parastomal hernia??

I think I have a parastomal hernia. The skin above my stoma is puffy and bulging. It sticks out pretty far and also sometimes feels sore. Does anyone else have any experience with a parastomal hernia? I see my surgeon October 13th about this. I am very upset and just want to be normal.

I have always had a slight bulge, but it has gotten noticeably worse since I started back working. I do lots of bending and twisting with my job and I think this has contributed to the worsening of the bulge.

I plan to order a hernia belt, but am not sure which one is best. Any advice? Tracy

Post Edited (answers4me2) : 9/27/2010 6:45:37 PM (GMT-6)

jackarat, you hit it on the head. I have wondered what it was I was feeling. I have that achey feeling and the dragging feeling sometimes like my stoma could just pull me to the ground. I asked my surgeon about a hernia a few weeks ago and he said nothing to worry about. When they go back in to reverse me they will work on that too. Yeah Me. I am so Not looking forward to more surgery, but I know I will be having it, just a question of when.

Hi!  I don't post much anymore but often just read the posts of my old ostomate buddies and see how everyone is doing.  I had a parastomal hernia repair done in October/09.  My ileostomy reversal was done in March/09 and a hernia popped through after that.  It was bulging and really bothersome to me.  I was just getting used to my bowels working "normally" again and then I had this lump protruding from my abdomen where the stoma was.  I was really scared but it was repaired and I went home the next day.  I used to wear a "panty girdle" to hold things in because it bothered me so much and that helped alot.  Of course, it would disappear when I lay on my back but who wants to lie around all the time, right?? LOL...anyway just thought I would add my two cents worth and wish you luck!!!! .....Cheryl

Hi Tracy,

What you have described does sound very much like a parastomal hernia. Since having an ilesotmy operation earlier this year I developed a hernia and it feels exactly as you have said you do.

If it is in fact hernia you will feel pain as you bend and stretch etc as a portion of your intestine is outside your abdomen wall and I assume the wall probably tears a little more.I know that when I get in certain positions I can really feel it especially when I bend over.Luckily I am having an ileostomy reversal next week and my surgeon is also going to repair my hernia during my op.

I wish you the best when see your doctor and in the meantime take it very easy.

Take care
Ken

Tracy,
I remember when I looked on my op report for my ileo it said something to the effect that my ileo doc only opened my abdominal wall for the stoma one and a half finger breadths wide due to me having lack of fat tissue and for some other reason. I think they have to be careful how big around they make the opening to pull the small intestine through before they make the stoma. It's not as easy as it sounds. There's a lot to it and also likely some educated guess work on the part of the surgeon. If they don't cut enough of you away to make the stoma, then you get a narrowing and have trouble with the stoma not working, but if they cut too much of your abdominal wall away, then the person is more prone to getting a peristomal hernia. Like any of medicine (done for the right reasons as your doc was doing for you) even with that there is a certain amount of uncertainty. I'm not saying this is what happened, it just made me remember my ileo surgeon was stating how he made his decision on how big of a circle to cut out of my abdominal wall to make the stoma. Like it must have been a challenge for him to decide or he wouldn't have mentioned it. I'll check in while I'm away. Took me all day yesterday to pack 2 suitcases full of ostomy supplies for my 3 month trip. Today I gotta do all my meds. Looking at my luggage one would think why and how are you doing all this. But, am going for it while I can. WIll check in on you and will be thinking of you. Rosemary