Has anyone here had hernia surgery?

vlagrl29

Ugh, I finally got it on the schedule for the 25th of this month.  I can't say I'm excited about it, but I will be relieved that I don't have to worry about it ever again. It's an umbilical hernial that I got from pregnancy.  It's never caused me pain.  I didn't even know what it was the first year and just last year I was diagnosed with it by a surgeon.  The opening is no bigger than your fingertip and the surgeon said it hadn't gotten any bigger since last year which is awesome!  I guess I'm looking to see if anyone has experience with this and how your recovery was.  I'm sure its going to be way easier than my c/section and as weird as this sounds I kinda wish I could be awake for it like the c/section.  I don't like the idea of being put out.

vlagrl29

Gastro said:

I haven't, but DS did last summer. He was jumping around within a few hours. He had a waterproof bandage over the incision so he could bathe. Only rules for him were no swimming and no strenuous exercise (like gymnastics or tumbling) for two weeks.

yea!  I'm hoping to be able to go to a bday party on that following saturday.  I don't get out much, so I'm looking forward to it.  I know I can't lift more than 10lbs for 2 weeks 

vlagrl29

I Heart The 80s said:

Watching this post. I have one, but there is no pain. I honestly still am clueless about it, but the doc (and specialist) said i have one.  I was told they wouldn't do surgery until I had issues…because it would be considered cosmetic, otherwise.

not true.  I was told to get it taken care of before it became a problem.  If it had gotten to the point of causing me harm, there is a pretty good chance I would have needed ER help.  My doc told me if it actually gets stuck you can loose blood supply to your intestine and it needs surgery asap.  I didn't want it to get that far.  I also want to get it taken care of before we get pregnant again.  I'm afraid I would constantly worry about it and that it could get worse and bigger.  My surgeon actually told me to stop lifting weights more than 10 lbs to prevent it from getting bigger which is impossible with kids.  I would have had it taken care of last year but insurance wouldn't cover it because it was "pre existing", so I stopped lifting weights at the gym and turned to yoga instead, but I've modified some poses out of paranoia.  It will just feel like a relief to me to have this thing behind me.  Recovery won't be that bad I have a feeling because it's not causing me pain.  Recovery would be harder if it was a lot bigger.  Hernia's never get better, they only get worse.  Insurance does cover it, mine does.  It is a medical issue.   You should call your insurance company to find out.  We just switched to better insurance so we won't owe much for this procedure.

vlagrl29

I Heart The 80s said:

Wow…interesting! I should look into it. Thank you!

No problem!  Definitely get a second opinion.  It appeared in the 3rd tri of my pregnancy but the OB didn't know what is was.  I thought it would go away but it didn't.  It actually became more prominent as I lost the baby weight. About a year after DD was born my gyno told me she thought it was a hernia and referred me to a surgeon who confirmed it.  I didn't like that surgeon, so I saw another surgeon I liked and stuck with her.  After the c/section I wasn't in much of an urge for another surgery.  I had just got my PSD fixed by a chiro which was another left over side effect from pregnancy and I just needed a break from it all.  I'm ready now.