incisional hernias after open surgery?

Cicerogirl, The PhD
Version
on 1/20/08 8:58 am - OH

I have a follow-up appt with my surgeon on Feb. 7th, so I will definitely ask her then, but I was wondering if anyone knows anythign about developing incisional hernias after open WLS? When I lay (or is ti "lie"?!?) on my back, my tummy is flat and squishy all over, but if I pull upward in kind of a half sit-up position, there is a huge, hard bulge that appears down the length of my tummy. When I stand up, only the area at the bottom of the incision sticks out and is hard. Several people have suggested that this is an incisional hernia which will probably need to be repaired surgically. Anyone know anything about these? It doesn't hurt, but is kind of tender after I try to do the exercises that involve the stomach muscles (which, for some reason, I am having trouble with, anyway... it's like I have no stomach muscle strength at all). Lora

14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained

You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.

Valerie G.
on 1/20/08 10:45 am - Northwest Mountains, GA

DS on 10/31/05

Awww, just wait until Doc Rita pokes at that thing -- it will be sore after that! It definitely sounds like a hernia to me -- because you're describing just what I saw with mine. Dr. Rita can fix you up, and it wasn't bad at all. It was very cool going back to the bariatric unit at Kettering again being a normal weight. I felt like a little kid, but once again, the nicest nurses around! I took two weeks off of work for my repair.

Valerie
DS 2005

There is room on this earth for all of God's creatures..
next to the mashed potatoes

Robin W.
on 1/20/08 12:42 pm - Franklin, OH

RNY on 11/17/03

This can also be a good thing if you want a tummy tuck. SOOMETIMES insurance will pay for both sugeries at the same time. At times I wish I had a hernia LOL I could really use a TT. Robin

4'10" - 47 I'm short but not petite and I will weigh more than a 5th grader
Start weight 220
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind" Dr. Seuss

Cicerogirl, The PhD
Version
on 1/20/08 8:17 pm - OH

RNY on 08/27/07

Hey, it's the Dr. Rita club! I just LOVE her! When I saw her for my 3-month follow-up and was down exactly 50 pounds, I think she was more excited than I was!

Hmmm... the possibility of getting insurance to cover a TT along with this (assuming it IS a hernia)...? Cool (because I am definitely gonna NEED a TT)!

Lora

14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained

You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.