stoma hernia repair

Patteee

Colostomy was done on June 7, 2008
Take down was done on Feb 2, 2009
CT scan 2 weeks ago showed 2 hernias, one large and one small.
I talked to my colorectal surgeon at Mayo last week. She said repairing it is "patient preference"- I am a teacher, on my feet all day and by the end of the day the area aches.
So, I am scheduled for repair on July 15th.
I had a hernia repair on surgery scar years and years ago, it was in one day and out the next. Surgeon says for this maybe 3-4 days in, depends on how extensive the repair is.

My question to the board here- any one had this done, how long in and how did the recovery go?

kristasplace

Hernia repair
Hello! I did not get a hernia with my reversal, but 3-4 days in the hospital sounds like maybe 4-6 weeks out of the hospital for recovery. At least it was for me. I had a wound vac with my reversal, and the healing was sped up by about twice as fast. Within six weeks, a 7 cm deep ostomy wound completely closed! Everyone said i healed faster than most, though, so it depends on your healing capacity. I would definitely recommend the vac if they're going to reopen your ostomy area.

Good luck with it, and let us know how it turns out!

Hugs,
Krista

NWGirl

Outpatient for me
I had my LAR surgery in November 2007 (including temporary ileo) and take down surgery in November 2008. In January 2009 I realized I had a hernia - just to the left of my belly button, at the top of my incision from the LAR surgery. Maybe the size of a ping pong ball at the largest. My surgery was just outpatient - I went home the same day. Even though it was outpatient surgery, I was really sore!!! I'd say recovery was typical 6 weeks. It hurt to even walk - so I had neighbors take my kids to/from the bus stop for the first week or two. After that I could manage to do what I had to - but obviously I had limits on lifting for 6 weeks. I think I took pain meds for about 5 days.