I HAVE A HERNIA NEED INFO FROM SOMEONE WHO HAD OR HAS ONE?

I have a ventral hernia (right above my belly button) that is getting fixed this Friday.
They were able to see my hernia through both an Ultrasound and a CT scan.  The pain
I have been feeling is like a cramp or pulling feeling.  When I sit down/get up too much
it gets agitated.  If I walk to fast for too long, it gets agitated.  It has literally had me doubled
over from the pain.  And...you are right.  The only relief is laying on your back for  awhile.

Originally,  I was told to wait until I have my loose skin removed to have it repaired.  However,
I was having so much pain they did the Ultrasound and CT scan.  It revealed a 5 inch hernia with 2 seromas.  Lucky me!  So, my WL surgeon is repairing it on Friday.

I would get a second opinion from a surgeon who does hernias regularly.

thaks Hollie..You are in my prayers for your hernia surgery..I am gonna see if my Prime doc will send me for a Cat Scan..God Bless and hugs and congrats on your weight loss.Susie SMith from PA

Your pouch is up high, underneath your ribcage, so if the hernia bulge is at your belly button, it is probably not affecting your pouch in any way.  Different people experience different pain with hernias, depending on the type, location, and size.  Mine was about 4 inches long and was right along the midline incision above my waist and was along the incision that was used for my open RNY.  Mine didn't bulge when I laid flat (usually that pulls everything back into the abdomen), but bulged when I stood up or, even worse, when I would do a "half sit-up" movement.  hat made it look like I was going to have an alien burst for the from my stomach at any moment!  I only hurt when it was bulging from bending or from things like vacuuming where the abdominal muscles were utilized.

Yes, a CT scan will show the hernia.  I have a CD with the CT scan I had (and the hernia was easy for even ME to see!).

l was not able to get the hernia and skin removal done at the same time (had to any for tummy tuck myself), but you are correct that many people get the skin removed at the same time.  You have to work that out with the surgeon, though, since they cannot bill the skin removal to insurance (considered cosmetic) and if they think it will take tooling, they cannot just do it at the same time and not bill you the extra cost (for additional OR and anesthesiologist time, etc.) some surgeons are willing  to do it and some are not.

Lora