Question:
What is the process, once you have an insicual hernia

I have found out i have a hernia, i only had my bypass a few months ago (9-19-00) and i have to go back in for surg on the 27th of December (if i can handle it that long) I am wondering about the amt of time you need to spend in the hospital, my doc say it could be upto 3 days or so. And any info on the recovery time would be grateful. And when you had your surg. did they cut open the same area as done on your bypass. I have also heard people getting a tummy tuck, what do i need to do in order to have that blessing. I go back to the doc. on 12-6-00 but i want to get some heads up from all of you who can help with this info. Infact if i have left anything off that you think i need to know about hernia surg. please let me know. Thank you Barbara    — Barbara R. (posted on November 30, 2000)

November 30, 2000
I had hernia repair done Nov 3rd, along w/panniculectomy. My hernia wasn't large, so my experience may be different. I was admitted Friday and went home Sunday; I wear an abdominal binder to reduce swelling and support my abdomen, and will probably continue to wear it another 2 weeks. I just had the rest of the staples out Tuesday. My energy is coming back, and I'm no longer sore ... and best of all, now I can twist to look over my shoulder when backing up. I had open distal rny in October of '99, and have been at goal since around September; I don't know whether or not a pannic is considered so soon after wls. At any rate, keep following your doctor's advice, checking in here really often, and looking to the future when you will feel SO much more energetic! Cindy
   — Cynthia B.

December 1, 2000
I had a big hernia repaired in June, nine months after my Open RnY. The surgeon had to re-open my entire RnY incision from breastbone to navel. Before surgery, the surgeon said I would be in for one night, but I ended up being in for three nights. I didn't have any complications or anything, it was just bigger than he expected. He cut right along the same scar as my RnY, and now that it is healed, you can't even tell that I had two surgeries. I decided not to have the tummy tuck at the same time since I want to have more babies still. It took about two weeks before I felt normal and had my energy back. The incision stayed sore for some time after that. In fact, even now, if I have to sneeze or cough a lot, the muscles along the incision get sore. In my experience, this surgery was more painful than my open RnY, so discuss pain control with your surgeon beforehand. I just had demerol injections every 3-4 hours,and they did not do the job. I wished I had the morphine pump like with my RnY.
   — Lynn K.