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.