Question:
Do many get lots of abdominal hernias months after this surgery?

I was recently told that a lot of post op patients get abdominal hernias, three or more, months after surgery. Has this happened to you? Is it painful? Is the surgery to repair them painful?    — kathy S. (posted on June 1, 2000)

June 1, 2000
Hi! I had a proximal RNY 8 months and 107 pounds ago. Was
   — Barbara F. G.

June 1, 2000
Hi! I had a proximal RNY 8 months and 107 pounds ago. Was told in advance by my surgeon that I had about a 30% chance of developing a gall bladder problem. Had a lap gall bladder procedure 4 mos. later. No problem. Then was told I had a small hiatal hernia which they prefer to treat medically rather than surgically at my (?) advanced age of 63. Responded OK to Prevacid, but was recently switched by gastroenterologist to new longer acting & more effective med. called 'Aciphlex.' It's great. Also had longstanding history of GERD. Good luck and hope this helps. Surgeon also said they may do hernia repair if patient is young and prefers not to take lifetime of medication for it. Meds work fine for me.
   — Barbara F. G.

June 2, 2000
I have an incisional hernia, and I am going to get it repaired on Monday. With the long vertical incision of the Open RnY, and with all the weight pulling on the incision post-op, it is hard for the incision to heal up nice and strong. If there is a weak spot in the abdominal wall, it can re-open and becomes an incisional hernia. Mine first appeared about six months post-op as a small lump behind my belly button. Now, two months later, it has grown to include half of my incision length, so it is about 5 inches long. It doesn't hurt at all, although my abdomen sometimes aches like the muscles are tired. Some people can ignore a hernia for several months or even years, but this one is growing so fast, I want to get it repaired right away. I don't know how bad the repair surgery is, since I haven't had it yet, but I guess I will know Monday. My surgeon said it is not nearly as major a surgery as my RnY was, and it is often done as a same-day surgery.
   — Lynn K.