Question:
Hernias with muscle spasms?

I am 8 years post-op from lap band (actually, had it removed 5 years ago). I now have a hernia on the left side of my abdomen. I don't know what type it is yet because I no longer have a belly-button; It's incisional for sure because I've had about 7 abdominal surgeries, my last in 2006. Anyhow, if I sit up too long, it hurts, but when I lay down, I get twitchy muscle spasms all over my abdomen. Luckily they don't hurt. Has anyone else experienced these muscle spasms when laying down? I see a general surgeon in 2 weeks for a consult (my PCP diagnosed the hernia). I'm just stressed out and am looking for some reassurance. Thanks, everyone.    — Angela Bennett (posted on September 9, 2010)

September 9, 2010
I'm a year and a half out now and had a terrible experience with a hernia at 14 months out (june of this year). I had a surgeon's appointment for 2 weeks after the diagnosis by the GI doctor and the PCP but the pain got worse, I couldn't eat or go to the bathroom. I talked to the surgeon personally on the phone one morning about it and he told me to meet him at the ER immediately. I had emergency surgery and it then took weeks of recovery until I felt decent again. Before that, I was just fine. This happened out of the blue. See if you can move the appointment up so you can have piece of mind if it's nothing bad or get it fixed because It could be serious and could be life threatening if you wait too long. I forgot what he called my kind of hernia, but basically, my bowel twisted and inserted itself in a space where there used to be fat. It kinked like a hose and oxygen was getting cut off. It was much worse than the tests showed. Then I recently, 2 weeks ago, had some issues with muscle spasms too. oy. I must have strained myself without realizing it. Those spasms were nothing serious even though they hurt like hell.... but since the hernia trauma, no one will touch me and I had to go to the ER, yadda yadda yadda.... waste of time, but still it was incredibly painful. I feel like such a wussie now. Good luck to you. Try to see the surgeon as soon as possible and let me know how it turns out. Liz
   — Elizabeth Smith

September 10, 2010
I HAVE JUST HAD SURGERY TO REPAIR AN INGUINAL HERNIA . I'M 18 MONTHS OUT FROM RNY SURGERY . THIS HERNIA CAME FROM OUT OF THE BLUE . I EXPERIENCED SEVERE ABDOMINAL PAIN TO THE POINT I'D GET ILL . I ALSO WORE A TRUSS TO HELP HOLD THE HERMIA IN WITHOUT IT I COULDN'T FUNCTION . SINCE THE SURGERY I FEEL BETTER THAN I HAVE IN YEARS . POST-OP I FELT UNCOMFORTABLE FOR A FEW DAYS .ONCE I STARTED FEELING BETTER IT WAS LIKE A WEIGHT WAS LIFTED OFF MY SHOULDERS . IT TOOK ABOUT A WEEK TO START FEELING REALLY GOOD . NOW I CAN ENJOY MY RNY SUCCESS PAIN FREE . DON'T BE NERVOUS HAVE IT REPAIRED YOU'LL FEEL SO MUCH BETTER AFTERWARDS .....ROGER
   — ROGER COTE

September 13, 2010
I am 6 years out from surgery and have had 4 internal hernia repairs from weight loss, the CT scan's do not always pick them up so usually exploratory surgery is necessary
   — lisamarie1127