One of the most common concerns for an ostomate is the development and management of a parastomal hernia.
Parastomal Hernia 101
What is a Parastomal Hernia?
A parastomal hernia is caused by the bulging of abdominal organs through the abdominal wall at the site of the stoma. Having a parastomal hernia can cause your pouching system to sit improperly over the stoma, leading to more frequent leaks and changes of the appliance. In severe cases, it can cause intestinal blockages and tissue death if the organs twist too tightly within the herniated space.
How Can I Avoid Parastomal Hernia?
Parastomal hernias can be avoided through strengthening of the abdominal muscles, supporting the abdomen while coughing or sneezing, and with hernia support garments.
Check out our blog: “Six Ways to Reduce Risk of Parastomal Hernia”.
Choosing your Hernia Support Garment - The Top Brands
With so many options for hernia support garments on the market, finding the right garment for you can be overwhelming.
Here, at Nightingale Medical Supplies, we offer hernia support garments from two top brands:
Both companies offer a variety of features to best fit your lifestyle. CUI Wear and Corsinel hernia belts have a variety of features to really tailor the belt to your needs. When searching for a suitable hernia belt, the key features are the depth of the belt, type of material, and the option for a hole to accommodate your ostomy pouch.
Four Things to Consider When Choosing your Hernia Support Garment
When choosing a hernia garment, there are a few features to consider:
- Belt vs. Girdle
- Material of Garment
- Depth of Garment
- Preference for Pouch to be Inside or Outside
1. Hernia Belt or Hernia Girdle?
The first question to ask would be “Do I want a Hernia Belt or a Hernia Girdle?”. A hernia girdle is like a pair of high-waisted underpants that provides support to the abdomen, whereas a hernia belt wraps around the abdomen.
A hernia girdle can be a great option for those who want a seamless option under their clothes. Although with seamless underclothes, the girdle may prove challenging to don and doff in a hurry, especially for those with lessened dexterity in their hands and fingers. CUI Wear also offers both men’s and woman’s styles of hernia girdles.
If you are not looking for a seamless option or are worried about the donning and doffing of the girdles, you can opt for a hernia belt.
2. Material of Choice
The next feature for you to think about is the type of material that makes up the belt. The type of material determines the level of support and the breathability of the belt. If you want a lower level of support with higher breathability, CUI Wear carries a mesh support. For a firmer level of support, you can choose the CUI Support Belt or the Corsinel Support Belt.
3. Depth of Choice
When choosing the depth of the belt, you want to choose a measurement that will fully cover your parastomal area for prevention or the existing hernia.
From the CUI Wear line of belts, you can choose from three different depths:
From the Corsinel line of belts, you can choose either:
4. Pouch-in or Pouch-out?
Finally, you will need to choose whether you want a hole in the belt to accommodate your ostomy pouch or not.
It is safe to cover your pouch entirely with a belt and most nurses specialized in wound, ostomy, and continence (NSWOC) recommend that you wear a belt without a hole for the best support. On the other hand, having the belt cover the pouching system may cause pouching issues with pancaking or leaks, especially for colostomates. If that is a concern of yours, you can choose a belt that has a hole where your pouch can sit outside.
CUI Wear features:
- Reinforced, pre-set hole on either the left or right side of the belt.
- The bottom of the hole has an adjustable Velcro strap to accommodate both smaller or larger pouches.
Corsinel features:
- Unique panel for you to cut your own hole. The cuttable panel is made so that it will not fray or stretch after it has been cut.
Conclusion
A hernia garment will give you peace of mind to resume your day-to-day life post-surgery without the fear of developing a hernia. After walking through the variety of hernia support garments and their features, you may now have a solid idea of what works best for you.
If you still have questions about hernia belts or would like a FREE personalized consultation, feel free to reach out to your nearest Nightingale Medical Supplies location.
You can book a free consultation appointment with an NSWOC at all seven of our retail locations.
