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From: DebbRussell on 30 May 2007 15:40
Dear Ginzu97,
I can try to answer your questions...
There is a big difference between a hernia belt and an Ostomy hernia belt.
A regular hernia belt
does not have a hole in it, and people who have hernias that do not have
ostomys wear them.My friend has a hernia, and wears a wide belt, her
hernia is up higher than mine. I have an illeostomy hernia right by my
stoma, My belt was specially made by a company called "NuHope" a company
out of California, and was measured for me here in Canada, and the
measurements were faxed to the company and sent when it was made to the
pharmacy.It is not as wide, and has an opening where my ostomy appliance
sits. I just pull the pouch through. It supports my lower stomach. I have
had 2 previous hernias and now have been told that I now have a third, and
that my bowel is now twisted as well. I have had my Ostomy since 2005.
After my first surgery I got my first hernia after 6 months. I had it
repaired.And about 9 months after that I suffered my second hernia, I just
had it fixed about 3 months ago just this past February. I was told that I
had over 2 foot of bowel hanging thru my abdominal wall. That is what
happens, the abdominal wall weakens and makes a hole and the bowel will go
to where the weakest spot is. After my surgery I was told that I had some
sort of pocket, and the 2 foot of bowel was hanging thru.
My surgeon pushed my bowel back into place and sewed it to secure it. He
also put some mesh in the area to strengthen it as double protection.
because the skin, muscle weakens after repeated hernias. You can see the
special belts that NuHope Makes by going to their web site-
www.nuhope.com//// The belt that you are wearing is not a hernia belt, It
is just a regular Ostomy belt to help support the Ostomy-So when it gets
full it dosen't pull down on your Ostomy site. This kind hooks to the
plastic small rings on the sides of your flange or wafer as they call
them. If you need a hernia belt, you should look up abdominal belts as
they call them or ostomy hernia belts. Most pharmacy's that sell ostomy
products sell them. Because I am such a high risk I was told by my Ostomy
Nurse to go and get fitted for a NuHope Belt.
You asked how you know if you have a hernia....Believe mE...You'd know if
you had a hernia, It is extremely painful!!!! The area is so sensitive
that it hurts just to lightly touch it! Also, It seems to feel as if you
have abuild up of stool underneath the stoma that just can't come out!
Then when it finally relaxes enough to drain itself, It forcefully shoots
out!I was so plugged that when my Ostomy Nurse put her finger into my
stoma to check to see if my passageway was blocked that she felt that it
was closed, and when she was finished the waste just shot out and kept
comming and comming, all over the place! She had to keep grabbing handfuls
of gauze to clean it all up! So, when a hernia wxists the waste just sits
at the hernaited spot till it build up so much pressure it just all of a
sudden lets go. Then I feel so drained and shaky! Also when my stoma is
being examined by my Ostomy Nurse, when she is putting her finger in there
it hurts so much, like someone is stabbing me and I get such bad cramping
that I just can't take it! There was so much pain that I was shaking. And
I am one that can take alot of pain! the enxt morning, I couldn't hardly
walk-I had bad, bad lower back pain sand had to sit in my recliner and
relax all day. Also with a hernia you can hear alot of gas sounds, and
like stomach growling, super, super loud!!!!! When it finally lets go you
have instant relief! Also, You can feel the waste inside throbbing and
throbbing trying to release but it just won't! I would not be without a
heating pad even in this hot weather! i lay it on the area and it helps
relax the bowel so it can clear itself and helps with the cramping as
well!
You really can't feel a hernia comming , or atleast I couldn't it just
showed up each time and day by day gets worse...My stomach swells alot
too, buldges on the right side....That is a sure sign, your lower stomach
or atleast mine has over doubled in size! It is sitting on my right
leg...It makes my right leg and foot numb....And of course you experience
alot of pain as I have said! I have been feeling some different symptoms
was told my bowel is twisted/with hernia again.

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