Question:
Do I really have an incisional hernia?

Hi all. I am exhausted reading through all the hernia Q&A! Last weekend I had severe abdominal pain that sent me to the ER. I tried pepto, pepcid, and mylanta hoping the pain would go away. Nothing took it away except the morphine. I told them I had two natural childbirths and that I wasn't being a baby. They did a catscan and blood work and found nothing and gave no explanation. I was screaming as they were pressing on my upper abdomen. 2 days later I went for a plastic surgeon consult who then told me I have an incisional hernia. I'm pissed the ER docs didn't find that. Could that have been the cause of my pain? I am awaiting a return phone call from my bypass surgeon. Thanks!!    — emilyfink (posted on February 18, 2004)

February 18, 2004
Sorry to hear about your experience...Sounds just like mine..I was in and out of the hospital with abdominal pain, nothing took it away except demerol...They did all of the same tests that they did for you...I went to my PCP to see what was going on and he said that I had a incisional hernia!! He told me in 5 mins that was what I had...The ER docs looked for 3 months and couldn't find anything... My hernia surgery was on November 17, 2003..I had 5 very large "swiss-cheese like" hernias up and down my incision... The pain in my abdomen started out as a dull ache and then progressivly got worse...The pain you were experiencing sending you to the ER was most likely the hernia...They can be very painful I was on narcotic medications for 3 months prior to my surgery and 2 months afterwards... Hopefully everything works out for you.
   — Dusty S.

February 18, 2004
Yes Emily, a hernia could be the cause of your pain. Mine felt like a ripping or stabbing pain depending on how I moved. I just had my repair last week. Please, make sure you stay in touch with your doctors re. this issue. Depending on the type and size, this can be a very serious situation. Take very good care not to further injure yourself while you are waiting to have it repaired. Please, see your doctor. Take good care. Polly
   — Jackie O.

February 18, 2004
Hiya Emily, Sorry to hear you are having a problem hon (((hugs))). Please keep me posted on what you find out, keep bugging that surgeon until he calls you back QUICK!! Hate to see you suffer any more. (((hugs)))) and smiles =))))
   — DebPKansas

February 19, 2004
Hi Emily: My WLS surgeon told me internal hernias were nearly impossible to diagnose unless they go back in. He said they've done cat scans, ultrasounds, scopes, etc. and simply cannot see these. Your pains & discomfort are how they diagnose them. I had the same problem. I cried and cried when he told me the only way to check or know for sure was to have surgery again. Granted, mine was an inguinal hernia. I'm not sure if they are the same, but my hernias were found by where my intestines meet my new pouch. Today, I'm so thankful I did. They found 2 hernias and repaired them right away. I no longer have the pain or discomfort I had.
   — Amy A.

February 20, 2004
I was in the ER right before Christmas with the worst pain I had ever had in my life and only moraphine took the pain away. The ER doc said because my cat scan and lab work was normal I must have just over eaten. I was pissed that he wouldn't listen to me. Turns out I had gall stones and had to have my gall bladder removed two weeks later.
   — Jodie S.