Living with extremely large hernia
Posted , 44 users are following.
Hi,I had a c section 4 yrs ago which has left me with an extremely large ventral hernia,I also suffer with asthma and severe anxiety. I've left it for this amount of time as it's up to now only given me back ache and was worried about my daughters care while I was getting better,now I've been told that the ct said it contains all my intestines which makes it high risk of complications ,problem is now it's really starting to cause me pain I don't want to leave my daughter with out a mum but don't want this for the rest of my life,I'm 46 yrs old and my hernia is the size of 2 large melons ,please any advice would be appreciated x
3 likes, 95 replies
roseofsheryn sharon28194
Posted
linda39526 sharon28194
Posted
HI ,Sharon my name is Linda and I'm 50 and have been living with a very large ventral hernia also for over 7 yrs it has gotten so large now that I don't even want to go out of my house,cause I feel deformed..No Dr will operate on me cause I'm at very high risk.I have thyroid problems ,congestive heart failure,and high blood pressure on top of c.o.p.d. I wish I could just die most every day.I also have severe back pain.mine is so large it's cutting off the blood to my other organs and I don't know if I can live much long with this mass in my stomach.I understand very much how you feel.if you have any advice for me or you just want to chat I need as I'm sure you do too.god bless.
Axie linda39526
Posted
Hi Linda and Sharon,
I am 60 and I have a giant abdominal hernia as well. Those of you that have had a repair in th U.S. - where did you go? One doctor said I would likely die if I tried to have it repaired. (Either from massive infection or respiratory failure.) I can't live like this. I am a size 12 everywhere but my middle which is a size 24. I, too, rarely leave the house or even get dressed. And it is very painful. My poor husband is getting ready to retire and would like to be active and have a companion that could do things. I hate to see other people in the same situation but it helps to know I'm not alone.
donna41526 Axie
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Hi Axie. This is also to Sharon and Linda, as well as anyone else on this thread. My name is Donna and I'm relatively new to this site. I live in the Los Angeles area of Southern California, in a city called Long Beach. I have a massive umbilical hernia with intestinal involvement. It's so ugly, lumpy and big, it looks like an alien is trying escape thru my belly button. I've had this thing for about 14 yrs but had no health insurance for a long time. Now that I do, I'm trying to get my hernia repaired. My surgery was scheduled after tests and a CT scan but obstacles have been thrown in the way. My primary Doctor said he'd give medical clearance, but the visit before my surgery, he said no, my blood pressure was WAY too high. I've been put on 4 hypertensives and aspirin, made many changes to my nutrition and habits but it's still too high. So now my surgery is in limbo. Does anyone have the same symptoms/signs I do? I just wondered if they're normal. I have so much pressure on my stomach, I am very uncomfortable every day. It feels like I'm wearing a belt pulled very tightly, making it hard to breathe. I have nausea daily, often severe. With the intestine stuck in it, my bathroom habits are gross and painful. I'm miserable almost every minute of every day. I'm dizzy all the time, walk like I'm drunk. I'm sure my family is sick of hearing about it. Anyway, I feel awful for all of you who have posted here. But I feel like we can all relate, which brings some mental relief, like I'm not alone even when I feel alone. Does anyone have any updates to your situations and conditions?
laura61532 donna41526
Posted
donjuan323 sharon28194
Posted
donna41526 donjuan323
Posted
Hi DonJuan,
I don't have any words of help, just words of encouragement, I think. I think I understand what you're going through. I also have a huge hernia but my problems with not being able to have surgery are different than yours (blood pressure too high to have surgery & problems getting a necessary echocardiogram). But when you feel like crap, it's difficult to focus on nutrition and losing weight. Not only that, it takes energy to plan lower calorie meals and snacks plus any nausea you may have makes that even more difficult. I am constantly making poor choices because I feel so awful, not having enough energy to actually prepare meals, etc. so I grab whatever's easiest. My hernia won't let me eat much anyway because I fill up very easily and get almost instant stomachaches. Did your doctor offer any advice? ANY medications or services that might help at all? All I can offer is to keep posting - sometimes writing down your frustrations can get help a little. We all understand and can relate and we don't judge.
samantha84240 sharon28194
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nat67736 sharon28194
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I really hate to hear this for you! I am 26 and a mom of three kids under the age of four! I got diagnosed with an umbilical hernia about my third c section. They decided they were going to repair my hernia and take my gallbladder out at the same time. I was literally scared to death. I think I threw up atleast three times before getting ready for surgery. I went back and forth I was terrified! Obviously my hernia was nothing compared to yours but it caused me a great deal of pain all the time. Anyways I was mainly terrified I was going to die. I was packing my things up to leave before surgery started and my surgeon had to come
In there and talk me down lol! They had to come and give me a sedative before surgery even started! I didn't want to leave my babies with anyone but I did. I left them with their nana, they did great. Surgery was only two hours and although it hurt I'm on the mend, that was just 8 days ago! I am so thankful I did it. My hernia was small but it really hurt and really I've had three c sections and it kind of reminds me of that same kind of pain. Your tough, your a momma! Good luck!
lila54165 sharon28194
Posted
Hi, I'm in the US and my mother has a huge hernia that several doctors have said is inoperable. It's heartbreaking to see her in so much pain. Aside from the hernia pain she suffers from chronic pancreatitis due to her insides being loose basically. How do you manage pain? Mom is already on strong pain meds like morphine but sometimes that doesn't work. Theres also the issue of chronic diarrhea, nausea and bloating. Mom has said many times that death would be better. This just breaks my heart.