Question:
Ventral Hernia above belly button

GBS 3yrs ago, gall bladder out last summer and now I have a Ventral Hernia above my belly button. Dr. says I need to loose another 70lbs before he operates in order for the operation to be successful. Dr. said I was not in any danger, large hernia shouldn't strangulate. Dr. talking about operating in about 6 months AFTER I have lost more weight. I started my weight loss at 356 and now I'm down to 268 and obviously still have a lot of weight to loose. Their in lies my problelm. I have had a hard enough time maintaing, yet loosing anymore weight. Feel hopeless, in this endeavor to loose more weight when I am under such stress at work. Seem to be falling back on my old comfort foods to fill this whole I feel. Any suggestions, other than eat less and exercise more?    — Faune W. (posted on March 30, 2010)

March 30, 2010
This is not meant to sound trite, but seeing a therapist might be helpful re work and food issues. Also seeing a NUT. Also making out a meal plan for a week at a time...plan meals, snacks etc. make to choices ahead of time then prepare as much at a time as you can, so you don't have to think about it or just grab something. You've already lost almost 100 lbs., you can do this TOO. Please don't get discouraged. Hope this helps.
   — Jane W.

March 30, 2010
Thanks for your insight. I do agree that I need to see a therapist to see what is bothering me that is preventing me from moving forward. Just opened a new office for my business and money is tight right now getting established in a new location. I do cook ahead and plan my food, I cook for 1 month in advance and I am perfect at doing that part. I never have to make a decision what to eat, I have a freezer full of dinner and lunch foods. The other part I'm equally good at is getting high carbohydrate foods that I don't need. I need to figure out how to help myself and perhaps start attending some FREE weight loss support groups. I work 6 days a week, every evening from 3 to 8 each night, and Sat & Sundays until 1PM. So i need to figure out how to help myself. Thanks for your insights, I appreciate your thoughtfulness your suggestions were helpful.
   — Faune W.

March 30, 2010
Faune, You need to take time away from work for you! Schedule a support meeting into your busy schedule. Maybe once you've found some "me" time in your schedule you can focus on the other issues easier. ~live as if all your dreams came true~
   — fortywhat2

March 31, 2010
My surgeon told me the same thing. I had a HUGE umbilical hernia that was the size of a softball. I was told I had to wait. Then about three weeks ago I was laying in bed coughing from a horrendous cold and guess what, I strangulated my hernia. From that day on I was in pain and had a hard time keeping food down. (I had band surgery 3/3/09.) Last Thursday a general surgeon repaired my hernia after I received the blessings from my bariatric surgeon. Once the hernia strangulates you will have no choice, but I wouldn't start praying for that. The recovery from my hernia surgery has been much harder than the recovery from my bariatric surgery. I am a week out and still in considerable amount of pain unless I am laying still. I think part of that is I still carry too much excess weight, so try to find the sunshine in the situation and hang in there.
   — lmw9674