Surgeons Nurse sez Everyone that has Wls Gets A Hernia

Not sure how to respond to the nurse today when she told me these exact words.. I don't know how to feel now, Lucky or Mad..I have heard that others have had Hernias a lot sooner after wls than me..I am 7 years P.O. and today was told I have an Umbilical Hernia...Anybody have this and can tell me what to expect now as far as repairing it, how long it takes to heal?  thanks Wendy

The things Surgeon's and nurses don't tell you before Wls..GGGeeeeeeeezzzzz

I'm sorry to hear you're having to deal with a hernia now. I think your surgeon's nurse is exaggerating greatly, however. From Bariatric Times:

"The incidence of internal hernia after LGBP is between 0.2 and 8.6 percent based on multiple studies (Table 1). This incidence is higher than that seen with open GBP, and this is presumably due to decreased adhesion formation after laparoscopic surgery compared to open surgery.9 The creation of potential space as a result of weight loss may also be a contributing factor in the etiology of internal hernias, which often present in a delayed fashion."

What's interesting is that the incidence of hernia after open gastric bypass is actually lower. It's believed that adhesions may actually be a good thing in that case, and may be helping to keep the bowel loops in place. Also, weight loss in general contributes to hernia formation, as the mesenteric fat prior to weight loss helps keep everything where it's supposed to be as well.

I can't tell you anything about an umbilical hernia, unfortunately. My hernia was repaired many years ago, but it was inguinal (and needs to be redone at some point.)

Hope you get the help you need and have a speedy recovery.

The incidence of hernias with open surgery may be lower, but an incisional hernia from a 6-8 in*****ision is a lot more difficult to repair than a small lap hernia (and is much more painful as well)!

Lora

when I googled it, said being obese causes Hernias .

Sure, being obese can cause a hernia but it certainly doesn't happen to everyone.  More people get incisional hernias after WLS than have them going into surgery.  

As already pointed out, your surgeon's nurse is either woefully misinformed about how common hernias are or your surgeon is doing something that is resulting in a much higher incidence of hernias.

Lora

If it is everyone at that surgeon's practice, I would be wondering about his techniques.  It is definitely not everyone who has weight loss surgery.

So far no hernia here except a hiatal hernia I already had pre-surgery and was fixed at time of surgery.

Sorry for yours.