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Original poster

Has anyone got experience of a hernia, please? (adult, not baby)

13 replies

tearinghairout · 02/04/2009 10:24

It's a lump about the size of a penny, just above my navel. I've had weak muscles since carrying twins, and now I think exertion has made this happen. Doctor agreed, said to leave it, it might get better, but I'm afraid to do anything - dance, run etc in case I make it worse. He said if it gets worse, 'keyhole sugery, couple of stitches' but I've googled & it says hernias don't get better, they always need an op, also keyhole isn't recommended for this (risk of damage to nearby organs) and now they don't stitch over it, they go in under the skin further down & put a little square of mesh over to strenghten & the body grows over it. So, he's out of date. What do I do?

Has anyone had the op, can you tell me your experience? (BTW I don't want keyhole anyway, it's general anaesthetic & I prefer a 'normal' op & local).
Thanks

OP posts:
bruxeur · 02/04/2009 10:40

Hernias don't always need an operation.

It probably won't get better but it may not get any worse.

Laparoscopic surgery is IDEAL for this kind of hernia. And they tend to use mesh for this as well, but all you would see is the "couple of stitches" your doctor mentions.

What on earth do you mean by preferring a "normal" op - more pain, more bleeding, more chance of infection, longer stay in hospital, greater chance of post-op chest infection or constipation?

In summary. Your doctor is advising you appropriately, don't use Google as a second opinion, and try doing a little more research before making your decision.

orangina · 02/04/2009 10:41

I had an inguenal hernia, which popped out while I was pg (hernia in groin area).... I had it repaired (op under general) after ds was born, with mesh etc. Had incredibly painful abdomen for a week after, and couldn't life kids for 6 weeks.... so would agree that it's worth getting mended, but think about timing, as the no lifting thing is v important and with children (and you've got twins!) you really need to be able to organise yourself accordingly!

Get yourself a referral to a decent surgeon and chat to them. If you are doing it on the NHS, you can't really plan when to do it (it will be classed non urgent and you'll be put on a giant waiting list probably), but our health insurance kicked in and I was able to have it done privately and plan it properly....

Good luck!

orangina · 02/04/2009 10:42

(couldn't LIFT kids.....)

babypringle · 02/04/2009 10:48

DH had this, and had the operation on the day surgery unit. He was pretty sore for about a week then had to be careful lifting for a month or so (not ideal with kids). His scar is about 3cm long above the navel, he can not feel the mesh.
If it's restricting your life you should have the op - can you see a different GP to get referred?

Simplysally · 02/04/2009 10:54

My Mum had a hernia op about 3 years ago. She was down for keyhole surgery with an epidural but it didn't work out that way in the end.

I would seek a second opinion if you are really worried about it but your Dr won't have given you duff advice to get rid of you.

orangina · 02/04/2009 11:15

My surgeon said that he often did it under local and sent patient home the same day. But as I had small kids (and little one was only 10 weeks old), he would do it under general and keep me in over night.

(I was in fact THRILLED to be in overnight, and felt as though I was off on a mini break!)

Recovery much worse than I expected though, so do be prepared.

rosbif · 02/04/2009 11:18

Hi, I had twins and another baby too and had this type of hernia. I had a mesh put in last year via keyhole surgery and under a general. I had it done in France so don't know if that makes a difference. I was sore afterwards and had to be very careful lifting. When I had the hernia I still continued sport etc (even ran the London marathon!) without any effects I am aware of. But probably not the best idea. Good luck

rempy · 02/04/2009 11:23

How old are twins?

If the twins are still young (under 6-9 months) the "it might get better" remark is probably a nod to the fact that it could still be divaricated recti - the stomach muscles can pull apart when pregnant, and can take quite some time to come back together.

All other comments re benefits of laparoscopic surgery are spot on. Well proven benefits of shorter hospital stay (less risk of hospital acquired infection) faster recovery, lower wound infection rates etc.

ThingOne · 02/04/2009 13:37

I have a small parastomal hernia. Mine won't get better and will get worse but they won't mend it until it becomes a problem. I've been told it'll be a mesh for me. I can't lift anything which is a PITA but I've held it at bay for nearly 18 months this way. I've also been told coughing will make it worse. I'm an asthmatic!

Original poster
tearinghairout · 03/04/2009 12:37

Thank you all very much - really appreciated. There are a few things mentioned here that I hadn't thought of. The twins are teenagers now! But I do have to lift boxes at work.

Apart from preferrring a local anaesthetic, the reason I concluded I'd prefer 'normal' is that all the private hernia specialist websites say, firstly, that keyhole is no longer recommended for hernias in the navel area due to the chance of damage to nearby organs (the surgeon having less control with a 2-dimensional screen), and secondly, that they no longer stitch above them (but go in lower down) because of the stitches pulling & causing problems there, around the navel
(a recurrence? can't remember).

I think it was the London Hernia Centre website (private specialist) which says they keep you there for 45 minutes after the op and then you can go home, but they don't mention the after-effects of not being able to lift for a month, so thank you for pointing that out, there's info missing. The NHS website talks about causes but not much about treatment, so I'll have to ask to be referred to a specialist at some point & find out.

Rosbif, I am well impressed with your marathon - maybe I will go to dance class after all! Thingone, good to know that you're OK even after 18 months. It seems that coughing, lifting and sex are to be avoided I'm coughing a lot too atm, nerves I think.

Thank you all once again.

OP posts:
hks · 06/04/2009 15:38

i had the op as a daypatient nearly 2 yr ago ...and had to watch watch i was doing for 6 weeks after ...no lifting ..hoovering etc ...
but my surgeon sais they dont normally operate unless they are giving you bother

marie1979 · 12/04/2009 22:48

i had a hernia last year had it 5 years before started off little then massive it was so painful got to a stage where i could not push it back in one night i was in agony had to go to hospital in the morning had a emerancy op and had to have part of my bowl removed good job i didnt leave it any longer found out the awful pain was my bowl strangling my hernia and could of died please get it fixed it will not go away earlier you have the op the better i nearly left it to late

Cedrina · 16/10/2018 03:28

Hello I have umbilical hernia Feel bloated shorts of breaths,tired .ok back to my question ,is it possible to become pregnant after the hernia operation .can hernia develop to cancer if left untreated?im so scared to leave it untreated I’m also scare that if I have an operation I it’s will cause complications getting pregnant

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