Inguinal hernia, 18 months l old

[LaTomatina]

I will take him to the doctor tomorrow to get a proper diagnosis, but I suspect that my 18 month old has an inguinal hernia. Have read a bit online and see that it will almost certainly require (minor) surgery. Feeling a bit stressed, even though I know it's a very simple, routine procedure. Just wondered if anyone else has been through this and has anything reassuring to say? Thanks!

My son had this at almost exactly the same age. He had a very simple operation and all has been well since. He’s now 27.

Thank you!

Not quite the same but my dd had a small hernia on her belly button that protruded. It was quite sore for her too.

She needed to go to a specialist children’s hospital for a scan just incase it was attached to the bowel which it wasn’t.

She then had an op to remove it when she was 6. Got over it very quickly.

We had booked the whole week off school for holiday (her op was on a Tuesday) but she was back at school by Thursday and she was happy and raring to go.

I remember being really stressed and worried about it but the operation was very short and he was absolutely fine afterwards.

Thanks, both of you. Good to hear that it's a simple procedure with a quick recovery. The thought of a general anaesthetic is bothering me, but I know the best thing is just to trust the professionals to do their job.

The doctor confirmed the diagnosis this morning, appointment with the surgeon next month and then a date for the op, unless it gets worse in the meantime.

I had one when I was 3, and had surgery to repair it. I was just fine, and this was back in the mid-70's when they didn't have the marvelous advancements they have now in terms of keyhole and methods of repair. I've since had 3 more hernias, all repaired, and everything was just fine.

I was terrified of the anaesthetic but honestly it couldn’t have been easier.

An aid came to dd’s bedside and showed her all the equipment and what they would use. She called the canula a straw.

She also showed dd a lip balm she could choose if she needed the gas instead and then put magic cream (numbing gel) on her hands.

During the actual anaesthetic part, I was in the room with her and she was able to play on the switch whilst things were sorted. The canula went in quickly though she said it hurt a small amount but she barely noticed it. Too busy playing on her game

Then came the anaesthetic and as soon as it started going in, she began to cry as it burns ( I remember from my own experience) but it was literally one cry out and she was asleep.

Done. It was that easy

The op lasted about an hour and she was bought back up to the ward not long after that. She had to stay for about another hour just to check her vitals and make sure she had no bad side affects from the op but that was it.

Canula was removed (with the aid of the switch to distract her again) and that was it. We were off home.

Honestly the hardest part was waiting on the ward for actual operation. I was nervous like hell but she loved it as there was lots of toys to play with and even an outdoor play area to play on.

We turned up for 11 but an emergency meant her operation wasn’t until 4. Looooong wait.

Good luck