Hernia Repair?

So I was having some pains and was told it was likely bowel kinking and that they would do (I thought) and endoscopy and maybe pin down my intestines. So surgery was booked. During PATTS I was told it was going to be laparoscopic surgery for a Hernia repair. I was unaware I had a "hernia" but ok. My surgery was moved up suddenly so everything went pretty quickly. I went to hospital Monday afternoon, checked in...next thing I know I woke up in massive pain and was home by 8pm. Never saw the surgeon before or after, so was kind of unsure what had even happened, lol.

I did call the office this morning and was told that they "closed all the open spaces" where bowel might poke through I guess and that was pretty much it. That's all the detail I received.

NOW.....my question is has anyone had hernia repair before and what is the recovery like? My intestines are KILLING me. All around my belly button area all my intestines are like in constant stomach ache mode. When I phoned the office and asked they said as long as it's not getting worse don't worry, but every time I eat or drink as SOON as I swallow my lower intestines start to "move" and ....massive stomach mode is all I can say. It's like the worst tummy ache ever that seems to come and go, but always comes when I eat something. Is that normal?

Just looking for any info about recovery or what is normal. Thanks =)

There are different types of hernias. Ventral hernias come through the muscles in the front of the stomach and often will show a bulge on your abdomen when they are stuck.  There are internal hernias often called Petersen's hernias and they get stuck internally with no bulge.  I've had both repairs.  If you had a ventral hernia and it was at the belly button then it will be tender.  I have a high pain tolerance and always get discharged same day for almost any surgery I get so I can't gauge my pain vs yours but you will be tender.

I had a petersens repair done in October, and I also have a high pain threshold so it was not too bad.  Could it be gas that you are feeling, from when they pump it into you to do the surgery?  Moving around, walking etc should help with that if it is gas. 

Hope you feel better soon.

I'm also supposed to be having a hernia repair in a few week with Dr.Jackson at TWH. No matter how much begging I did, he would NOT sign the papers for a same day surgery....said I HAD to stay 2-3 days for pain control as it was a much more painful operation than the RNY.

My hernia is a hole in the muscle near the belly button. It is always somewhat tender but maybe once a month or so the bowel will pop out and I am in excruciating pain until I can get it to go back in.  Im always wondering when the time will come when it does NOT go back in and I am rushed into surgery.

The complicating factor for me is that I have a 5 month old who is breastfed and will NOT take a bottle. I will have to postpone surgery for at least another month until I can get him to take a bottle. I cannot be away from him for 3 days with no way for anyone to feed him.

Im surprised they let you out the same day.  It's awful that you don't even have a clear understanding of what they did to you. Can I ask where your surgery was and who was your surgeon.

I wonder how common these umbilical hernias are post RNY?

It's funny...I do usually have a high pain tolerance...but I was saying to my mother...this one sorta kicked my butt a little. My gallbladder was easy peasy, RNY....I felt like someone played football with me while I was asleep (bruised) but otherwise it was much better than I expected. This one, I said to my mom....does not feel like it should be a day surgery, lol. It IS for everyone as I understand it, but with this one my "insides" hurt more. Usually it's just my outsides being bruised and tender.

I have to say, I think it is ME and that I expected too much maybe. So far it IS getting slightly better (I don't want to jinx myself) and I DID just have surgery Monday 4pm. I was just surprised that I didn't bounce back from this one like I normally do and it worried me BECAUSE I went in blind. It's not like me to just go "Oh ok" and go with the flow with out REALLY knowing exactly what it is that is being done and what the result will be.....but I did. Knowing nothing at all about hernias (and I was not even sure that I had one) I just didn't know if what I was feeling was normal. It's good that you are staying in a day or 2. I would say 1 day in isn't a bad idea for this just to get your footing. Have you thought about pumping and freezing the milk? Anyway, thanks so much for your responses and I hope your surgery goes quick and easy for you =)