Question:
I have incisional hernia, will this block BM's drstically? Having complications...

Ok, here goes.. I have an incisional hernia that is growing daily, trying to get Ins to cover for a combined TT. Anyhow, I have had problems with normal BM's since WLS, I take Benifiber daily and often have to use MOM to finally do something after 3 days wait. Last night the hernia was very troublesome, I layed in bed hurting while waiting, total MOM three doses in 12 hours, my stomach at hernia area would protrude up till I could pass a lil gas then go back down, DH called Doc and took me to ER, sat there for 4 hours, never got seen, so came home and took more MOM and laid down, around 1 am I finally had a BM. Toatal of 5 as of now, DH said I was completely blocked and he was very concerned. He said it looked like a nerf football trying to poke thru my belly button, I felt like I was in a scary movie and giving birth to an alien!! LOL So I put myself on soft food diet for a few days at least if not til I can get a surgery date. Awaiting Doc to return my call with any advice, Doc says hernias usually don't hurt, yeah right! I can't use my stomach muscles to even sneeze these days without doubling over. Has anyone had any experience with this kinda thing? Any advice would help. Thanx, Patricia    — Patricia B. (posted on May 26, 2004)

May 26, 2004
I have an incisional hernia above my belly button. I saw my surgeon in February and he said its definetly a hernia and told me to try to lose more weight and get a TT at the same time. I've had a lot of problems with it protruding and my stomach fills up with gas. When I cough I hold my stomach because it hurts. I've been put on a ten pound lifting limit. I finally decided to heck with the TT --my weight has platued and I am scheduled for surgery 6/11 and he is putting mesh in. I cant wait to get rid of it. I use suppositories daily and eat a lot of fiber and I still have problems. I have a lot of discomfort to cough or sneeze is scarey! It feels like its pulling and burning.
   — debmi

May 26, 2004
I have an incessional hernia too, but I dont have the pain you speak of. I do hold my guts when I sneeze,laugh,cough, but its because I feel like my guts are ging to fall out. The best thing I have found for helping me GO, is the first thng in the morning I drink about 20 oz of water fairly fast 15 minutes or so, and I usualy go within 1/2 hour, and if I have had too much cheese I drink prune juice, or you can get dried prunes too. The soft diet is a good idea and stop all cheese. Another good thing to try is add some butter to your diet or eat greasy onion rings IF it wont make you sick, the grease will "lube your tubes" :0) you do need some fat in your diet if your having this much trouble. All of these work for me when I get into trouble, but I do use real butter on a daily basis 1 or 2 pats isnt going to sabatoge our diets. You could have adheasions, or twisting, did your doc order an x-ray w/barium swollow to check for blockage? Good luck I hope you get approved soon. I will see the ps the first of july, and I hope to be able to wait until fall for hernia, and tt, so I can enjoy the summer in the pool.
   — wizz46

May 26, 2004
I had an incisional hernia; it was the size of a nerf football also. I had it repaired in Feb (at 6.5 month post op). My Surgeon also wanted me to wait until I was 18 mo. out and get tt at the same time. I didn't wait because my wl had nearly stopped, and I couldn't exercise as much as I needed to; the hernia drained me of energy and my PCP had restricted lifting. I found that a back support belt helped to hold in "Hermie". If I didn't use the belt, I was beat by the end of the day, my back ached as well as my abs. Once the surgeon went in and did the repair he found more weak spots which were forming hernias - I'd hate to think what it would have been like if the other "spots" had ripped, my entire guts would've spilled out. Thankfully he repaired them all and so far (knock on wood) I've healed well. I go in to see him for a check up next month. The hernia I had did not affect my BM's except for popping out more when I went. I always make sure to drink LOTS of water and I know that if you put some Mineral oil in your diet each day (1 TBS) this helps to "lube the tubes". My son had to have that for some BM problems he had when he was younger - it seemed to work, we just gave it to him in a small glass of OJ (remember to stir it well, then drink it as quickly as you can). Some people just take it like medicine, it depends on how you tolerate the texture. Good luck - best wishes - hope everything goes well and when you have your hernia fixed everything else is better too! :)
   — Julesbird