Any suggestions on dealing with an incisional hernia with an ostomy?

Posted by jbcisandi1 @jbcisandi1, Jan 7, 2022

I got my colostomy in June, and got an incisional hernia around October. The hernia is very large and cannot be repaired. I tried a support belt but it didn’t really hold in the hernia. Someone suggested a tight corset or tummy control underwear. I want to hold the hernia in because I can only wear leggings and tunic tops now, but I don’t want to restrict the colostomy. Any suggestions?

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rioa21 | @rioa21 | Jun 24 7:43am

In reply to @rioa21 "What is tension free mesh? I just had the Sugarbaker method used to repair my parastomal..." + (show)

I had the Sugarbaker method done in April to fix my large parastomal hernia. I had never heard of the Tension Free surgery so I looked it up. It is not as successful as the Sugarbaker method. It has a higher reoccurrence rate. The Sugarbaker method was created just for parastomal hernia repairs. The other is for more general repairs and has a lower success rate. Hope this helps.

timex | @timex | Jun 23 2:41pm

After surgery, I was required to wear the velcro stomach wrap. It hold everything tight. Helps with the pains, especially the coughs. I also have 4 hernias. One was sewn with stomach muscle, and made my old colostomy look like 👍 I had plastic surgery. Big improvement. I had a colostomy on 21, and an iliostomy in June 25
Good luck everyone

katydid77 | @katydid77 | May 19 3:26pm

In reply to @andoman "Yes I’m getting a bigger stomach and it’s not nice, from surgery to fix my bowel..." + (show)

This sounds promising. Best of luck to you. Be sure to give us an update.

stork1 | @stork1 | May 18 1:15pm

I, too, will soon be having bowel surgery, as well as hernia surgery to repair a hernia that ballooned after I had a colostomy become an ileostomy. The GI surgeon says she’ll do a temporary fix on the hernia while she takes out the remainder of my colon. I would have to have a hernia specialist make a complete fix. Have others faced this? I’d like to find a surgeon who could do both completely at the same time.

rioa21 | @rioa21 | May 17 7:01am

In reply to @andoman "Have you thought about a complete Tension-Free Mesh that covers your whole area of your stomach...." + (show)

What is tension free mesh? I just had the Sugarbaker method used to repair my parastomal hernia. Are the two the same?

jer22 | @jer22 | May 16 8:38am

In reply to @andoman "Yes I’m getting a bigger stomach and it’s not nice, from surgery to fix my bowel..." + (show)

Please do let us know how the surgery goes, I may also consider having it done.
Good luck

andoman | @andoman | May 15 3:52am

In reply to @jbcisandi1 "Yes, I have discussed this with my surgeon. He provided a wrap, but it only supports..." + (show)

Get a surgery called Tension-Free Mesh to fix Hernia

andoman | @andoman | May 15 3:51am

In reply to @jbcisandi1 "Thanks! I’m hoping to find a support belt or something that will hold the stomach in..." + (show)

Yes I’m getting a bigger stomach and it’s not nice, from surgery to fix my bowel but I’m going to have a complete Tension-Free Mesh to cover my whole tummy, yes it’s done by surgery and my surgeon has advised me only a 1% fail rate so I’m in. Surgery is on 26 June this year so I’ll inform here how it goes to help others

andoman | @andoman | May 15 3:48am

Have you thought about a complete Tension-Free Mesh that covers your whole area of your stomach. I’m getting this done on 26 June this year as I can’t stand having a hernia in my stomach region - I got from having bowel surgery.

debnovie73 | @debnovie73 | Jan 22, 2023

I have had a large parastomal hernia and abdominal hernia repair. My entire abdomen is mesh. However, the parastomal hernia came back. I do wear underwear with an elastic top when I am out. I don’t wear it for a really long time. It has not impeded any stool from coming out but I would think it depend on the consistency. I haven’t had any issues doing this. Colostomy’s definitely change our style of dressing. But luckily at least I CAN hide it well. I just don’t swim anymore. Too self confident about it. Haven’t found a suit to hide it. Good luck.