I HAVE A HERNIA!

[ProStylez]

Well I guess I didn't need to start a thread about this but since its on my mind I figured what the hell!
I came up with the conclusion I had a Inguinal Hernia 2 days ago by doing some research on the web, after I scared myself into making an appointment to see the doc he confirmed yesterday that I was exactly correct.
The thing that bothers me is I've ad this for probably over a year now but ignored it because it never really hurt me just always puzzled me more than anything.
I'm one of those people who never broke a bone or had a stitch until I tore my ACL 4 1/2 years ago so anytime something hurts I usually figure it will get better on it's own.
So now on Monday I meet with the surgeon so he can look at it then talk about setting a date for surgery. I will be turning 30 on June 14th and have a big weekend planned for the 13th-15th so I am hoping I can hold off with this surgery until that weekend is over at least, heck I've waited this long what a few more weeks?
Strange thing to me is when they did my ACL surgery I had to stay there a day and a half but for this it will be done in the morning and I will be home by the evening? Maybe it's just me but this seems backwards seeing how this sounds more serious seeing how they will be digging in my guts! I know I felt 100 times worse after my knee surgery than I did before I had the surgery and my ACL was torn so I'm not looking forward to this at all, if I didn't have a son I probably would not have even went to the doctor but my wife keeps saying that Cameron needs his daddy!
Have any of you guys had this surgery?
How did it go?

http://www.hmc.psu.edu/healthinfo/i/inguinalhernia.htm

[callmetaternuts]

Re: I HAVE A HERNIA!

Havent had one, but good luck. At least you know what it is, sometimes thats the biggest relief.

[SPTO]

Re: I HAVE A HERNIA!

Damn I wouldn't want to have a hernia. Your story about the after surgery reminds me of the eye surgery I had a few years back. It was done in the morning and basically two hours after I was out of the place. The nurses were kind of surprised I woke up so soon as most patients sleep a lot longer then that. I had to wear a patch on my eye for a couple days afterwards as well.

Anyways I hope you can hold off on your operation til after your birthday weekend.

[boomhauertjs]

Re: I HAVE A HERNIA!

My wife had hernia surgery about 8 years ago. She wasn't allowed to drive for 2 weeks (I think) and she was pretty sore for a while. The surgery is pretty routine, so you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

[ProStylez]

Re: I HAVE A HERNIA!

Thanks for reading my long post to those who have responded so far, it helps reading anything about this since I'm just sitting here kind of freaked out to do anything since now I know my guts are out of place!
Not exactly but just trying to add some humor to this :wink:

[mjb2124]

Re: I HAVE A HERNIA!

I had one and had the surgery about 7 years ago. It's really not that bad. I read a bunch of horror stories online about how people couldn't walk and had to use a piss bucket near their bed because the pain was so terrible etc... I didn't find that to be true. It's not painful as much as it's really sore for the first few days-week. You know when you workout real hard after not working out for a long time and you get that deep soreness? That's the soreness you'll feel in your abdomen after the surgery. Try not to worry about the surgery as it's a common procedure.

Depending on how bad it is, you might not be able to wait. The problem that arises with a hernia is that some of your internal organs can be "strangled" by the hernia hole. At least this is what my Dr. told me. I was like you....I felt very little discomfort. Just a twinge in my leg every now and then and a slightly noticeable lump where the hernia was. I was told that if I felt any terrible pain between when the surgery was scheduled and the actual surgery, to get to the emergency room ASAP.

Also, if given the option, choose the lapriscopic (sp?) route. They cut 3 very small incisions into you (1 under your belly button and 2 a bit lower). The incision under your belly button is used to get instruments in/out. The other 2 are used for a small camera and to blow air to lift your skin. This is the quickest method for recovery and doesn't have a big noticeable scar running along your waist.

PS - Ask any questions and I'll try to respond when I get a chance.

[Gibbz]

Re: I HAVE A HERNIA!

I had severe inguinal hernia surgery 3 years ago and it still pains me after extensive exercise. If you're a weight-lifter you will be unable to for a long, long time.

However, yours may not be this severe since I had ignored mine for years, and had played basketball, lifted, etc. My messed up recovery time was also multiplied by a bad nerve in the area that I had to get killed a year ago.

Most hernia surgery is pretty routine, so you shouldn't have too much to worry about. You'll have to take it easy for a while, though.

[ProStylez]

Re: I HAVE A HERNIA!

I had one and had the surgery about 7 years ago. It's really not that bad. I read a bunch of horror stories online about how people couldn't walk and had to use a piss bucket near their bed because the pain was so terrible etc... I didn't find that to be true. It's not painful as much as it's really sore for the first few days-week. You know when you workout real hard after not working out for a long time and you get that deep soreness? That's the soreness you'll feel in your abdomen after the surgery. Try not to worry about the surgery as it's a common procedure.

Depending on how bad it is, you might not be able to wait. The problem that arises with a hernia is that some of your internal organs can be "strangled" by the hernia hole. At least this is what my Dr. told me. I was like you....I felt very little discomfort. Just a twinge in my leg every now and then and a slightly noticeable lump where the hernia was. I was told that if I felt any terrible pain between when the surgery was scheduled and the actual surgery, to get to the emergency room ASAP.

Also, if given the option, choose the lapriscopic (sp?) route. They cut 3 very small incisions into you (1 under your belly button and 2 a bit lower). The incision under your belly button is used to get instruments in/out. The other 2 are used for a small camera and to blow air to lift your skin. This is the quickest method for recovery and doesn't have a big noticeable scar running along your waist.

PS - Ask any questions and I'll try to respond when I get a chance.

Thank You for the info. I did hear that the organ that is causing the hernia could get cut off from blood and then die. That would cause stool and blood to back up in your body which would need an emergency surgery and could even be fatal in some cases! Like you I have only a slight lump with pain that comes and goes. I will also ask about the lapriscopic surgery.

[ProStylez]

Re: I HAVE A HERNIA!

I had severe inguinal hernia surgery 3 years ago and it still pains me after extensive exercise. If you're a weight-lifter you will be unable to for a long, long time.

However, yours may not be this severe since I had ignored mine for years, and had played basketball, lifted, etc. My messed up recovery time was also multiplied by a bad nerve in the area that I had to get killed a year ago.

Most hernia surgery is pretty routine, so you shouldn't have too much to worry about. You'll have to take it easy for a while, though.

Yeah I am a lifter and that is what could have caused this. At one point a few years back when I was a little bigger I was doing 900 pound seated leg presses which could be why I have this problem now? It could even be from a bowel movement the doc said so who really knows? Hopefully I wont be down for too long, I hate going back to the gym after missing a long stint!

[boomhauertjs]

Re: I HAVE A HERNIA!

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[Scottdau]

Re: I HAVE A HERNIA!

I had one and had the surgery about 7 years ago. It's really not that bad. I read a bunch of horror stories online about how people couldn't walk and had to use a piss bucket near their bed because the pain was so terrible etc... I didn't find that to be true. It's not painful as much as it's really sore for the first few days-week. You know when you workout real hard after not working out for a long time and you get that deep soreness? That's the soreness you'll feel in your abdomen after the surgery. Try not to worry about the surgery as it's a common procedure.

Depending on how bad it is, you might not be able to wait. The problem that arises with a hernia is that some of your internal organs can be "strangled" by the hernia hole. At least this is what my Dr. told me. I was like you....I felt very little discomfort. Just a twinge in my leg every now and then and a slightly noticeable lump where the hernia was. I was told that if I felt any terrible pain between when the surgery was scheduled and the actual surgery, to get to the emergency room ASAP.

Also, if given the option, choose the lapriscopic (sp?) route. They cut 3 very small incisions into you (1 under your belly button and 2 a bit lower). The incision under your belly button is used to get instruments in/out. The other 2 are used for a small camera and to blow air to lift your skin. This is the quickest method for recovery and doesn't have a big noticeable scar running along your waist.

PS - Ask any questions and I'll try to respond when I get a chance.

Yep, I had the same thing. It really is pretty easy and you heal pretty fast.

[youvalss]

Re: I HAVE A HERNIA!

Good luck man! Get well soon, ya hear?!

[totalownership]

Re: I HAVE A HERNIA!

Damn I wouldn't want to have a hernia. Your story about the after surgery reminds me of the eye surgery I had a few years back. It was done in the morning and basically two hours after I was out of the place. The nurses were kind of surprised I woke up so soon as most patients sleep a lot longer then that. I had to wear a patch on my eye for a couple days afterwards as well.

Anyways I hope you can hold off on your operation til after your birthday weekend.

There's a new push to NOT keep patients in the hospital if at all possible. If they could they would send you home opened up and hand you a print out of how to stitch yourself up. It's all about the $$$$. When I was a kid I hated going to the hospital because I knew I would have to stay at least over night. I once had a sharp pain around the pelvis area that was almost crippling. I has basically crawling back home. Got to the hospital and they couldn't find anything wrong but I had to stay like 2 days.

I couldn't been older than , than whatever age you are when in elementary school. lol. I had to share a room with a kid who I think was around 12 or so, probably older. He taught me how to play cards. lol I came out a poker/war/blackjack ace.

[Herky]

Re: I HAVE A HERNIA!

I had surgery for one last July when I was 30. It had been bugging me for about two weeks and then the pear shaped bulge got bigger. I got it lifting weights and could feel a burn in that area every now and then. It got to the point where is was pretty sore a lot, especially standing up...it would burn. Not a lingering pain, but a sharp dull one for a few moments. I went to a hernia specialist and he was able to tell be in about 5 seconds it was a hernia. Mine was a ingunial hernia. Even though I'd lifted for years, that was the cause of the hernia. Mine was an abdominal one any there was no black and blue areas or swelling of the balls after. I had a pain pump that released a gas into a small IV near the insision that numbs the pain for about 2 to three days. Then when the ball is empty I had to pull the IV out on my own. My doc didn't use mesh, but used the other method where you use your own tissue and cross stich back and forth over and over. After 4 weeks and I was 100% and was able lift and run at full strength. I was given Vicodin but never took it. Had the surgery on a Friday, and by Tuesday I was able to get around the house well.

Good luck and I hope you have a speed recovery. They aren't fun, but not usually as bad as people say.

[ProStylez]

Re: I HAVE A HERNIA!

I had surgery for one last July when I was 30. It had been bugging me for about two weeks and then the pear shaped bulge got bigger. I got it lifting weights and could feel a burn in that area every now and then. It got to the point where is was pretty sore a lot, especially standing up...it would burn. Not a lingering pain, but a sharp dull one for a few moments. I went to a hernia specialist and he was able to tell be in about 5 seconds it was a hernia. Mine was a ingunial hernia. Even though I'd lifted for years, that was the cause of the hernia. Mine was an abdominal one any there was no black and blue areas or swelling of the balls after. I had a pain pump that released a gas into a small IV near the insision that numbs the pain for about 2 to three days. Then when the ball is empty I had to pull the IV out on my own. My doc didn't use mesh, but used the other method where you use your own tissue and cross stich back and forth over and over. After 4 weeks and I was 100% and was able lift and run at full strength. I was given Vicodin but never took it. Had the surgery on a Friday, and by Tuesday I was able to get around the house well.

Good luck and I hope you have a speed recovery. They aren't fun, but not usually as bad as people say.

Well now for a follow up:
I DON'T have a Hernia!?!?
Ok, so yesterday I went to the doc who would be the surgeon for the hernia and after feeling around he said he didn't think it was a hernia but he wants me to see a urologist now.
My doc came to the conclusion after 20 seconds I had a hernia, this guy says I don't have one which confuses the hell out me.
Now I have to get blood work and a ultrasound before I see this Urologist on June 23rd.
On the bright side this will all take place after my birthday which I was hoping for but on the not so bright side I'm not sure what's wrong with me if anything at all. The hernia thing is bad but from reading all your responses it really would not have been too bad and I would have had a fairly quick recovery now this could be worse than expected.
If interested I will keep this post going with any updates.