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Inguinal hernia in 8 week old

6 replies

Greencroc · 31/01/2025 11:54

Any help appreciated with my situation as I’m at my wits end.

Ds2 is 8 weeks old and it’s been the most challenging time. He had to come at 37 weeks due to placenta starting to fail. Since then I’ve barely been able to put him down. He screams when put on his back and even if in the deepest of sleep he will usually wake either instantly or within 5-10 minutes. When he wakes it’s as though he is in a lot of pain and it appeared to be reflux/gas related. DH and I basically have to take the whole night in shifts holding him or neither of us will sleep.

Hes the most unhappy little chap and it’s breaking me. DS1 (4) was not like this at all even though he had reflux I could still put him down to sleep for short spells or to play on his mat. Basically if he’s not being held then he’s crying.

Went to Gp 2 weeks ago who prescribed gaviscon which hasn’t helped.

Yesterday was 6-8 week check up and different GP diagnosed an Inguinal hernia. I feel so devastated that I didn’t notice but it’s not particularly obvious. GP seemed sure that this was the cause of his discomfort. He has done an urgent referral to paediatrics and said we should hear within 2-4 weeks.

I just wondered if anyone else has recent experience of this.

if so,
how long did GP referral take?

and did having the operation help with babies discomfort and general happiness?

Im so desperate for some improvement. At the minute I’m getting up every day just hating life and I cry most days. I just can’t carry on like this.

thanks in advance

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Greencroc · 31/01/2025 17:13

Bump

OP posts:
LCTTC · 31/01/2025 18:17

My son also had this at around the same age, he experienced a lot of pain with it (particularly passing wind/bowel movements)
We were told it would be 8 weeks for surgical review then a further wait to actually get the surgery, however within 6 weeks it got to a point where the hernia couldn’t go back in so were admitted and put on the emergency surgery list.
I felt exactly the same, but he was so much happier as soon as surgery had taken place, still struggled with gas and needed infacol for a while but 18 months since surgery now and no problems at all.
Hopefully the wait won’t be too long for you

Greencroc · 31/01/2025 18:31

Thanks so much for your reply @LCTTC

Ive been in a really low place so it means the world to hear that your baby was happier afterwards 💐

I think I’m just in shock because I was expecting them to say it might be CMPA not this

OP posts:
Positivethoughts92 · 14/04/2025 20:55

Hi @Greencroc has your LO had the surgery yet? I am in the same boat with my little boy and the hospital have said they won’t do the surgery until he is 6 months. I’m so anxious over it and would love for it to be done to give him some relief

mumofboys8787 · 14/04/2025 21:04

DS2 had an inguinal hernia but also had really awful silent reflux. He had surgery at 9w - only a week after we first noticed it as they were concerned it would become strangulated so didn’t want to risk leaving it any longer. The surgery was a breeze, he was put under GA but we went home the same day.

I know this isn’t what you wanted to hear but I don’t think the hernia would cause such discomfort. Every dr we spoke to seemed to agree that it wouldn’t be causing DS any harm it can just be dangerous to leave it and does obviously eventually require surgery. It sounds to me like it could be silent reflux - gaviscon is a load of shit and does nothing other than make babies constipated. Go back to the GP and demand omeprazole. It helped DS overnight (he had it from 6w before we even knew about the hernia, and he was like a new baby so I know it wasn’t the surgery that made the difference). I’ve had 3 children and he was the only one who was so unsettled like that so I know it’s not normal for babies to scream non stop, despite what some dr’s may tell you! Get the omeprazole

Greencroc · 15/04/2025 07:27

Positivethoughts92 · 14/04/2025 20:55

Hi @Greencroc has your LO had the surgery yet? I am in the same boat with my little boy and the hospital have said they won’t do the surgery until he is 6 months. I’m so anxious over it and would love for it to be done to give him some relief

Hi! Yes he has had it now. Hernia was found at 8 weeks. We had an appointment with the consultant at 10/11 weeks ish and surgery was at 14 weeks.

We were initially told that we had to stay in overnight (purely due to age) but when I met the anaesthetist she said she was happy for us to leave same day so long as he was having wet nappies which he was.
Hardest part was the delay in surgery on the day. He didn’t have it until about 11.30 so had been fasting for a very long time.

he also picked up a really nasty virus after being in hospital and had a fever for 2 weeks. That was completely horrendous and we spent a lot of time in a and e getting him checked because it was so close in time to the surgery.

however, I am happy to say now that I truly feel like I have a different child. The hernia must have been causing some discomfort because he has turned into such a happy little baby. He has started sleeping in his bed at night which felt impossible a few weeks ago. I had about 50/50 opinions from the various professionals about whether the hernia caused pain. GP said yes it was, consultant said no. All I can say is DS is definitely so much happier since doing it.

I really hope they arrange this for you soon, where abouts are you based? Can you ask to be referred to different hospital? We saw a consultant from Nottingham and he was quite insistent that he didn’t want it to be left for very long

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