IS SUPPORT WEAR NECESSARY IF YOU HAVE AN OSTOMY?

*The model in the photo has a stoma and is wearing support

Ostomy veterans from pre-2004

If you had your ostomy surgery before 2004 then chances are your medical team never mentioned support wear to you, and sadly in some areas this is still the case today. Before that time only a few old fashioned 'girdle' type belts were available for hernia support, but nothing was available to prevent or reduce the risk of developing a hernia or improve comfort, or confidence for quality of life with an ostomy. That was until Comfizz came on the scene, a small family business who had been in the business of producing high performance sportswear until a family member had ostomy surgery and they turned their expertise and into developing something their family member could wear to cover and support their stoma. Initially this was not commercially available until their stoma nurse started asking for samples for their stoma patients as there was nothing like it on the market at that time. 

Fast Forward to 2014

As Comfizz listened to ostomy patients, surgeons, and stoma nurses over the years they developed a broad range of garments, which are now widely accepted by stoma care professionals as essential and are available on prescription. Comfizz also recognised the need for graded support wear to meet differing situations, for example the level of support needed for someone who works sitting at a desk all day would not be the same as that of a builder or gardener, and so was born the level 1,2, 3 (light, medium & firm) support wear system.

Nurses were coming to Comfizz for support garments to manage a hernia, but Comfizz wanted to find out if swapping regular underwear for support wear would reduce the incidence of hernias, saving the NHS  money and saving individuals the personal costs of living with a hernia as well as a stoma. In 2014 a 12 month long clinical study was conducted at the Queens Hospital, London and the results were emphatic.

Clinical Evidence

The study compared incidences of hernias from one year to the following year, before and after support wear intervention. The incidence of hernias in patients who wore support wear was just 1% compared to 23% in the previous year who did not wear support. Patients were advised to wear Comfizz light support immediately after surgery on discharge from hospital then followed up at 3, 6 & 9 months to monitor compliance and also to adjust the level of support  as they recovered and became more active.

The Results Are Clear

The chart below shows how wearing support wear in place of regular underwear very significantly reduced the incidence of hernias.

Figure 1: Shows results from study published in the BJN March 2014.

If you have an ostomy, then Support Wear is your friend.

Apart from protecting you against a hernia, support wear will provide you with many other benefits.

1. Discretely hides the stoma site, sitting comfortably above the stoma. 
2. Enhances body shape and reduces the visible bulge from the bag which can be a real boost to self-confidence especially when dressing to impress!
3. Supports the weight of your bag as it fills, which will reduce that dragging feeling.
4. A life saver when it comes to giving you those vital extra minutes to contain a leak as the compression from the garment helps to hold the bag in place.
5. Contributes to improving bag adherence as again the compression gently presses the bag in place.
6. Helps you enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep as it holds the bag in place while you sleep.
7. Waistbands can make intimacy less intimidating as it hides and supports the bag.
8. Support wear by Comfizz uses breathable wicking fabrics which means you stay cool and dry.
9. Support wear by Comfizz contains two-way stretch knit so you get complete freedom of movement.
10. REDUCE YOUR RISK OF A HERNIA - but if you already have a hernia then you definitely need support wear to help you manage the hernia.

Support wear designed for ostomies is going to give you the confidence, comfort, and protection that you need, all whilst helping reduce your risk of developing a hernia. What's not to love :-)

Comfizz's Offer Three Levels of Support

Level 1 - Light Support Wear

Premium support wear designed to overcome many common difficulties faced by living with a stoma, incontinence, or post-surgical wounds. Soft, gentle support, comfortable enough to wear all day, every day without restricting the flow of a stoma.

Level 2 - Medium Support Wear
Ideal for supporting hernias, or for extra support during exercise activities. Also, ideal for discretely holding larger incontinence pants securely. Soft breathable fabric for ultra comfort.

Level 3 - Firm Support Wear
Premium firm support belt, ideal for holding hernias, protecting hernia repairs and giving extra support during strenuous activity.

You can browse Comfizz support wear here

More than 90% of our garments are available on prescription in the UK*, however the quantity you are allowed each year will depend on your GP and location. Garments are always available to purchase via our website. 

*Scotland have a restricted the range of garments available on NHS so check with your GP or stoma nurse.