Question:
i have a hernia

i am 4 months post op and felt a large "lump" in my abdomen. i went to my surgeon and he says its a hernia. leave it alone unless you have pain and when you are at or near goal you can have tummy tuck and hernia repair together. how serious is hernia? any complications? any experiences would be greatly appreciated. thanks!!!    — Kathy831 (posted on June 29, 2001)

June 29, 2001
When I went to my pre-op visit, Dr. Baker asked if I had any hernias. My answer was, "If I do, I don't have enough sense to know it". Which turned out to be a really good answer because I did. I had this little pooching our place above my navel. I thought it was due to gaining weight but it was a hernia. I never even knew I had it. It was repaired during my surgery.
   — Margaret B.

June 29, 2001
Hernias are part of what qualify abdominoplasty as medically necessary. So are previous abdominal surgeries. And pregnancies. And massive weight loss. Looks like you're at least 1/3 of the way there. I am having mine repaired with abdominoplasty on 7/31. Being between 15-25 lbs of your goal weight is best for optimal results.<br><br>Hernias cause pain and reduce general mobility. They never cure themselves, even though some can be cured (at least temporarily) by external manual manipulation. Depending on the nature of the protruding organ and the solidity of the structure through which it is protruding, a hernia may cause complications that are medically dangerous. One major danger of a hernia is that if bowel is contained within the protruding loop it may hinder or stop the flow through the intestine (occlusion). More serious still, if the loop itself becomes twisted outside its containing structure, or compressed at the point where it breaks through that structure (a strangulated hernia), the blood supply to the loop will also cease and the entire hernia will undergo tissue death (necrosis). This requires immediate emergency surgery.<br><br>Hope this helps you.
   — [Deactivated Member]

June 29, 2001
i have an incisional hernia from my gall bladder removal & it is 27 years old. doesnt hurt or bother me in any way so i have left it alone. i will find out at my consultation next week whether it will be repaired at the time of my wls or not. actually, i hope not because then my tummy tuck will be medically necessary when i reach my goal weight.
   — sheryl titone