Question:
Anyone 2+ years out of surgery having abdominal swelling after eating?

I am almost 3 years post op and consider myself a WLS success. I had no post operative complications until almost two years in when I developed two hernias. One in the mesintary (sp?) cavity which contained 3/4 of my small bowel and a second umbilical herniation. I had those repaired in Aug. of last year and in Dec. noticed a small lump in the right side of my abdomen. Lately this spot has gotten progressively more tender and the "swells" that I had experienced prior to the previous hernia repair have returned. I have already started seeing the line up of docs to help with this problem and have started retesting everything. The big concern is that all of my tests showed normal before the last surgery but when they got inside they found that there was very little normal about it. I was "unbelievably clean" internally but the hole in the mesintary cavity was large and had allowed the intestine to flip up over the transverse colon. I have different insurance now and the same symptoms. The docs are trying all the same approaches but I've gotten to the point of being to afraid to eat due to the pain and swelling. All of the internal muscles were modified through abdomnioplasty in the last surgery so there is limited space for the swells and I feel that I could literally burst. Their timing of a week or two can make a significant difference in my strength and immune system from not being able to eat. They don't want me to lose more weight so I'm hard pressed to know what to do while I am waiting on them to figure this all out. Anyone have a similar experience? Please help....    — Renay B. (posted on June 16, 2004)

June 16, 2004
I'm sorry your having difficulty right now. I was recently diagnose with a ventral hernia and I can empathize with your pain. At times I cannot stand straight and I believe it is because my bowls have become intrapped. When are you expected to have surgery to correct this hernia?
   — Debra J.

June 16, 2004
I had a herniated intestine post-op that did not show up on any tests. They found it via exploratory surgery. Hopefully your doctors will be proactive. If it were me, I would push them to go in and check it out due to your history. The squeaky wheel... Keep bugging them! Good luck! Linda
   — mom2jtx3

June 16, 2004
I am recovering from surgery 6/11 on a very large hernia above my belly button. Have you talked to your orginal surgeon who did your WLS, he might be able to advise or recommend someone. Good luck to you
   — debmi

June 16, 2004
I get that all the time. I've always thought it was from the abdominoplasty I had even though that was 18 months ago. My stomach swells if I do to much activity or sometimes right after I eat. I don't think it has to do with the amount I'm eating, because it doesn't matter how little I eat and it occurs below where my pouch is. I have a friend who had an abdomnioplasty a year ago (without hernia repair) and she says she sometimes gets the swelling in her stomach. It doesn't really cause me a problem unless I'm already wearing something really tight across my stomach, so I never worried about it, but I had considered asking other people here if it happened to them.
   — Lisa N M.