Question:
Hernias

I have been reading on the site, and found that lots of people have had problems whit hernias. Is this a problem that everyone has, or is it just something that happens to some people? IS there anything that can be done to avoid getting one. They sound very painful. Melissa    — kizie23 (posted on November 5, 2005)

November 5, 2005
I think the hernia thing has more to do with how we have our surgery open or lap. Lap has a lot less percentage of getting one. Now the gallbladder I think that is almost standered not cause of surgery though but because of the weight loss itself I have known several people that lost weigt on there own and lost there gall bladder I think foks tend to blame that on the surgery as well. Best Wishes Shell 287/163/155
   — Shell G

November 5, 2005
I am glad I am not the only one concerned about hernias. I watch what I lift and make sure that I lift properly. I have also started using the weight machines at the gym. I want to strengthen the muscles while I lose weight. It has limited my loss but not the inch loss. The doctor said to expect that, as long as I lose inches I am losing weight and it will catch up. Every time I have an ache or muscle pull in or around the incision I wonder is it a hernia and how long do I need to worry?
   — 1968 Loser

November 5, 2005
I had one in March. It's not the normal kind of hernia that most people have where it's through the muscle wall. My doc said that it is very very common with wls patients. He said it is because of the massive weight loss that our intestines "droop" causing a loop and they basically kinda "pop" through the loop. Mine was repaired and he said once repaired it won't happen again. The symptoms were severe pain while eating..and I mean severe.
   — boonikki29

November 6, 2005
Melissa, hi,, I had a triple hernia repair in September of 04, along with an abdominal plasty. I had 3 large hernias, not painful whatsoever. I was told by my 2 plastic surgeons that its from having any type of stomach surgery where they cut you open, they have to cut through the stomach muscles to get to your insides, then that leaves the muscles weakened, and that can cause a hernia anytime in the future. Even when you have them repaired, even with mesh like mine where, theres always a chance they can come back. But I had no pain. What I just described is an abdominal insisional hernia,, an internal hernia is different,, good luck to you.
   — Amy Hoffman

November 6, 2005
it has everything to do with how they cut you open----if your doctor makes a str8 up and down cut to do your surgery ---you will have a 90 to 99 % chance of getting a hernia....tell your doctor that you want your incision to be diagonal--starting right below the breast bone and angle it toward your left side--this will prevent you from getting a hernia
   — fishnrockport

November 6, 2005
My surgeon says, and studies show its true, about 1/3rd of opens get at least one incisional hernia:( LAP the rete is near ZERO. The best way to avoid a hernia is getting LAP surgery!
   — bob-haller

November 6, 2005
Sorry, but the guy above is sorely wrong about the percentage of opens who get hernias. Absolutely NOTHING close to 90% of opens have hernias. No one knows exactly why some people get hernias and some don't, and just because you have lap doesn't guarantee you won't get one. I have some personal theories though. One is that those who carry the bulk of their weight in their stomach will have a higher risk of hernia because there is more pressure and more laxity in the muscles in the abdomen. Second is how much pressure a person puts on themselves too soon out of surgery. It can be soon after surgery or a few months out, but I think if someone tries to lift too much or does too many abdominal exercises it can cause a "blow out" so to speak. I know that many docs believe that using a binder after open surgery reduces the chance of hernia....I tend to think they are right. But the main point is that your chances of a hernia are greater if you have an open surgery than if you had a lap, but it doesn't mean you will absolutely get one.
   — Dinka Doo

November 6, 2005
Oh and the thing about being cut at a diagonal: I can't speak from a surgical perspective, but I would think cutting the muscle would cause more of a problem in the long run. I had a c-section and I have no tone in that area anymore. I also had more pain with the c-section than I did with my vertical incision for my RNY. In fact, I had absolutely no pain with my RNY and didn't take pain meds at all. I asked my surgeon why that was and he explained that he just separated the muscle and didn't cut it when he went in. I'll take that any day over getting my muscles severed.
   — Dinka Doo

November 6, 2005
Hi Melissa. I did not have a hernia after my surgery. I think it just depends on the person. I haven't heard about anything that can be done to prevent hernias...Let me know if I can help you with any other questions you may have. Jaunine
   — onepowerfullady

November 6, 2005
Dinka, how does 1/3 get to be 90%? Actually about a third, thats 33% of OPENS get hernias, because the muscle wall is cut, and frequently is permanetely weakened. In LAP surgery the muscle wall just has holes poked in it. Thats why the hernia rate for LAP is under 1%. This directly from Dr Philip Schauer a world leader in WLS.
   — bob-haller

November 6, 2005
Bob - referring to Dale's comment, not yours... :o)
   — Dinka Doo

November 7, 2005
Yes it seems like people that get gastric bypass surgery will end up having a hernia, I had my surgery done almost 4 years ago I had my hernia for a bout a year but it never hurt. but I knew that I had to get it fixed, so I did and i'm fine now. but I am having problems with my eating habits read my profile.
   — Alicia H.

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