I had a an operation for a stoma bag  after contracting cancer in the bowel.    The last 5years I seem to have stomach pain.   The Doctor says it could be a floating hernia, what is it and can it be cured either thru an op or medication .  Iam 88 years old
Hi, Thanks for writing in. Stoma is an artificial opening created in the left lower anterior abdominal wall to allow the remaining bowel after surgery to empty itself. The stoma opening is harnessed to a bag externally. It is likely that you have a stoma that is of permanent nature and is required to be functioning at all times. The part of bowel which is present in the stoma might not be fastened to the underlying abdominal structures and is therefore floating. Due to the mobility of the floating bowel in the abdominal cavity it is possible that the bowel can be causing an internal hernia and this is happening intermittently. A CT scan of the abdomen will help in knowing the exact location of any such occurrence. If confirmed it can be repaired by doing a surgery. Medicines do not help permanently in hernia. Please do not worry.