 |
 |
| Taking Care to Protect Against Problems that can Occur in the Abdominal Area |
|
| What is a Hernia? |
| Prevention is Better Than Cure |
| Get a Handle on That Hernia |
|
| What is a Hernia? |
| A hernia is the protrusion of an organ or structure into surrounding tissues. For example, an inguinal hernia occurs when part of the intestine protrudes through a weak point in the groin. Most hernias occur in the abdomen. A parastomal hernia is the protrusion of intestine through abdominal muscles around the stoma, and is seen as a bulge under the skin around the stoma. A parastomal hernia can occur reasonably frequently, as the muscles around the stoma have been 'surgically weakened.' These muscles which normally provide support are deliberately incised open to allow the formation of the stoma, hence they are often weaker. The hernia may sometimes be supported with a wide belt or binder and sometimes needs surgical correction if it has progressed too far and is causing issues. |
|
| Prevention is Better Than Cure |
| Everyone should take care to protect their abdomen. But the surgery required to make a stoma can weaken muscles so it pays to be extra careful when doing any form of lifting or exercise. |
|
| With a stoma, the risk of hernia from lifting or strenuous exercise is generally higher than that of developing a common groin hernia because the muscles supporting the stoma are not as strong as they were before surgery, because they were cut apart to make the stoma. |
|
| Some preventive measures to guard against the development of a stoma hernia include: |
|
- Gentle abdominal exercises such as sit-ups and walking.
- Avoid heavy lifting and straining. If necessary, use a wheeled trolley to help move heavier items or get someone to help you.
- Weight management - stay within an appropriate weight range.
|
|
| Get a Handle on That Hernia |
| Not everyone with a stoma gets a hernia and the degree of severity ranges from person to person. Some people only get a small bulge near the stoma and some get a much larger one. |
|
| Check that the pouching system used is the correct size (of opening) and that it is not causing too much pressure on the skin or stoma. Sometimes using products that are referred to as convex can cause some issues with the skin on the hernia from too much pressure. This may make the skin appear shiny or even damaged. It's a good idea to consider visiting a stoma care nurse to see what product options are best if this is happening. |
|
| There are specially designed hernia support garments available, but correct size and fit are important. Don't just buy on looks. It's best to follow the directions or, again, see the stoma care nurse for advice. |
|
| Generally irrigation (if performed) should be discontinued as the increased pressure inside from the water and the pressure required to empty the bowel can compound the problem and make things worse. Check with a stoma care nurse if this is an option for you. |
|
| If the hernia continues to increase in size and pouch placement becomes an issue — or quality of life is becoming compromised because of the size — discuss with the surgeon what options are available. Sometimes surgery is required to repair the hernia. |