Hi folks,
Anyone here experienced a hernia before? I developed one and will have surgery soon to correct it. I hope.
Any stories or experience to share? Never been under the knife before.
Depends on what kind you have.
When I was born, I had an umbilical hernia. Basically, the hole in my stomach wall didn't close fast enough and some baby guts got out.
About 4-5 years ago, I developed another umbilical hernia (that's what was diagnosed). It appeared above and to the right of my navel. It eventually became strangulated, I suffered in pain for nearly 11 hours before hitting the hospital. Emergency surgery the next morning. The total damage, 6-8" scar, removed 1 piece of necrotic tissue (yes, it was dead!!) and 1 appendix (it had been pulled up into the hernia as well, the doctor said he's seen it only once before). Was in the hospital for nearly a week with a low grade fever. Off work for about 2 months.
Not long after I started noticing a bulge in the same area. This time a ventral hernia!! My new surgeon felt the previous surgeon did not repair the privious one properly. So, two years ago, back under the blade I go again. 10cm diameter defect, 22cm diameter "pouch", and described as huge. The old mesh was removed, and a new larger mesh was inserted. The old scar was cleaned up, but is still there. I have a dent that's almost the size of my fist to the right of my navel. Lastly, I have a 2 stage gut on me. From the navel down it's soft and floppy...Normal fat. Above the navel, it's surprisingly firm, and apparently going to be nearly impossible to loose...Because it's the fat that should be inside the stomach wall! About 3 days in the hospital, 1 month with a drain in me (yuck), 2 months off work and 2 months of modified.
Now, I have another ventral hernia located above and to the left of my navel. There is no current plans to operate on it, due to it's proximity to the prior hernia's mesh. It is currently under observation.
So ladies, if you wonder why that fat dude has a foot wide girdle/belt on, that's my abdominal binder which is helping keep things in. And if you're wondering why I keep rubbing the left side of my belly...It's just me massaging my intestines back in.
Fear not, I will not ask you to do it.
