Just found out I have a giant hernia-I'm a little scared :-(

[Guest guest]

Well, it's been 4 and a half months since my DS surgery, and I am

down 82 pounds. I couldn't be more thankful. My struggle to even get

this life saving surgery was long and hard as I know it was for many

of you. I know that having a hernia does not make me unique, as I

have read about them on this board many times. About three weeks

ago, I finally started swimming at the local gym....just doing some

laps, and taking water aerobics about twice a week. I have been

noticing for a week or two that my tummy, well it's like I have two

tummys actually...the lower one which of course kind of hangs at

this point, then my upper tummy, right under my breasts...well, the

upper one looks jetted way out, and it is as hard as a rock, the

lower one still like a bowl of jello. But the upper one feels and

looks like I am walking around with a basketball under my shirt.

Very strange. I showed it to my massage therapist, and she's the one

who said it was a hernia. I told her she was crazy, because from

what I knew, a hernia was about the size of a golf ball. She made me

go home right away and call Dr.K's office. Sure enough I explained

it to Dee...and she confirmed the fact that yes it is a hernia. She

said to just go ahead and start wearing my binder again. I asked her

if I should come to Delano right away, and she said that Dr. K

wouldn't do a thing about it right now, except to tell me to wear my

binder, and that when I come for my 6 month follow-up on August

10th, he'll look at it and probably still not do anything about it

til it's time for my TT. I'm thinking that may be 2 years away.

Won't my hernia just keep tearing inside of me? I'm kinda scared,

and unfamiliar with all this...any thoughts? Thanx...you guys are

great. Hope to see you as I attend my 1st support group in Delano in

August...Luv and hugs...Deb

[Guest guest]

>Well, it's been 4 and a half months since my DS surgery, and I am

>down 82 pounds. I couldn't be more thankful. My struggle to even get

>this life saving surgery was long and hard as I know it was for many

>of you. I know that having a hernia does not make me unique, as I

>have read about them on this board many times. About three weeks

>ago, I finally started swimming at the local gym....just doing some

>laps, and taking water aerobics about twice a week. I have been

>noticing for a week or two that my tummy, well it's like I have two

>tummys actually...the lower one which of course kind of hangs at

>this point, then my upper tummy, right under my breasts...well, the

>upper one looks jetted way out, and it is as hard as a rock, the

>lower one still like a bowl of jello. But the upper one feels and

>looks like I am walking around with a basketball under my shirt.

>Very strange. I showed it to my massage therapist, and she's the one

>who said it was a hernia. I told her she was crazy, because from

>what I knew, a hernia was about the size of a golf ball. She made me

>go home right away and call Dr.K's office. Sure enough I explained

>it to Dee...and she confirmed the fact that yes it is a hernia. She

>said to just go ahead and start wearing my binder again. I asked her

>if I should come to Delano right away, and she said that Dr. K

>wouldn't do a thing about it right now, except to tell me to wear my

>binder, and that when I come for my 6 month follow-up on August

>10th, he'll look at it and probably still not do anything about it

>til it's time for my TT. I'm thinking that may be 2 years away.

>Won't my hernia just keep tearing inside of me? I'm kinda scared,

>and unfamiliar with all this...any thoughts? Thanx...you guys are

>great. Hope to see you as I attend my 1st support group in Delano in

>August...Luv and hugs...Deb

>

Deb,

I had my DS on May 1 of 2003 and developed a very large hernia about six

months out. The advice Dee gave you is the same that I got from Dr. K. at

my 6 month appointment, continue wearing the binder and we'll fix it when

we do the panni. Well, my panni was this past May, just over a year out

and Dr. K. did the hernia repair at the same time. I did fine from 6

months on and have had no serious problems since the hernia repair/TT.

Dr. K. (and most other WLS surgeons) want the patient to be at least a year

out and have the weight loss somewhat stabalized before the do the TT/panni

since it seems to " kick-start " the weight loss cycle again. Doing the

hernia repair at the same time is only logical since it subjects you to one

less surgery. So, unless you have a very small hernia that can become

" strangulated " and necessitate emergency surgery, don't fret about it.

Even though you have a large one, you're hernia isn't that bad.

Jerry

[Guest guest]

>I feel so good when I swim...I

>don't have to stop because of this hernia do I?

Debi,

Not until you have the hernia repair/TT operation. Then you'll have the

same restriction as with the DS, no immersion of the incision until OK'd by

Dr. K.

Jerry