia? The Doctor tells me that the hernia will be taken care of when the reconnecting surgery is done in November. However, I need relief from the pain of the hernia now and until November.
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@susang2473 Sounds like you have had a rough go with the stoma and the hernia is making it even rougher. Is the thinner belt just used to support the bag? And the wider abdominal belt to help the hernia stay in place?
You can always try having an empty bag most of the time so there is no pull on your abdomen.
You mentioned that you saw the doctor—was it the surgeon or your family doctor? If you haven’t seen the surgeon, I would suggest that you do so. The surgeon should know of the presence of the hernia.
I included this information on the type of hernia that you have. Hopefully, it will be helpful.
https://www.healthline.com/health/parastomal-hernia
Please let us know what you are able to find out.
Your comment that if I kept the ostomy bag empty the narrow belt would not pull, i do keep the bag empty but this belt pulls on the apparatus anyway.
The wider abdominal belt is quite uncomfortable particularly as it sits on the stoma even with the hole in it to fit around the stoma. It’s purpose is to push the hernia into my stomach. It was my surgeon I discussed my situation with and they know of the hernia.
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1 ReactionWell he doesn’t sound too helpful. Sine you want to be comfortable for the next several months, see if there is a wound clinic or store clinic in your area. If there isn’t, try the website below. It will give you all sorts of information and help you find a practitioner in your area
https://www.ostomy.org/ostomy-healthcare-resources/
Without looking at your stoma and the site, we can’t offer much helpful advice, I’m sorry.
Thank you
When you received your wider belt, did you have a follow up appointment with your ostomy nurse? I am guessing this is a special belt made for a para-stoma hernia, that you were fitted for? These belts are usually custom made and measurements are pretty exact. Once you have the belt, you should make another appointment with the ostomy nurse to ensure it is a proper fit. The ostomy nurse can also make adjustments to the belt to make them more comfortable.
I have a very large prolapse stoma and a hernia. I wear a pro-life support. It is about as comfortable as I think it can be. I do sometimes have pain from her very large hernia. No pain killers have helped me. I think you do have be carefull with painkillers.
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