some questions...

Good morning LW's ~ 2 questions...

Has anyone had a hernia happen post-op? If so, what were your symptoms, location, and remedies? 

How do you keep your digestive system moving smoothly post-op? 

I see the surgeon for the pain I still have (level 2-3 so I have not gone to ER or urgent care) under sternum. I have been taking the omeprazole daily now for about a week now. Haven't changed anything in my routine as far as food. If I press down in the area I feel the pain, I can feel pain...make sense?? I can feel it after I eat, drink, or do nothing. So, I thought maybe a hernia or some scar tissue or whatever. All I know is that it wasn't there 2 weeks ago or so.

As for the 'regularity' issue...I know I caused that by not hydrating (big no no) and I switched up the calcium because of the family issues and lack of time to get to the vitamin shop and took reg cal citrate w/D but no magnesium - went on like that for about 4-6 weeks and ugh, another no no. So, I am taking my probiotics (never stopped) and made the trip to get the right calcium and am on day 2 of my tried and true vitamin routine.  BUT...what else can I do?? I don't want to take softeners. Does anyone take anything else that  helps out? 

Thanks for listening and support...as always... :)

I had an umbilical hernia after getting my tubes tied. The pain was on and off, definitely worse when I strained or tried to lift. many times you can actually feel it with your hands. Press where the pain is and see if there is a lump you are able to push back in. I have to take prilosec 2 times a day or they don't work...just a thought.

As far as the regularity, I had huge problems with that. I now take 2 fiber capsules a day. I buy the generic ones at Wal-Mart and they do the trick. One a day isn't enough.

Shannon...thank you so much for sharing!! I can feel a little bump when I push on it but don't really know if I am pushing anything back in...

The fiber capsules, I'll look into. Right now I add fiber powder to my coffee every morning (3g fiber) and take probiotics (4billion whatever) daily. I thought of the psyllium husk powder but thought...eeekkk, so maybe the capsules will be good. I'll try that over the long weekend for me since tomorrow is my friday :) that way if there are any problems, no one at work has to know about it...lol

Thanks again!! :)

i developed a small hernia after surgery. it doesn't cause me too much pain, but when it does, i feel it on the left side of my stomach area. its a tender soreness and keeps me bent over. it hurts more if i try to straighten up. it lasts maybe 30 mins, then subsides. it feels a little better if i push on it, but not much. i just lay down and let it pass.

as for the acid reducers i developed a severe bleeding ulcer after surgery so as per my doc, i'm on nexium for life.

alas, the one problem i do not have is irregularity. thank god for small things...lol.

Hi Diana,
No hernia here, but I do have the other problem.
I have been on 2 Colace(Walmart brand), 1 tablespoon of Miralax(Walmart brand) and I drink lots of fluids everyday since the beginning.  If all else fails I use a suppository.  I'm thinking of adding my Activia back to my daily routine.  That helped some.

I had the other problem before surgery.  After I had my gall bladder out it was horrible. Ofcourse my eating was horrible also and I ate lots of fatty things.
Linda

Diana - no hernia here, but the other problem - YES.

I take Probiotics.  It helps but colace helped me the best (when I had my PS they prescribed it for me, but it was just an OTC type).  I typically don't drink enough fluids either.  Now - if you need something help get things "moving" - there is something called Smooth Move - its a laxative herbal tea.  I had the chocolate flavor and it was very good. My pregnant daughter uses this when she has issues.  Its very gentle. 

I find potato chips work well for me to get things moving  - well, that's what I tell myself anyway - LOL...

I had a hernia before and after surgery. They corrected it during my RNY but with the emergency surgery for the bowel obstruction they had to take all the repair out to get to the bowel obstruction. In turn the hernia poked its little head back up in just a matter of months. It was like a knot that popped up. Before my RNY it was like a babies head almost. Kind of gross.  It was painful especially at the end of the day. It seemed if I kept my bowels as regular as possible it wasn't as painful. The doctor said the only way to correct the problem was through a hernia repair. He definately wanted me to get it fixed out of fear that I would have another bowel obstruction if I didn't do it.  Two weeks ago I under went that surgery. Hernia wise I am feeling so much better. He put in a huge mesh patch. I am still a little stiff and sore but it seems to have worked this time. I can no longer lift anything heavier than a milk carton. That is a pain in the butt! I have to watch everything I do but it is better than looking pregnant when I am not. I hope this works. Guess time will tell. Check with your doctor.

 No hernias since surgery, but had one years ago. They can be quite painful or can be nothing at all.

Check with your doctor and keep us posted, please!

Hugs, 

 sounds like a hernia to me .... as U can tell small hernias are very frequent in the  WL community . 

As far as the BM go ....constipation seems to be  a frequent problem too .. though not for me because I eat something fibrous every night in bed -  either air popped popcorn or  bran pillow cereal.   The cereal really cleans me out lol , 100 % guaranteed .  

A better less caloric way is dates and/or  figs every day .   

I also have very little problem because i eat VEGETABLES and SALAD  pretty much every day .   As long as I get my many cups of fiber in ... I actually LOSE  eating MORE ....teh problem is when i stop ...

and being an overeater I am actually attracted  to more dense , sweet ,processed foods.