Postby Rock_Robster » Fri Jul 30, 2021 3:59 am
My colorectal surgeon did a lot of work and research with hernias (and is Head of Surgery at a major cancer hospital), and had some interesting views. In short, he basically advised me that in his view - if you’re going to get a hernia then you’ll probably get one anyway; regardless of support belts and activity levels. He believes it comes more from anatomical factors than lifestyle, and the evidence for the belts preventing hernias isn’t very strong. An ostomy is already a hernia (by definition), so it is unfortunately quite common for them to grow over time (which may or may not end up needing surgical correction.
He did say to avoid heavy lifting for 6 weeks until the surgical wounds had healed though.
I was careful to avoid ab/core work while I had an ileostomy, but still did other exercise (gym, riding, Pilates etc). I never wore a hernia/support belt, just a Stealth Belt (literally 24/7, except for showering). Never had an issue with hernias, thankfully.
None of the above is advice of course - just sharing a perspective.
One other point - there’s a difference between ‘support’ belts (ie hernia belts that put pressure across the whole stoma site), and belts like Stealth Belt which mainly are designed to cover the ostomy and keep it secure. Both need to be fitted, but getting a hernia belt fitted right is very important and they need to be very firm. You can also buy hard plastic stoma guard attachments if you do impact sports, as getting hit in the stoma is very unpleasant (and potentially dangerous).
41M Australia
2018 Dx RC
G2 EMVI LVI, 4 liver mets
pT3N1aM1a Stage IVa MSS NRAS G13R
CEA 14>2>32>16>19>30>140>70
11/18 FOLFOX
3/19 Liver resection
5/19 Pelvic IMRT
7/19 ULAR
8/19 Liver met
8/19 FOLFOX, FOLFOXIRI, FOLFIRI
12/19 Liver resection
NED 2 years
11/21 Liver met, PALN, lung nodules
3/22 PVE, lymphadenectomy, liver SBRT
10/22 PALN SBRT
11/22 Liver mets, peri nodule. Xeloda+Bev
4/23 XELIRI+Bev
9/23 ATRIUM trial
12/23 Modified FOLFIRI+Bev
3/24 VAXINIA (CF33 + hNIS) trial