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General health

Hernia op - but in woman in 30s! Help - any experiences?

13 replies

Autumnalleaves · 12/10/2015 12:54

I've just been diagnosed with a groin hernia, and referred to see a surgeon for an op. Appointment to speak to the surgeon is next week. Terrified as I've never had any kind of medical problem, and have only ever been to hospital to give birth. (Name changed as some friends and family know my username and so far I have only told DH).

Having been googling furiously, I seem to be a completely atypical hernia candidate, with none of the risk factors (eg being a man, overweight, older etc). I am 30s, slim, healthy, don't smoke, sedentary job.

Any women out there who have had this? I know it's a very common op, but it's really not a pleasant prospect. I was much much less worried about giving birth than I am about this! I've seen the two surgical options are either open surgery, under general anaesthetic or local, or laparoscopic (keyhole?) under general. Local terrifies me, because you'd be awake while they cut you open! General terrifies me too because that seems like a big deal. Do you have a catheter? Do they intubate you? How long does recovery really take?

I know I am a complete wimp, because people have far more serious medical conditions, and have to under go far more serious procedures and treatments. But even thought I know that logically, I am still worried for myself!

I've looked in the archives on here but experiences are almost all about someone's DH and I could really do with hearing from women who have actually had this themselves.

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Autumnalleaves · 12/10/2015 17:47

Evening bump?

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BlandandInsipid · 12/10/2015 21:35

Hope I can help. I'm an anaesthetic nurse, seen hundreds of hernias, men women, children, babies. Never had one myself though!

So some quick answers,

If it were me I would have the general anaesthetic and traditional 'open' surgery. May seem like a big deal, but in the long run is lot less messing about and is usually a very quick, easy surgery.

The recovery time is about 6 weeks. Sounds ages but in reality you'll only be a bit sore for a few days and be up and about doing most things by the next day.

No, it's highly unlikely you will be catheterised.

Yes, if you have a general anaesthetic you will be 'intubated'.

Hope I've helped!

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Autumnalleaves · 13/10/2015 22:00

Thanks very much Bland! Why do you say the open surgery is better?

Another random question - do they shave your pubes?! It's all these details which I am stressing about!

With the recovery time, do you mean that you can walk about the next day? How long do you actually need to be off normal activities, or actually be off work (desk-based job, but with hour commute each way on public transport)? The GP said 2-3 weeks off work, but I've also read 1-2 weeks somewhere.

What is the 6 week recovery actually like - is that six weeks before you are fully fit again, or 6 weeks of still in pain and feeling rubbish? I am in good health generally, healthy weight etc, so hoping that would count in my favour for good recovery.

Sorry for all the questions - and if anyone else reads this and can share experiences that would be very welcome too.

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Costacoffeeplease · 13/10/2015 22:16

No experience of a hernia op, but I have had a post-op catheter, pre-op I was dreading the prospect And thought it would be the worst thing ever but actually it was brilliant, I was quite sorry when they (painlessly) removed it. I've also been shaved for a different op - the nurse did it, very matter of fact with no embarrassment whatsoever

My absolute worst fear was that my period would start while I was in hospital as I knew I would be immobile in bed for several days (I had to be 'turned' every few hours) and I couldn't imagine how awful it would be. When I got the date through for the op I was so relieved that it fell absolutely mid cycle so that was one thing I could cross off my worry list - WRONG - period arrived 2-3 days post op, but again, it was fine even though I had no sanpro with me and they put me in adult nappies

So basically, all the things like this you worry about are completely normal, everyday things to the nurses (God bless each and every one of them) and it will all be absolutely fineSmile

Best of luck

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Autumnalleaves · 14/10/2015 20:51

Oh thank you Costa. That's good to know that everything was better than you expected! I think I'm not actually that embarrassed about nurses seeing my bits (although that's not exactly a thrilling prospect), more just worried on my own account.

I am in no pain whatsoever, so to be told you need surgery for something which is currently not causing any pain, or even the most minor discomfort, is not a very heartening thought...

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MajesticWhine · 14/10/2015 21:03

Hi - I had an epigastric hernia repair (centrally, well above the belly button). So it's quite a different part of the body but the procedure may be similar. I had it repaired with mesh. I had the choice about anesthesia but I chose to have local and be sedated. It was absolutely fine. It was good as being asleep because I was really out of it, and I didn't remember a thing, although the surgeon says I did make a few noises. If you are not keen on medical procedures, then the worst part of it is having a canula in the hand / wrist.

I found the recovery ok. I was in and out of hospital on the day. I went out for lunch with a friend the day after. I used pain relief for about 1 or 2 weeks I think. I resumed gentle exercise about 4 weeks after the op. Unfortunately, I had some chronic pain issues which emerged after the initial recovery period, which was annoying, but it was not completely proven to be caused by the hernia op. 1 year on, the chronic pain seems to have resolved, and my hernia is perfect, with a very minimal scar.

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Autumnalleaves · 14/10/2015 21:10

Thanks for sharing your experience, Majestic. Why did you choose the local? I didn't realise they sedated you - I assumed (from a position of complete ignorance) it would be like a c-section, you'd be wide awake, and they'd be cutting into you! Shock.

I think out of everything, the cannula is probably one of my least worries - as I give blood, it feels at least slightly familiar (although I know it's obviously not quite the same).

Can I ask how long you were off work (if you worked at the time)?

I saw that chronic pain is a possible complication and sorry to hear that you suffered from it - did it really affect your daily life?

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MajesticWhine · 14/10/2015 21:35

I choose local because it was my surgeons preference and that is the way he routinely does it. But ask your surgeon about what they recommend because inguinal is probably different. I am also a bit scared of having a GA, not really logical but because I had one several years ago during emergency c-section and lost a lot of blood, could have died, etc.

So, when I had the op, I was not working, I was studying full time. So being at home was fine for me. But I was attending meetings 1 week later, so I think 1 week off would probably be enough for a desk based job. But take what you need.

The chronic pain issues have been difficult. I wouldn't say it affected my everyday life, because it was low level pain, not really agonising. I did miss quite a lot of the sport that I usually do though. At one point I didn't know what was wrong with me and my GP referred me to a colorectal specialist, and I had to have various scans and stuff. So that was kind of stressful and ultimately pointless. I have had to consult a pain specialist too. I guess chronic pain is one of the risks of surgery that is underplayed before you have the op, but my hernia was proper agony, so I had to have it treated.

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Autumnalleaves · 14/10/2015 21:53

That's reassuring about your initial recovery time. Really sorry about the chronic pain, although glad from your first post that it has finally gone. In my case, because I'm in no pain whatsoever at the moment, having the surgery seems an entirely negative experience (because it will cause pain, and could lead to chronic pain!) whereas at the moment I am completely fine!

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MajesticWhine · 14/10/2015 22:38

Well, with some hernias I think there is the option to not do anything and wait and see, provided there is not actual intestine getting trapped which can be dangerous. Mine was just a blob of fat coming through a gap in the abdominal wall, and I had it 12 years before it started causing me serious bother. But hernias don't go away, and they do tend to get worse, so maybe it's better to get it sorted.

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Autumnalleaves · 15/10/2015 19:50

Hm, that's interesting you had it 12 years. Had you been to the doctor before it started getting painful, and they said just wait and see? Or did you think it wasn't worth bothering them as the hernia wasn't painful?

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MajesticWhine · 15/10/2015 21:02

Yes, I went to the GP with but it was not deemed bad enough to refer on. The hernia was only popping out occasionally. When it eventually did get more painful, even then I was told by the GP to wait and see. After that I decided I would get it sorted privately (with insurance) because it was interfering with my normal life. What about yours? Did it happen quite recently and you got referred straight away?

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Autumnalleaves · 15/10/2015 21:33

Yes, first noticed it about 3 months ago, went to GP last week because Dr Google told me it might be a hernia (I had no real idea what one was before all this), got immediate referral - asked if 'wait and see' was an option and was told no! Am in no pain at all (which I told her!) but she said it would need fixing anyway. Hm. Strange. I will definitely be asking the surgeon whether it would be safe to wait and see as I absolutely don't want unnecessary surgery.

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