Internal hernia repair

I've been lurking for awhile now and just decided to sign up and ask a question. It seems like no matter what is happening, there is someone on this board who has gone through the same thing and I have benefited from the posts. Has anyone had an internal hernia repaired? I am almost 2.5 years post op and I had surgery for this about 5 months ago and am still having problems with pain and nausea. I am going to contact my doctor about this and am not asking for medical advice. I am just wondering about what others have experienced - how long pain/discomfort lasted, nausea problems, etc. Like so many others, I had gained about 20 lbs. and lost 15 after the surgery that I have kept off so the nausea seems to be working for that. Cyndee

I am going for lab work tomorrow to see if I have a hernia or an ulcer. Can you tell me what your symptoms were and what they did to repair it? I feel bloated and I get nauseated even just looking at food. I get really gassy and always burping. How long did recovery take? I'm sorry I couldn't help you with your question but maybe you can help me with mine.

Teri, I would have sudden, severe pain in my gut, generalized that would eventually localize in the upper left quadrant after several days. It would last about 7-10 days diminishing as time went on. I would have nausea, bloating, and constipation. I would go to the emergency room but it was not at the hospital where I had my gb done (that was over an hour away and I was in too much pain to drive there) and they did not do the CT scan when I went in and was in so much pain. By the time I would have the scan it was usually about a week later when the pain was almost gone and things looked normal. This went on for 1-1/2 years before the last episode when the problem was coming back after 7 days instead of going away. That scan showed my entire small bowel had gone through the opening and was strangulated. I ended up having emergency surgery at 1 am. Really scary but I think if I had had the scan the first time I went to the ER it wouldn't have been so bad. The biggest lesson I learned is to never tell the ER check-in that I drove myself. If you can drive yourself they figure it isn't that bad - even when I told the triage nurse my pain was 10+. I know this is kind of long but I hope if you have an internal hernia that you can get it repaired sooner rather than later. Georgina, I'm waiting to hear back from my doctor so hopefully I will have an answer soon. Are you still having problems or are you pretty much back to normal? Thanks, Cyndee

Cyndee, Today I will be going for a ct scan so I'm drinking that white chalky stuff all morning. I do get pains and bloating but the only thing is that I started my monthly cycle this week and I'm on that Seasonal birth control so I only get it every three months and I hope that is the reason I am feeling this way and it doesn't turn out to be anything else. Did you get nauseated just by looking or the smell of food? I never had that problem and now since all this has come up I have been feeling this way. Friday I will go with my surgeon and he will tell me the results of my ct scan.

Terri, There is more information on my profile but not all internal hernias show up on scans of any kind. Mine didn't and was likely never going to either. It had to be found by exploratory surgery. I also had adhesions. I hope you feel better soon! Best, Vanessa

Oh Cyndee, I feel your pain. I had an internal hernia repair in July and I sure hope I don't have that pain again. I am sorry that your pain and nausea have continued. I had pain at about 2 yrs postop and had all the tests (gallbladder, EGD, Hidascan(tests gallbladder function), CT scan) all came back normal. In June I had severe upper stomach pain that went around to my back and vomitting, I contacted my dr in B'ham and he did a repeat of all these tests, still normal. I went to see him and he admitted me asap because I was vomitting and dehydrated and did a exploratory laproscopy which he suspected and was right that I had a severe internal hernia w/ adhesions, which I describe as scar tissue that looks like a spider web that our intestines usually flow freely through, but it became so bad that the intestines became tangled and strangulated. My dr said it only happens in about 2% and more often w/ people who have had open abdominal surgeries. My rny was laproscopic, but I have had 3 c-sections and an open hyterectomy. Anyway, I had to stay in the hospital for 4-5 days and I also lost about 10 lbs but I have gained about 5 back My dr said that it could happen again so watch out for the symptoms. I am sorry that you continue w/ your pain and nausea and would contact your doctor. Hope you feel better. Georgina

I had an internal hernia repaired in July at 20 months out. There is information regarding this on my profile towards the top in the medical information. I've never had time to formulate an article to my experience but the information is there. I am still experiencing nausea and I had pain until about a week ago. I've also had more surgery since then and so I'm not certain the true reason for the continued nausea. I hope you feel better soon! Best, Vanessa

Last year I had 2 internal hernia repairs within 6 months of each other. I had all they symptoms..pain, nausea, food was just nasty!! MY gb came out at the same time of my first hernia repair in FEbruary 05. I was fine for a while. In August I wet to the ER with severe abdominal pain..I couldn't even stand up!! I waited 2 hours and never got called back to triage..so I had dh drive me home. This was on a Sunday. WEnt to work on Monday..on TUesday went for an emergency visit with my surgeon. THe pain was getting worse. By 3 in the afternoon I was on the table. My appendix was poking out of the hernia, it was so bad!! Lost the appendix and had the repair. I am almost positive I have another one, but the doc can't find it!! HE wants to do an exploratory surgery at this point. I am resisting!! I am not in acute pain. I will be 3 years out on October 1. REnee

I know what you mean. I think I have another one but nothing showed up on the scan so I am afraid it is here we go again. Hope not. Hope it is still recovery. Like you I'm not so bad I can't stand it but I'm tired of hurting.