Reducing Risk of Parastomal Hernia

You may have heard about a complication known as a ‘parastomal’ hernia

This is an abnormal bulge around the stoma, where an extra loop of bowel squeezes through between the stoma and abdominal wall – and sits between the skin and the muscle of the abdominal wall. They can affect up to 50% of patients within one year following creation of the stoma¹. The following may reduce your risk of developing a parastomal hernia²:

Manage your weight. Being overweight is one of the biggest causes of parastomal hernia, as additional weight causes pressure to push on the abdominal wall.

Strengthen your abdominal muscles. People with weak abdominal muscles are more likely to develop a hernia. Always check with your physician before beginning any new workout regimen or daily activity. 

Wear a light support garment to help boost your confidence while maintaining an active lifestyle. Ostomysecrets^® offers a line of apparel and undergarments that help conceal and support your ostomy pouch.

Stay active to maintain general physical well-being. 

Maintain strong muscles that help you lift and move more safely, therefore protecting your abdomen. Start with your arms.

Be careful when lifting. When you lift or carry anything, do it safely and with good technique.

Adapt exercises and daily activities to make sure they’re appropriate. Consult your healthcare professional before beginning any new workout regimen or daily activity. 

Stop smoking.

The me+™ recovery series may be right for you.

The me+™ recovery series, provides information and support about the importance of movement and physical activity after ostomy surgery.

Too many people are worried about harming themselves by doing physical activity, when in fact there are so many benefits to being active. To address this, we developed the me+ recovery series which is based-on gentle movements - guiding users through their recovery after ostomy surgery and beyond.

Having an ostomy can sometimes feel overwhelming.

The good news is, you don’t have to go through it alone. A dedicated team of me+™ ostomy nurses and product specialists is just an email or phone call away, reach out to cic@convatec.com or 1-800-422-8811, for the answers and support you may be looking for to make living with an ostomy a little easier. Whether you need help with ostomy care, knowing what products to use or are coping with tricky lifestyle issues, they genuinely care about you and getting you back to doing the things you love.

• Exercise After Surgery: Back to Basics
• Post-Surgery: Dos and Don’ts of Exercise
• Swimming with an Ostomy
• Request Product Samples