perastomal hernia

Hi  I remember speaking to you a while back over in the bowel group about pouches and other essential products etc have you settled on the products that work best for you.

The trouble with GP's is that they don't fully qappreciate the needs of ostomates and for him to reject a medical aid that another health professional has told you you need and I imagine without giving you an examination is unbelievable.

The purpose of hernia support belts is to help to prevent hernias which in your case includes getting bigger. 

What I think has happened is that because your stoma care nurse requested the belt through your supply company he thought that the request was made by you.

I would suggest that you keep trying contact your stoma care nurse and have her write to the GP (copy to you) advising him that you need to have these belts and giving him the make and product reference number and that the prescription should be sent to your supply company.  Once you have your copy of the letter give it a few days then contact your GP to see if he has received the letter explaining that the whilst your hernia is not causing you any pain it is causing you discomfort and you really do need them. The stoma nurse needs to measure you for them

Do you know if your GP practice has a website that you can go into and send messages to your named GP. With my practice I can access the web site 24 hours a day and send mesages direct to my doctor, it saves me a lot of time and bother trying telephone them.

For example- I had a recent hospital appointment at which some of my medication changed, when I got my clinic report I contacted my GP through the website and quoting the date of the letter and who sent it requesting that my repeat prescription was amended and that the prescription should be sent by EPS to my nominated pharmacy to be collected by me. I use the web site to contact them about all manner of things.

I have a strange way of looking at these things and is 1 x belt per year (really should be two, one being worn other in wash) at cost of £70 each, =£140 as opposed to hernia op =35 years. You should be aware that if your are suggested for an op in the future there is no guarantee that I'll work

Yes wife knows best hot water bottle, not too hot or even a warm bath or just lying down will see the discomfort subside, when sitting down try holding a cushion against the hernia

Ian

CC

Hi Ian thanks for answering. 

Firstly all six of the companies you recommended to me sent me samples and they sent me quite a few. But some of the pouches came off whilst sleeping and others didn't seem to settle too well and kept getting caught in my shirt or underwear and seemed to be flimsy compared with the Hollister pouches I was using. I replied to all of them and rated their products but said I was sticking to my original Hollister pouches. I had many different items sent me and I still use some of the pouches if I am not going out or for 24 hours or so, only to supplement my original ones just to use them up. Thank you for suggesting  these companies as its good to see what and how they perform. 

I will make a second post with regard to my hernia problem.

Les

Ian........ My hernia problem.

I must say that I had omitted to say that a doctor from my surgery did see me and looked at the area of my hernia and then applied for me to have an appointment at hospital for a ultrasound examination. This was on 18th March but I do not know if the same doctor said that a belt was not necessary. He must have seen the x-ray or whatever. 

The problem with my stoma nurse is that I have been in touch with my stoma group who told me they would forward my request to her but I have not had a reply. I will try and get in touch with her again tomorrow (Monday).

In the meantime I shall draft a letter to my own named doctor at my surgery and explain my situation to him as I feel sure he will be of more assistance but I'll wait for the stoma nurse to get back to me first.

Thanks for your info. on the support belts and I will bear that in mind. You are a great help and I thank you for it.

Regards .... Les