What problems have you had due to your hernia? Have you been able to get relief?
Posted , 7 users are following.
Hello! My name is Donna and I'm relatively new to this site, which I found to be so helpful. I have a very large umbilical hernia with intestinal involvement. I've had a CT scan with contrast and after my surgeon said it was fixable, surgery date was set, but medical clearance was needed from my primary doctor. He refused to give it so the surgery was put on hold. I have uncontrolled hypertension, was put on 4 hypertensives, made many nutritional changes but it's still too high. I'm having bad side effects from all the medication (serious dizziness, lightheadedness, tiredness) but I'm also having problems with my hernia. I'm soooo nauseous all the time, it feels like the hernia is getting bigger. It feels like the hernia is pushing back on my stomach so I have to eat only small portions. Otherwise it feels like I've eaten Thanksgiving dinner but get no relief from unbuttoning my pants, lol. Sometimes this feeling makes it difficult to breathe. I can't sit too long because of the abdominal pressure. I'm in pain and am uncomfortable every minute of the day. Now I'm experiencing (I'm sorry for being gross) diarrhea every day, which adds to my discomfort. At least I THINK all of this is due to the hernia.
Is there anyone here who has similar problems? Were you able to do anything to get any relief?
0 likes, 16 replies
Tammyshernia donna41526
Posted
Do you live in the states I couldn't even eat 1 chicken wing without the same feeling just make sure you fine a dr see how many he was preformed there is a girl that we talk back and forth see is really have a lot of problems,I check everything I could about him ,,,,he was and is the best I couldn't breath I would cough tell I puked.i felt I was having a heart attack I like like that for 5 yrsso they took out my gallbladder I still had the same problem...then I found the best dr it was a 100.000 surgery my hernia was called paraesophageal,hernia and that when the intire stomach go up into the chest
donna41526 Tammyshernia
Posted
Hi Tammy! Thank you so much for replying to my post! I've read other posts you had written & felt so bad for you, you've been through so much. Yes, I live in the States, in Southern California. I have done research on both my primary doctor and the surgeon to whom he referred me. I checked out as many patient reviews as I could find, after all we patients know our bodies than the doctors! The first doctor I saw (after I finally was put on health insurance) examined my hernia and did NOTHING! Told me before he would help with my problems, I had to have a mammogram and a Pap smear! I finally found a good doctor after lots of research and was happy to find he accepted my insurance. He didn't give medical clearance because he wanted to make sure my bp didn't cause problems during surgery. I have an appointment on Monday to see if there's any improvement.
Wow, your hernia sounded just awful. Are you doing okay now?
Tammyshernia donna41526
Posted
Donna I do believe blood pressure is almost always high with a hernia mine would go as high as 200/96 I could never seem to get it down as soon as I had my surgery it's back to normal it seems to go up it I get a sinus infection or the flu but mine was always high.. I could get always ge it down by breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth I would have to do that at lease 6 times a day and it always worked
donna41526 Tammyshernia
Posted
Hi Tammy! I'm sorry it took so long to write back, I've had a unusually busy 3 days, with doctor appointments and whatnot. Wow, your bp sounds as bad as mine! My MD panicked when mine hit 202/118 several months ago. Got it down to 166/113 - that's when they said it was still too high for surgery and put it on hold. Well, on Monday, I finally got it down to 141/85 and was given the green light to call the surgeon. But this is still contingent upon my echocardiogram showing my heart is strong enough for a long-ish operation. My echo was approved twice before but was road blocked the first time my insurance sent me to a pediatric cardiologist (I'm 54!) and the second time I was sent to a practice in which the only Doctor there who accepted my insurance had retired a month prior! That's my kind of luck. I actually find out today where I'm being sent next. I will definitely try your breathing trick because my bp needs to STAY down or they'll cancel again. Thank you for the advice!
Tammyshernia donna41526
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linda41419 donna41526
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Hi Donna ,
Sounds like the pain is bringing your blood pressure up .I had hypertension & they put me on atorvastatin (for cholesteral ) & my blood pressure went way down , go figure . I was also on bp medication & they had to take me off of it . My bp is now still low . I had a very large hernia in my upper abdomen from a previous reconstructive surgery . My liver had been placed in the wrong place . Anyway good surgeon fixed this problem .
donna41526 linda41419
Posted
Hi Linda! I'm so glad you responded to my post - thank you so much! I agree with you that my pain is elevating my bp but my doctor said it shouldn't elevate it to 166/113. That was an improvement from 186/118. I was told the systolic would have to be 140 before surgery could be rescheduled. I was placed on 1 hypertensive at a time and when it didn't help enough, he added another.
Oh my gosh, that is so awful your liver had been put in the wrong place! You must've been in so much pain. Are you still doing okay as far as your hernia?
Esoteric donna41526
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donna41526 Esoteric
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Hi Esoteric! Thank you for your reply! Did your pain disappear after the mesh removal? Three years is a really long time to suffer like that! My surgeon told me he was placing a biologic mesh called Strattice, which had good reviews from what I could find. Your post makes me think I need to be sure that's what the surgeon will actually use instead of what's cheapest! (My insurance isn't the best, but I'm very grateful to have it.)
Esoteric donna41526
Posted
Hi Donna
It did disappear. I would possibly look for a second opinion about the mesh. For my second surgery he used two strong stitches of "nylon like" material to close it. Usually an umbilical hernia is small enough to just be "sewn" closed.
I'm not trying to tell you what to do but if you can go without putting something artificial in your body I would highly recomend it. You never know how your body will react. For me it caused major nerve damage because the mesh doesn't expand like your belly does.
Hope you get well soon.
linda3750 Esoteric
Posted
Same thing happened to me. Just had mesh removed on May 11th due to severe allergic reaction. Lots of swelling, pain and many other symptoms. Doc said my umbilical hernia could have easily been fixed with a suture (which is what he did after removal). Only had mine in about 4 months. Tons of grief from it. So I agree with your advice. Get more opinions before having mesh put in.
donna41526 Esoteric
Posted
Hello again, Esoteric. Please forgive me for not replying sooner, some days I don't feel well enough to go online.
I'm very glad to hear your pain did go away after your mesh removal. I'm definitely going to be doing more research on mesh! My surgeon did tell me the mesh he's using will slowly dissolve after the scar tissue grows throughout it and that will strengthen that area. My hernia is REALLY big and oh so ugly. I'm going to have two 4" incisions on either side of the hernia and possibly a bowel resection. Then he'll sew my abdominal muscles together to and the mesh put in place at some point. I'm supposed to be in the hospital for nearly a week. I was supposed to have surgery on 08/02 but my bp remains too high. I have an appt with my primary doctor tomorrow so I hope my bp is now acceptable.
Thank you so much for your well wishes!!
Gate_Keeper donna41526
Posted
My blood pressure is well controlled. I am in the UK and 4 weeks ago, my umbilical hernia was repaired with a mesh. The operation was a positive experience. Out of choice, I walked into the OR. Rap music was being played loud. I climbed onto the table. The anaesthetist put a needle into the back of my hand and before I knew it, I fell asleep. I was given a local anaesthetic. The cut was 5 inches and the wound was closed with Steri-Strips and dressed. No stitches. Next thing was waking up in recovery. No post op nausea and I had I/V Fentanyl for the pain. My heart was monitored- all OK.
That day must have been plastic surgery day, as everyone else in recovery had 'nose jobs', mostly women. After 2 hours, I was wheeled into a private room and given sandwiches and coffee. Within I hour, I was walking and 3 hours later, I was able to go home. I walked to the car. It was painful for the first 3 days, but only when moving around. The pain tablets were paracetamol and codeine. Well, so far so good. This was 5th operation, so I knew what to expect. 4 weeks on, no pain at all. I must be one of lucky ones not to have a problem with a mesh. In 1994, I had an inguinal hernia repaired with a mesh. It is still in there and again, no problems. I was younger in those days and a bit silly. I tried to have sex within 10 days post op and the wound split open. A lesson learned.....be lucky!
sunnycms Gate_Keeper
Posted
Anyway, did your hernia cause any gastro symptoms like bloating, tummy aches, constipation, or diarrhea? Just wondering IF this is a umbilical hernia and if a hernia like that can cause a bit of stomach upset,
Thanks for listening.
donna41526 Gate_Keeper
Posted
Hi GateKeeper! I'm very sorry I haven't checked this site sooner to see your reply. I've been trying to do everything I could to get my surgery done. I FINALLY have my BP controlled with meds and nutrition so my primary doctor said all I need now, for medical clearance, is an echocardiogram. Every time something is approved, something else screws it up! Like the cardiologist I was sent to doesn't accept my insurance or the wrong test was ordered. So once I can have the damn test I can get my surgery scheduled.
It sounds like your surgery is exactly what I would like to happen for ME! I'm so glad your recovery was quick and uneventful. (Except for your inguinal hernia repair!) I wish my surgery would be outpatient as well but my hernia is so huge and has my intestines twisted in it, I'll be in the hospital for about 5 days. I can't wait to be able to put on socks and shoes like a normal person again!
donna41526 sunnycms
Posted
Hi Sunny, it does sound like you have a small hernia but I'm not sure if it's umbilical. Mine is straight thru my belly button and it's large and lumpy and no longer looks like a belly button! I have NO idea how I got it, I just remember it showing up one day while I was recovering from venous stasis after severe sciatica, like 14 years ago. It didn't give me problems until like 18 months ago, which is so weird because I used to be able to go to the gym daily and take kenpo karate lessons with no problems. It started giving me problems slowly and now I'm constantly uncomfortable and nauseous with many digestive problems. Definitely get it checked out because fixing it early is so much better and easier on you. Good luck!!