Question:
Colon poking through hernia opening?

I'm 11 months post op of open RNY. Felt my hernia pop at two days post op and have carried this around as I've lost 113 pounds. I've had absolutely no pain from Hermie. I have 38 pounds to lose to my personal goal weight. I saw a general surgeon a few weeks ago and he sent me for a CT scan last week. My Hermie is directly under the RNY incision site and is above my belly button. The results showed it "is of a significant size" and the colon is also protruding through the opening. (I thought the colon was in the back area and lower in the stomach.) I haven't spoken to the doctor directly yet because I have one more test to do. I have been trying to wait to lose more and then have the TT and hernia repair at the same time. Has anyone else waited while the colon is through the hernia opening? I am very careful but I know that if the hernia should get trapped on the outside of the wall then it would mean emergency op and no TT. Am I gambling too much?    — jocelyn (posted on November 7, 2003)

November 6, 2003
I too am struggling with the same delema. I still have about 20 pounds I want to lose. I am not sure how long to wait, but I decided to start the process now. The wait around here to see a plastic surgeon is about two months and then it is supposed to take about 6-8 more weeks for insurance approval. I figure with this wait time and the time I will have to wait after approval for an actual surgery date should get me closer to my goal. But you know what? I would rather have the TT/hernia repair with me wanting to lose a little more weight than to wait and end up with the hernia repair and then have to pay for the TT. Another thought, is if you have approval for the whole process and end up with problems with the hernia maybe if you are lucky your plastic surgeon will be able to squeeze you in. I wish you all the luck 325/170/150
   — Angela A.

November 6, 2003
The Colon is another name for the large intestine.(http://www.hyperdictionary.com/dictionary/Colon) Since our plumbing has been re-routed, it's hard to tell where the small and large intestines are these days :) I have been fortunate to not develop a hernia (that I know of), but the definition of a hernia is "abnormal bulging of internal organs through a weakness in the muscular wall", so, while there are risks of having the hernia, I believe a lot of people deal with them until they get to a weight their comfortable with getting a tummy tuck. Good Luck
   — Carolyn M.

November 6, 2003
Are you able to push the intestines back in? If it is stuck in there to long it can cause the bowel to die and then you would have to have surgery to resect the colon. You definitely need to talk to your surgeon as soon as possible
   — Kim P.

November 7, 2003
Why to you say NO TT? You can get an abdominoplasty approved without having a hernia.
   — star .