Hi everyone, I have recently been infromed
that I have an epigastric hernia. I have a
very active lifestyle, playing
sports/going to the gym probably 5 times a
week. The doctor told me that I was
probably going to need surgery if I was
going to keep this up. She referred me to
a surgeon who told me that my hernia was
very small and reducable. The surgeon told
me that I should continue with my everyday
life as normal, and come back if it
started to hurt or got bigger.
Between the time that I found out that I
had a hernia and went to the surgeon, I
refrained from sports to be on the safe
side. I was told to continue with my
normal lifestyle just last week, and have
since done 3 relatively intense runs to
see how it feels. During the day I barely
notice it, apart from being aware that it
is there. After my runs, it bulged more
significantly and was a little bit sore,
but unless I was touching it, I did not
even notice it. Also, the increased bulge
would go away after a half hour or so, if
I pushed it back down.
Even though I can run without any real
limitation, I still feel like I am
restricted in how I preform during my
activites, since I do not want to make it
worse. The doctors seem to think I can
leave it for now, but if I am going to
need surgery anyways ( which is what I
have been lead to believe) wouldn't it
make sense to do it while it is small and
non-threatening?
If it wasn't for all the stuff that I have
read on these forums, about complications
and reoccurence, I would elect to have
surgery right away and just take care of
it.
I am wondering if anyone has been in a
similar situation, and would like to share
what they did.
Is surgery inevitable?
Has anyone on the forums actually had a
hernia repaired at the Shouldice Hospital
in Ontario? If so, how did it go?
Are the statistics that Shouldice Hospital
lists on their website valid? (<1%
reoccurence, 0.5% complication rate) I am
a little sketchy, since it is a private
hospital which may just be in it for the
money.
Is there a mesh that has proven to be the
most reliable?
What kind of scarring can I expect if I
get surgery? I am a little tentative about
the scarring, since my hernia is right
above my belly button.
Any comments would be appreciated, thanks
in advance.
Hi Pharaz,
What responses or advice have you
received?
I am visiting my GP here in the UK on Tues
22nd July and want to convince him that I
need it sorting out. And, assuming I then
get to see a specialist at the hospital.
the treatment/surgery will be minor so
that I too can continue with my active
lifestyle, including attend the gym.
I look forward to hearing from you.
CM in the UK
|
Pharaz
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Jun 2008 Posts: 3
Posted: 07-16-08 18:15pm
Well, after I went to the surgeon (whom
told me that I did not need surgery), I
proceeded to do lots and lots of research
on hernias and decided that I wanted to
opt for surgery. I don't feel comfortable
waiting for it to get worse/become an
emergency and I feel restricted when I
play sports. Also, from what I have read,
it doesn't repair itself- it just keeps
getting worse.
I know what you mean with trying to
convince the doctors that you need
surgery. They seem to think that if it's
not bad, it can be left alone (in my
experiences). The way I figured it,
surgery seems to be inevitable, especially
for someone who is very active. What is
the point of letting it get worse? It
would suck if the doctor kept telling you
it was alright and one day it became an
emergency.
I didn't really have a problem trying to
convince my surgeon to let me have the
surgery, since I skipped the whole public
health care thing. After reading through
these forums I realized that there was a
bunch of issues with the mesh repairs and
I have decided to go to the Shouldice
Hospital. Their posted success rate is
very impressive (<1% reoccurence, 0.5%
complication rate) and I will not have to
risk complications that may or may not
occur with the mesh.
If I was you, I would tell your doctor
that you feel uncomfortable with the
hernia the way it is. Tell him/her that
you would like to get back to the way you
were before the hernia. Let them know that
you don't want to sit around and wait for
an emergency, always being aware of its
presence. It has become kind of a
psycological thing with me, I am
constantly making sure it has not gotten
worse and reducing it (fortunately I don't
have my hernia in my groinal region, ha).
Anyway, I hope that I was helpful in some
way. Good luck.
