I have a hernia!! Open post-ops beware!!

Hey everyone, I just wanted to post a little advice to the post-ops who have had an "open" procedure. I was coughing this past Sunday and I felt a pop in my abdomen. I am 9 months post-op but I have been good about still "splinting" my incision line when I cough. I didn't do it this time and now I have a hernia. I only have about a 6" incision line, but still, it happened to me. My friend who works for my surgeon said this is a pretty common thing to have happen during the first 12 months after surgery. So, all you open post-op folks, make sure you hold your abdomen and apply pressure at the incision line when you cough or sneeze. I don't want you to end up like me. Also, pray this doesn't affect my mission trip I am taking to Africa in June. If I have to have surgery I will probably not be able to afford to go on the trip. In Christ, Sherri