I have read a lot of different things....typically it seems that once they decide you have this, it's repaired immediately (in an ER visit).  My surgeon diagnosed me with it and set me up for laproscopy with hernia repair a few weeks later (9/22).  I was told to call if I had another "episode/attack" - mine are occasional, but agonizing, writhing pain for a few hours, then it resolves and I am FINE.  (I am extremely stubborn and didn't ever go to the ER because I knew they would tell me to see my surgeon about it....I would have gone if I went more than a few hours and the pain did not resolve, though, I really don't have a death wish, lol.)

Anyway - I ended up having the pain again, calling the surgeon's office, and they moved my surgery up to Friday, and it's outpatient, I should be released after a few hours.

Reading on here I have seen people say that the recovery was HORRIBLE from this.  I got the idea that some of those people - maybe all? - had open surgeries due to the emergent nature.  I am wondering if there are people out there reading who had a SMOOTH recovery after this?  Assuming the procedure stays laparoscopic, I was hopeful that my down time would be minimal and the more I read the more nervous I get.  When my gallbladder was removed (lap) it was done on a Thurs morning and I went back to work Mon and worked a regular 40 hr week.  I was telling myself that this would be similar to that.  Am I fooling myself big-time? 

Yes.

Also-- no way in hell I would wait on it. I understand you believe you have to, but if you have so much as a twinge, I'd get my ass into his office and demand you get opened up, and fast.

I was shopping the day after my gallbladder-- and was down several weeks after the hernia repair.

Your story is one I was thinking of......I had hoped yours was an extreme. 

Totally OT but I appreciate your posts and time you spend sharing here, I think I have told you that already but it's worth repeating.

I am going to have to warn my boss that this may not go as well as I was thinking.  I guess the fact that it's outpatient led me to believe that AT LEAST it would not be as rough a recovery as the RNY itself.  Oh well, needs to be done regardless. 

I do know that it has to be taken seriously and truly will show up at the ER if necessary.  Hoping to make it the less than 48 hours remaining without needing to, though. 

Happy surgiversary!!!!

Thanks!  :-)

 This message is for all of patients who have undergone gastric bypass (weight reduction) surgery. It is to inform you that a small percentage of patients who have undergone this type of surgery will develop severe abdominal pain due to internal hernias. This condition is called a Petersen’s hernia and must be treated surgically on an emergency basis.    
When patients lose a significant amount of weight, the fatty tissues in the abdomen decrease in size. In some patients, the position of the intestine can shift within the abdomen and become twisted and obstructed. 
If you should develop abdominal pain you must seek medical attention immediately. Petersen’s hernia can be successfully treated and full recovery is to be expected. Time is of the essence however.  

***If there is a delay in diagnosis and treatment beyond a few hours, there is the potential for loss of a significant portion of the small intestine and even death. ***
It is important that you be aware of this condition. If you develop abdominal pain, you must immediately seek medical attention and inform your physician that you have undergone gastric bypass surgery. You should also tell them that you have been informed about the potential for a Petersen’s hernia and wish to be examined by a surgeon on an emergency basis. 
While the incidence of this condition is relatively low (less than 5% of patients who have undergone gastric bypass surgery), it is a serious development that must be treated very quickly.     

Sincerely, Elliot R Goodman MD  
Beth Israel Center 
for Obesity Surgery  

I agree with Shari. I think your doc is an idiot for making you wait. JMO.

My surgery was lap, but the recovery was a nightmare. For me it was worse than child birth!! I hurt like a beottch every time I moved!! 

Good luck.

I know, from what I have read this is always done immediately.  I don't know if the fact that mine resolves is why he felt we were able to wait.  I plan to ask tomorrow, but I can tell you I will be glad when it's done and I don't have to worry about it any more.

I hate to hear that your recovery was so rough.  I am going to have to tell my boss that it might not be as "smooth sailing" as I originally thought.....

Thanks for the info!

For me, the pain was sudden onset, and I thought I would die. There is no way I could have waited even one day. It was quite literally the worst pain I had ever experienced. My surgery ended up open. The location of the hernia caused a major blood vessel to be cut when they inserted the lap tools, and they had to cut me open immediately to stop the bleeding. That's what made my recovery so rough. I had to be transfused twice, and for the first two days, I didn't have enough energy to even sit up at the sink and brush my teeth.

After I got my energy back, I felt much better. I was out of work for about 4 weeks due to that big-assed incision , but probably could have gone back after 3.

As to whether you are fooling yourself, you won't know until after surgery. I would try and plan for at least a week off if all goes well.

Well, when it happens I do wish I were dead....but for whatever reason it does resolve after a few hours.  I guess I have had such bad ER experiences that I would only have gone if it didn't resolve at some point.  I am half nuts, I guess, or maybe completely nuts.

So sorry you had the big bleed and conversion to open surgery.

Thanks for the info!!