Hernea

shellbug79

So Oliver has had a little lump/knot on his stomach for a couple of months now, that we've noticed.  I meant to ask the Dr about it at his 18 month appointment but forgot so I asked on Monday at his 2 year checkup.  Of course we couldn't see it so she thought it was just part of his rib still forming but then when he starting crying during the checkup she felt it and thinks that he has a hernea. We have an appointment on Tuesday to speak with a surgeon and I'm just not looking forward to it.  I just don't know how Mama's of sick babies handle things b/c I remember his surgery when he was 5 weeks old and I remember Isabelle's out patient surgery for cavities, I am a complete mess just thinking that he needs surgery again.  Has anyone's little one had a hernea and not had to have surgery?  I'm hoping for the best but expecting the worst.  To make things worse Isabelle graduates preschool tonight and I'm sure I'll be a mess for that!  I have never been a crier, I can't believe parenthood has done this to me!

Michelle

Christine.Louie

Aw sorry to hear this.  Does your LO have heartburn often?  This is also a sign of a hiatal hernia (basically the abdomen wall is weakened and the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm and into the chest)

Not sure if this is helpful or not but I saw a hiatal hernia surgery when I was in college.  It was done laproscopically and basically just involved cutting a couple small holes (one port for the scope, one for the manipulating instruments).  The surgeon sewed a mesh patch in place to reinforce the weak walls and that was that.

shellbug79

He doesn't ever have heartburn, or I should say if he does he never lets up to it.  He's only 2 and doesn't speak much so he's not telling us that he feels bad, he's always very happy.  I pretty sure that the ped said the kind of hernea started with a d but of course I've misplaced my paper that has all the information on it.  He had surgery when he was 5 weeks old for pyloric stenosis so I was wondering if the hernea could have been from that but the Dr didn't want to speculate.  I just hate the thought of surgery, even if it's minor!

kel716

B has had some sort of hernia since birth that the pedi is not concerned about... it's supposedly normal.  It keeps fading, doesn't seem to bother him, so at this point we aren't concerned. 

Anyway, my dh apparently also had a hernia as a child and had it removed.  It was in his intestines.  He has a tiny scar and no other issues from it...  I know he bounced back quickly from this surgery (faster than any adult would), and that was in the mid 70's.