Hernia???? Help please.

Hi everyone.... Most of you know my story. It was not the easiest ride. The open RNY was followed 4 days later with blocked bowel surgery. This was followed by a horrendous run with a non healing surgical wound that finally required a third surgery. I was just released from wound clinic a month ago. Finally.....until Sunday. Sunday I looked down and saw a two inch bulge poking out of the right side of my midriff about two inches above my belly button. Not a subtle bulge that could be a change in shape. Obviously SOMETHING NOT RIGHT. It is sore, hard to the touch, and seems to go up and down some but never dissapears. I suspect that I have developed a hernia. [a FOURTH surgery????] Has ANYONE ever heard of this? What happens? Any other ideas of what it could be? Anyone ever had this happen to them? I would appreciate ANY advice. I am not having any trouble eating or going to the bathroom. I am overall, down from a pre-surgery weight of 246 [went into surgery at 226] to about 163. My weight loss is slower because I have had so many complications I think. The severe anemia that I am still recovering from keeps me from exercising hard. I was only recently cleared for exercise at all and am still just walking and swimming. The wound kept my body focused on healing that so I think my pouch is still healing. I still have trouble with a lot of foods. I lose about 5 pounds a month and that is okay by me. I understand that the complications would slow my progress down a little. I will get there. But currently I am worried about this bulge. I don't have a surgeon so will have to find out what is going on with docs that have never done bypass surgery.....but given my experience obviously I should not return to the original surgeon! Does anyone have any ideas for me? Thanks.

Wow. What a time you have had. It sure sounds to me like a hernia. I'm sure any doc. could diagnos is for you and tell you what to do. I'll be praying for you. By the way. I've been to your city. It's beautiful. Karen

I am glad you got to visit my pretty city. I love it here. I am seeing the surgeon tomorrow. I decided to "self-diagnose" and skip the regular MD because a hernia is pretty obvious! It seems that hernia is the most common reason for a second surgery.....or in my case, a fourth surgery. I am always happy to hear the "good news" stories here on the board. I am happy when people have a good turn out. But it is important to remember that bypass surgery has a very high complication rate. Fully 20% of people who have it DO NOT have a good time....they have complications like I do. The weight loss is not that fun when you are simply sick all the time and go from surgery to surgery, wound care clinic to wound care clinic. I put "hernia" into the search engine here. I also looked it up on line. Here is what people need to know: 1. Watch the lifting for A YEAR. The scar tissue is still healing you all! 2. Don't think a surgically caused hernia is the same as other hernias. It is not. Actually if there is pain [I have this] or vomiting [I don't have this] you can die...quickly! If you suspect a hernia [you have a bulge suddenly above the belly button to the left, right or center] then see a doctor right away. If you start vomiting and/or have severe pain, go NOW to the ER. 3. Sometimes hernia repair is put off for a year. This depends on the hernia and symptoms you may be having. The ONLY cure for this type of hernia is surgery. 4. Hernias can develop at any point. The surgery is usually not laprascopic which means you are opened up again which means that you have a 90-100% chance of a follow up wound infection. This may require additional surgery...as mine did. It is not a pretty picture, right? My main intent here is not to scare anyone. You have a 4 out of 5 chance of NOT having any complications. But I do want people to know that: 1. If you do get symptoms they could be serious and need attention now. 2. There is a lot of information here and in other places on the net that will explain hernias, surgeries for them, and possible complications. You can find out what you need to know. 3. Hernias can occur months, even years, out. I am scared, but I think I will be okay. I just think that a voice of someone who does not think that this surgery is "the best ever!" might also be helpful to people considering the surgery and healing from the surgery. Am I happy with the weight loss? Yes. Would I do it again? Nope. Terry

Terry, my heart hurts for all you've gone through...I'm sorry this was a poor choice for you... Many blessings.... RNY 10/31/03 257/161/157

Yes, it is a hernia. The surgeon [not the original one...naturally] says that the hernia must be fixed within a few months. So, I will try to make it until September. By then I will have lost some more weight and the surgery will be safer. If the hernia goes bad then the surgery will be sooner and an emergency. That will not sit well. But I will hope this will be the FINAL surgery for me. Thanks for your support everyone.