Hernia? Now What?
I am pretty sure I have a hernia. I had my surgery open so I have a long incision. I have a problem with constipation so I have been straining a lot, even though I try not to. Last night I was in bed lying on my back and I had to pass gas (TMI) and I saw an egg shaped thing pop out to the left of my incision. It was a little larger then an egg. I am pretty sure that is a hernia? There is no pain but it weirded me out.
So, I have a call into my surgeon but I am wondering if I will have to have surgery? I have to admit it creeps me out and I want it gone but I really don't want any more surgery. Is it a big surgery? Is there a danger if I don't have surgery? Can it be done lap?
Also, probaby a stupid question but I think I have seen other people ask it. Can a hernia affect weight loss? I have only lost about 3 lbs in the last 3 weeks. Not terrible for being at the end of my weight loss but slower then it has been. Could it be because of the hernia?
So, I have a call into my surgeon but I am wondering if I will have to have surgery? I have to admit it creeps me out and I want it gone but I really don't want any more surgery. Is it a big surgery? Is there a danger if I don't have surgery? Can it be done lap?
Also, probaby a stupid question but I think I have seen other people ask it. Can a hernia affect weight loss? I have only lost about 3 lbs in the last 3 weeks. Not terrible for being at the end of my weight loss but slower then it has been. Could it be because of the hernia?
WLS 10/28/2002 Revision 7/23/2010
High Weight (2002) 240 Revision Weight (2010) 220 Current Weight 115.
Eventually - yea - you will need surgery...
Hala. RNY 5/14/2008; Happy At Goal =HAG
"I can eat or do anything I want to - as long as I am willing to deal with the consequences"
"Failure is not falling down, It is not getting up once you fell... So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again...."
Yes, surgery is the only way to permanently repair a hernia. Some people live with hernias for a long time (especially if they do not cause pain). The biggest danger is that there is the remote possibility of part of your intestine getting pulled up into the tear in the muscle.
The surgeon will likely cut along the same midline incision used for your RNY. It usually cannot be done laparoscopically, but I guess if it was small enough it could be. Mine required a 6x6 inch piece of mesh to be installed over the muscle to be sure it would not recur. Personally, I had a lot of pain (more than with my RNY, but it was easier recovery since I weighed a lot less) and had it for quite a while (a couple of months) in the area where the mesh was stitched to the muscle on one side.
No, hernias do not impede weight loss (except in that they might cause people to exercise less if they are painful).
Lora
The surgeon will likely cut along the same midline incision used for your RNY. It usually cannot be done laparoscopically, but I guess if it was small enough it could be. Mine required a 6x6 inch piece of mesh to be installed over the muscle to be sure it would not recur. Personally, I had a lot of pain (more than with my RNY, but it was easier recovery since I weighed a lot less) and had it for quite a while (a couple of months) in the area where the mesh was stitched to the muscle on one side.
No, hernias do not impede weight loss (except in that they might cause people to exercise less if they are painful).
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
When I would be taking a bubble bath and lift up my head and shoulders to start getting into a sitting position, the huge bulge that came up out of my belly looked like something out of a horror movie, and another friend (who also had a hernia) and I had a running joke about the aliens trying to escape from our bellies!
Lora
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
CarolineM
on 3/24/11 5:22 am
on 3/24/11 5:22 am
The danger if you don't have surgery is that the hernia can strangulate, which means basically it gets stuck in its "out" position and the tissue that's incarcerated will die eventually. That is an emergency situation.
I had an umbilical hernia 5 years ago, long before RNY. I'd had the hernia for at least a year, and always pushed it back in when necessary, until one night it wouldn't go back in. I ended up in the emergency room in agony, and had surgery about an hour after I arrived. It was small enough I didn't need mesh and recovery wasn't very painful or prolonged.
I had open surgery because I was MO then, but hernia repairs can often be done lap.
Caroline
I had an umbilical hernia 5 years ago, long before RNY. I'd had the hernia for at least a year, and always pushed it back in when necessary, until one night it wouldn't go back in. I ended up in the emergency room in agony, and had surgery about an hour after I arrived. It was small enough I didn't need mesh and recovery wasn't very painful or prolonged.
I had open surgery because I was MO then, but hernia repairs can often be done lap.
Caroline
HW 400 SW 355 CW 178 GW 180 
5'10"
5'10" 
I have actually been hoping for a hernia for years.
hernia surgery=free tummy tuck with some insurances :-)
hernia surgery=free tummy tuck with some insurances :-)
Ginny, Orange, MA
RNY with Silastic Ring: 7/3/03~Dr. Alan Newhoff, Phoenix, AZ
Total Weight Loss: #200
[email protected]
RNY with Silastic Ring: 7/3/03~Dr. Alan Newhoff, Phoenix, AZ
Total Weight Loss: #200
[email protected]
I actually thought about that but I had my panni removed 7 years ago and I doubt the surgeon that fixes my hernia would be willing or able to actually do a tummy tuck with muscle tightening or that insurance would actually pay for it.
WLS 10/28/2002 Revision 7/23/2010
High Weight (2002) 240 Revision Weight (2010) 220 Current Weight 115.
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