What to do about hernia - advice?

I've had a hernia for quite a few years located above my belly button.  Blew the hole when I had really bad food poisoning and litterally couldn't stop throwing up.  Anyway, back then the surgeon (not my rny surgeon) said it couldn't be really repaired when I was so heavy.  Fast forward to now and my rny surgeon is planning on repairing it and working with a PS so I can get all the excess skin removed at the same time (panni, butt, inner thighs, and stomach area).  So I've been putting it off as long as possible because I'm scared, I don't want to go through recovery again and have to work so hard to get back in shape, and I wanted to be sure I was done losing and at a stable weight.  Also, I have a 5K in April, a 12K in May, my tap dance recital in June and the half I'm training for in July.  My PS said I'll be out a month, and only allowed to walk on flat lands for 8 weeks afterwards.  The thing is, my hernia has been acting up more and I'm not sure how long I can wait.  I also wanted to do the San Jose Rock and Roll in October.  How long realistically can I expect to be out and how hard will it be for me to get back in shape for my half?  The one I'm most concerned with is the July 18th because I am raising mone for CCFA for that one.  If I have to have surgery sooner, will I still be able to do the half?

Thanks for any advice.
Jan

I just went through this and had my hernia surgery in Sept along with a body lift.  My hernia was between my belly button and pelvis and about 3in.  It was also a very old hernia (prob 10 yrs) that had been held in by my fat.  Once I had lost a significant amount and it had no support it would pop out like the movie alien at the most inconvient moments.  It then got to the point that it would not stay put and was causing me a lot of pain.   The recovery time for the hernia was longer than the PS.  6-8 weeks of not lifting anything - walking for exercise after 4 weeks, running after 8 weeks.  No yoga or weight bearing exercise until 8 weeks.  It did take me a while to get my running back to what it had been.  If you can wait until after your July half - you should be ready for the Rock & Roll - maybe doing a run/walk.

I also waited as long as possible for the surgery (and had planned on waiting another year) but my hernia decided that it would not wait.  Combining the 2 procedures is defiantly the way to go.  I had very little pain after the procedures and was up and moving (slowly and carefully) the next day.  I did have 1 night in a recovery center but many docs send you home the same day.  My Doc was Dr. Fazilat in Mt. View. My RNY surgeon Dr. Zare worked with him to combine the procedures - with Dr. Zare doing the hernia repair while I was open for the ps.  Another thought on combining the procedures.  If you get the hernia repaired first and then do ps at a later date, it may change what they can tighten as far as your ab muscles during the ps. We have all worked really hard for our new bodies and if we are going to shell out the dough for ps - then we really want to get all the benefits from it.  My upper and lower abs are flat and tight - they look really nice.

Being at goal weight was the major deciding factor.  I had been at goal with a stable weight for 9 months.  Normally you would want to wait 12-18 months before considering ps as your skin is still changing - but the benefits of 1 surgery vs 2 well outweigh the time frame. 

Good luck - feel free to let me know if you have any questions!

Thanks for all the info.  Dr. Legha will do the hernia with Dr. Connolly in Mt. View doing the PS.  They've done this together a lot.  Dr. Connolly said he'll put another layer of stitches to tighten up my abs which will also do double duty on keeping the hernia closed after Dr. Legha repairs it.  I haven't reached goal, but my body might have decided that this is goal.  I've been pretty stable at this weight since January, though I wouldn't mind losing another 15-20 pounds.  I'm almost 16 months out.  I was hoping to wait until Oct. after the Rock and Roll, but don't know if the hernia will let me.

Jan

Oh, I forgot to ask.  Did you drop a size?  How much weight did they take off?

Thanks.
jan

I did not drop a size - they took off 2-3 pounds of skin.  Everything fit the same except that I did not have skin trying to pop out.  I do look fantastic in a bathing suit!  I did not have my thighs done and really need them done!  They were actually my worst offender in the excess skin dept and are still an ugly reminder.

I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Carolyn

Sorry, Jan, to hear all this...if it is giving you that much issue, then if you could have it done ASAP and I mean in the next week, then I would go ahead and do it and you would be fine for July. Otherwise, I'd wait if you really want to do the race.

And I know it sucks but if you can't do the race then you can't...your health is more important (listen to me...I know, I know it's hard to grasp that when we love our fitness routines, right?)

I got your back girl.

meow