Hernia

[Denchi]

So I thought I had a hernia for a few months.... wasn't sure. Then last week it got worse and I went to see the doctor. And YUP, hernia. So I just had surgery and I'm all hopped up on Vicoden. But I'm home and feel ok.

Has anyone else had a hernia? As soon as I mentioned it to my friends etc I found out like 5 people I know have had a Hernia of some kind. I also hear that today, the day I'm back from (Funny... I'm watching PTI and they just said Tony had surgery today to fix a hernia so he won't be around for a while) surgery isn't a bad day because of all the novocaine. They say tomorrow is gonna be the worst. Guess I'm not looking forward to it.

Missing the first week of school, wheeee

[zoobernut]

I had a hernia and I can say after you get out of surgery and you go home it is not too bad because you are so drugged out but the next 3-4 days were hell for me. My hernia was actually quite large and required a ~4-5" cut to fix. I could not walk for a couple days because of its location and was taking Vicoden like crazy.

The worst part is when you have to go to the bathroom, between not moving and constipation being a side effect of vicoden it was very painful. Tip, drink coffee before you go to the bathroom it really helps.

[Denchi]

Yeah I guess my hernia wasn't too big, and it didn't protrude into my scrot, so the incision is only like 2" long (I think.... that's what i'm told, haven't seen it yet).

Not looking forward to the next few days I'll definitely take that coffee tip

[Tonko]

What kind of hernia did you have? Mine was an umbilical hernia that the doctor said was likely congenital and had become worse through increased working out, causing a small protrusion. The other kind of common hernia is Inguinal, not something I have personal experience with.

I had the repair in May, and my bellybutton is just now starting to look normal again. There's severe inflammation and swelling from the surgery, if it looks like the doc did a sloppy job of putting you back together, just wait. It'll calm down and you'll look normal other than the small scar within 3 months.

I wasn't given any accurate expectations as to recovery from my doc, all he told me was, "Take it easy for 3 days" so I assumed I'd be back to work and operational quickly.

Turns out, abdominal surgery isn't fun! Most every movement you can make involves that area of your body in one way or another, from breathing, to walking. You'll be flat on your back the majority of the time, try to have a pull bar installed so you can use your arms to pull yourself into an upright position instead of relying on your abdominals. Getting into and out of bed will be the toughest things you'll do. I was out of work for a week, and lost 15 lbs from not being able to work out.

And AVOID any kind of straining. Take a stool softener; you don't want to end up being constipated form the pain killers and having to strain to have a BM only to bust either your surgical incision open, or the repair inside. No working out or lifting of anything you can't pick up easily with one hand for 4 months.

I think like 30% of hernias reoccur, taking the above precautions and erring on the side of safety will help you to not have a relapse. Feel free to ask any other questions you have.

[zoobernut]

Everything Tonko said is true. For at least 1.5 weeks I had severe pain anytime I did anything that used my abdomen. Mine was in my crotch area though it hung next to my sack like a third nut.

I think it was at least 4 days before I was able to even sit up or be in any position other than lying down.
I watched a lot of movies because there really isn't anything else to do. Mine was caused by a genetic defect in my abdominal lining and they used a mesh material to repair the area which is why I think my scar/incision is so large.

[Pro]

I had a Hernia when I was like 2...so I don't remember!@

[Atlasion]

I had a hernia op about 2 months ago. Was an inguinal hernia I think.

Spent two days (one night) in hospital for the op. Got a scar of about 3" now. Op wasnt bad at all. Was under a general anaesthetic for it, so was completly unconcious. Felt alright the ngiht afetr the op, just couldnt move much. The next morning felt pretty sick. Actually being sick was very painful. I wasn't sure if it was the anaesthetic wearing off or the pain meds that made me sick so, just to be safe, I didn't take any of the meds they gave me to take home. Told myself I'd only take them if I was in a lot of pain, which I never was.

[Denchi]

Yeah mine is Inguinal and it was just in my groin, just above and to the right of my package. Luckily mine didn't protrude into my scrotum. They used mesh to repair mine as well.

I'm a bit unhappy since I'm a pretty skinny guy to begin with, but this past year I've been way into rock climbing and gotten quite fit. But my metabolism is so high I'm probably gonna lose all my progress since I'll be out of commission.

They told me I should be 100% in like 4-6 weeks. But yeah, I'm definitely finding out it's rather difficult to do anything without ab muscles.

They didn't have me in General Anesthesia. They just sedated me a lot then numbed the area. So I didn't have a breathing tube or anything, but I wasn't awake for the procedure, just really really drugged. Woke up, ate some sherbert, drank some water, then came home.

[Atlasion]

Yeah mine is Inguinal and it was just in my groin, just above and to the right of my package. Luckily mine didn't protrude into my scrotum. They used mesh to repair mine as well.

I'm a bit unhappy since I'm a pretty skinny guy to begin with, but this past year I've been way into rock climbing and gotten quite fit. But my metabolism is so high I'm probably gonna lose all my progress since I'll be out of commission.

They told me I should be 100% in like 4-6 weeks. But yeah, I'm definitely finding out it's rather difficult to do anything without ab muscles.

I'm exactly the same, heh. Had just started getting into getting fit. Had been going to the gym for about 8 months, then got a hernia. Same place too, it seems. I felt fine after 3 weeks, but waited till 4 weeks to slowely start exercising again.

[Denchi]

I think the Vicoden is making me noxious..... I just threw up all my orange juice.

I can handle the pain (Although it does suck ass), but throwing up with my hernia surgery is like.... really not fun. I get worried that heaving will tear my sutures too..... I think I'll be ok, though.

[Tonko]

If the vicodin is making you nauseous, request an alternative like darvocet from the doctor. There's no reason for you to be in pain.

[Xno Kappa]

I think I've had a hernia myself for quite some time but I'm so terrified to have it checked out. I've heard nothing but horror stories after surgery. Is there any certain procedures for like a self examination? I've always tried but I can't really confirm anything.

[zoobernut]

There really isn't a self examination for hernias and even if there was a sure fire way to know if you have one and don't that doesn't change the fact that if you have one you have to go to the doctor and have surgery to fix it. Since your horror stories are about after the surgery then it should not be hard for you to go to a doctor and get checked.

Hernias are actually a very serious thing and can become deadly fast given the right situation. Sometimes pieces of intestine will slip out of the hole in your abdomen into the hernia sack and then if blood flow gets cut off to the little piece of intestine it dies and becomes infected and causes sepsis. I knew someone who had to have emergency surgery for a hernia in thier belly button because of this.

[Azalee]

Way to scare the shit out of him even more. xD

The only time I have ever experienced a hernia was with one of my dogs... She got it taken out a few months ago and she still has a little swollen spot that looks just like the hernia did, where it is healing. I don't think it is as painful for dogs though. :/

[Denchi]

To be honest it's not a horror story. I mean yeah it kinda sucks.... but it's SUCH a weight off my shoulders now that the surgery is actually done and, given about a month, I can start doing my regular stuff and jumping and playing again without worrying about a sepsis like mentioned above.

It hurts, but really the pain isn't so bad, it's just pain. I had surgery on my jaw and it was wired shut for a month.... that sucked. This is nothing compared to that, it's just harder to move around with this one.

[zoobernut]

Did not mean to scare him as much as tell him that it doesn't hurt to go to the doctor to get checked out. Might as well just go in because it does not guarantee you need surgery but if you wait and do not go it can get very serious which would make the part he is scared about even worse.

The sooner you go to the doctor the easier and less painful it is.

[Atlasion]

I wouldn't say it was a horror story at all. I wasn't even in much pain afterwards, just couldn't move too much. Feels good to have a working body again.

Still got the painkillers they gave me. Waiting for a monster hangover on a uni day..

[Pirian]

Way to scare the shit out of him even more. xD

The only time I have ever experienced a hernia was with one of my dogs... She got it taken out a few months ago and she still has a little swollen spot that looks just like the hernia did, where it is healing. I don't think it is as painful for dogs though. :/

Same as mine, it's in the dead center of his belly. Had it fixed but it looks like it's still there. He's got it when he was like 2 and we had it fixed right away, 11 years later he's still very active/healthy(besides the uncontrolled diabetes that he's had for 5 years...)

[Denchi]

So today I took my first dump (Didn't strain, but took a while), took my large bandage off, and took a shower. Then the rest of the day I felt great. I walked around on my own, ate regular meals, cooked my own meals, went downstairs and played some Call of Duty 4. But as soon as I got up after playing CoD4 later tonight (like 9pm) I like... couldn't walk. I hurt real bad again in weird spots, like the spot right inbetween my inner leg and my sack. And I have a light-pinkish bruise all around my right hip. Is that all normal? I figure recovery will be a lot of up and downs, but I just like to be careful too. Maybe all the pain is my Novacain finally wearing off? Maybe it's from all the swelling going down? I dunno, but it's put me back in bed for a while.

[Tonko]

To be honest it's not a horror story. I mean yeah it kinda sucks.... but it's SUCH a weight off my shoulders now that the surgery is actually done and, given about a month, I can start doing my regular stuff and jumping and playing again without worrying about a sepsis like mentioned above.

Better wait at least 2 months before you go jumping & playing, unless you want another surgery.

So today I took my first dump (Didn't strain, but took a while), took my large bandage off, and took a shower. Then the rest of the day I felt great. I walked around on my own, ate regular meals, cooked my own meals, went downstairs and played some Call of Duty 4. But as soon as I got up after playing CoD4 later tonight (like 9pm) I like... couldn't walk. I hurt real bad again in weird spots, like the spot right inbetween my inner leg and my sack. And I have a light-pinkish bruise all around my right hip. Is that all normal? I figure recovery will be a lot of up and downs, but I just like to be careful too. Maybe all the pain is my Novacain finally wearing off? Maybe it's from all the swelling going down? I dunno, but it's put me back in bed for a while.

You probably pushed yourself too hard by walking around, and then you were stationary for a long period of time giving the muscles a chance to stiffen up again. Take it easy man, if you can have someone else do something for you, let them. Especially for the first 2 weeks.