Hernia, Anyone?

• By Lin545
• Reply 3430311
• October 4, 2012 at 10:49 am
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How did they find out with a CT Scan? I would suggust having your ostomy nurse measure you for a hernia belt. We did my own and it does not fit properly! Best of luck to you. I am having a ct scan to rule out a hernia ...My Doctor does not think that is my problem but is doing it to be sure! I am sorry and hope you find a good belt that helps!!!

• By Shirl18
• Reply 3430369
• October 4, 2012 at 11:04 am
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I wear a belt from NuHope. They can be reached at (800) 899-58017 or www.nu-hope.com. I have found it comfortable and a great help when lifting. It's difficult to remember to limit our lifting to 10 - 20 lbs and I'm sure how I developed mine without even realizing it. I measured for mine, but Lin suggestion is a good idea. Your ostomy nurse can be a great help.

Good luck - Shirley

• By Shirl18
• Reply 3430374
• October 4, 2012 at 11:05 am
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Opps, that phone number is (800) 899-5017

• By Teresar1212
• Reply 3432748
• October 5, 2012 at 8:04 am
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My husband has a large hernia too. Doctor did an xray and said he will fix the hernia while reconnecting on Oct 9. so he went two months with the hernia bulging out a LOT if he stood up very long. So he laid on the couch a lot. :) Can't wait to have him fixed up again. It's been a long 6 months!!
Teresa

• By DixieWest
• Reply 3434972
• October 5, 2012 at 9:27 pm
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I have one that I am managing with a NuHope hernia belt - measured myself since, as I have said before, I don't have access to an ostomy nurse since home health discharged me. It does help but I don't wear it all the time. It tends to make the feces "pancake" when I wear it but it does make it more comfortable for me when I am riding in a car or working around the house. Had CT scan. It confirmed a hernia but I'm trying to manage it without surgery as long as I can.

• By Su-Z
• Reply 3437808
• October 7, 2012 at 1:58 am
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DixieWest,

This is my second round with hernias - stomal and midline! (Yup, two of them!) I had them repaired 2 years ago when I had a resection, but a year ago June, a bad coughing spell did me in! Trying to lose weight and gain core strength (I also have a bad back - lumbar injury) that I've lived with since '92. Not fun at all, but I'm doing. I wear surgical binder that I purchased online at Healath Products. My husband started a new job that requires alot of standing and he used my binder and now has his own! (as well as a belt he wears when they do deliveries - matresses & boxsprings).

Su-Z

• By NEDSMOM
• Reply 3449049 · In reply to 3434972 by DixieWest
• October 11, 2012 at 2:58 am
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HI: I AM IN THE SAME BOTH WITH ALL OF YOU. I HAVE 3 HERNIAS AND NOW GET THE BEST COMFORT OUT OF MY NU HOPE BELTS. YES, I GOT TWO BELTS AND WEAR THEM NIGHT AND DAY. I AM NOT A GOOD CANADATE FOR SURGERY AND I KNOW I DO NOT WANT TO GO THRU IT AND THEN END UP WORSE THAN I ALREADY AM. SO I RELY ON THESE BELTS AND ADJUST MY CLOTHING SIZES AS TO ACCOMMODATE THE, I AM 80 YRS OLD AND LOOK LIKE I AM 7 MONTHS PREGNANT. WISH THEY COULD MAKE A MORE COMFORTABLE AND SMALLER STYLE OF BELT, BUT THAT IS NO IN THE CARDS GUESS IT IS BEST TO MAKE THE BEST OF WHAT IS AND BE HAPPY WITH HOW IT LOOKS.. HAHA SEEMS THAT IS WHAT LIFE IS ABOUT SOMETIMES. SO GOOD LUCK AND GET WELL AND TRY FOR A HAPPY LIFE.

• By JoePockets
• Reply 3449399
• October 11, 2012 at 8:44 am
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I am using a Nu-Hope belt also. It is the way to go and beats another surgery. They make them in 3", 4" 5" and 6" widths. I have 3,4,& a 5 and found the 5 works best for me. I alternate at each bag change.

Good luck.

• By Chriswife
• Reply 3449426
• October 11, 2012 at 8:54 am
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Does insurance cover the belts?

• By Fabgrandma
• Reply 3449528
• October 11, 2012 at 9:31 am
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I wear a belt that is 12" wide, only because since my surgery I have lived at the North Rim Grand Canyon, very remote place, and no where to shop except online, and I don't want to spend the money not knowing if the product will work for me or not. So, I got the thick heavy one like they gave me at the hospital, at a medical supply shop in Flagstaff, measured where to cut a hole for the ostomy bag to poke through, and cut the hole myself. I got my sewing machine out and did a buttonhole stitch around the hole so it wouldn't ravel. It works for me, because I need the belt to support my abdomen, but can't stand the thing over my stoma.

• By JoePockets
• Reply 3449596 · In reply to 3449426 by Chriswife
• October 11, 2012 at 9:53 am
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It depends on the insurance company.

• By NEDSMOM
• Reply 3449700 · In reply to 3449426 by Chriswife
• October 11, 2012 at 10:24 am
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MEDICARE WILL PAY FOR 2 A YEAR. THEY DO NOT COVER THE FULL PAYMENT B UT IT DOES HELP. CONTACT YOUR MEDICARE OR WHERE YOU PURCHASE YOUR OSTOMY SUPPLIES.
I TRIED TO HAVE REGULAR SHAPEWEAR GIRDLES MODIFIED BY NU HOPE BUT THEY DO NOT FIT MY PROBLEM AND SOMEWHAT UNCOMFORTABLE TO WEAR.

SORRY THERE IS NO COMPANY THAT MAKES A LIGHTER WEIGHT GIRDLE, FOR WOMEN, THAT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. BUT WILL NOT GIVE UP HOPE. SOME BODY WILL COME UP WITH A SOLUTION, I AM SURE. I AM HAPPY WITH THE NU HOPE BELT AND THE COMPANY THAT MAKES THEM, BUT THEY ARE KIND OF BULKY, ESPECIALLY HERE IN FLORIDA HEAT AND HUMIDITY.

• By Lin545
• Reply 3449723
• October 11, 2012 at 10:29 am
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Fabgrandma, I am with you I can't stand anything tight over my stoma. Medicare did pay for mine I think they said two a year.