Question:
Are hernias dangerous or are they just bothersome, and cause pain?

   — [Anonymous] (posted on February 15, 2002)

February 15, 2002
I had a hernia that was repaired at the time of my tummy tuck almost 3 months ago. When I first discovered it (it just felt funny, not really painful) I asked the doctor about it and he said that if it wasn't causing a lot of pain to just leave it till my tummy tuck. But if it started to get painful that would indicate that the part that was protruding was becoming twisted and that is an emergency. I guess that the part of the bowel or whatever it is that is sticking out can strangulate and die. Not a good situation.
   — livnliter

February 15, 2002
Hernias are a hole in the muscle tissue. They are bothersome and can be painful. The intestines can slip through and get pinched. This is dangerous and can kill you. You will most likely know because the pain makes child birth feel like a bee sting. I have had mine pinch before and get gas backed up. I have to lay on my belly and side until things move. I have had my hernia for 2 years. They can, like mine, get bigger. Mine was originally was the size of a quarter. The last Dr. I saw said, "Oh My" when he saw it. What was a simple repair is now a major one. You will know if it is tearing. You will have a burning sensation in your hernia area. The Dr who will fix it, once my daughter is potty trained, said he was going to remove my belly button too. They have to put a mesh under the skin over the hole to fix it The Fat and tissue adhere to the mesh. I was told Belly bittons especially on heavy people are hard to get to stick. You can end up with a drain tube and more surgery. I am not really attached to my belly button so much and don't really care but you may like yours more. Talk to your Dr. Know what signs to look for if the intestine would become pinched. The surgery itself is very minor it is the recovery of not being able to lift over 20 pounds that is the biggest pain.
   — Rebecca K.

February 15, 2002
Much depends on the size of your hernia. Ironically, the bigger your hernia, the safer it is. If you have a large hernia that doesn't cause any pain, isn't getting bigger, and isn't likely to entrap your intestines, then you can not repair it for a while and be okay. My doctor looked at mine and said repair was purely cosmetic.
   — Terissa R.