Hernia Question

Has anyone had a hernia since the surgery?  How did you first suspect it was one?  I made a comment to a friend that my pants were feeling tighter even though I have maintained the same weight for a year now and have gotten smaller in other areas.  Then I noticed that a part of my stomach (which of course has a lot of hangy flabby stuff) felt hard and a little distended.  Yes, I am going to call my surgeon, but not at 11:50 tonight!  Just thought I'd get some opinions here... Thanks!  Barb

I have had hernia repair since wls...mine however, was high up(right under my breastbone, so when it appeared it was very obvious...it sounds like you could possibly have one though...Dede

Hi Barbara, I have had three hernia repair surgeries from 2005-2006 all about four months apart exactly.   The symptoms I learned started out slowly....Belching more than usual, with the feeling that I just could not suck in (whats left of my tummy) w/o slight pain, which I was always  able to do , also I could not go to RR...(for about a day)...by that night I was in the ER with the most excruciating pain in my upper stomach paging my surgeon to come quick!!!! This past December  2wks before my wedding it happened again and hopefully for the last time, my doc went in and was able to place a mesh...which we were trying to avoid, only because they usually have to open you up for this, but PRAISE GOD my doc was able to do it lap. because again this was 2 wks before my wedding!!!!   Anyway, bottom line get it checked out....hope and pray for your sake it's nothing serious!!! Hugs, Amy

Hi Barb, I'm a little late to the party but I have a hernia, a ventral incisional hernia, which basically means that it goes long my incision line, from my breastbone to my belly button. My doc doesn't do surgeries laparoscopically, and so I had a large incision which healed beautifully except for this hernia. It started about four months after my surgery and has spread to the point where it's quite uncomfortable and ugly. I plan on getting it fixed, but am trying to work with my insurance company to also cover a tummy tuck at the same time. If it's a big hernia it's not dangerous in terms of strangulation of bowel, but it's uncomfortable and it will continue to grow. Since I work as a nurse I'm very physically active, with lots of bending, twisting, pulling and lifting. I try to limit the lifting and I wear one of the waist cinchers from flexees and that helps a lot. Also, in my workouts I don't include any abdominal work. I tell ya, I can't wait to get this thing fixed! Good luck, Vickie