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Inguinal Hernia Newbie - I never got any information

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davewe

February 19th, 2012

Went to my doctor 4 days ago thinking I might have a inguinal hernia based on bulge in my groin. Actually he's a Physicians Assistant and yes he diagnosed a hernia. Left to get me a surgical consult and never came back. Nurse said we'll call you. So I never got any information and have not received a call back yet. So my basic questions are:

1. What exercise can I or cant I do? I assume weights are out. What about stretching or dancing?
2. Can I hurt this further or does this matter at this point?
3. Should I worry about pushing during a bowel movement?
4. Is sex OK to engage in?
5. Is surgery done ASAP or do people wait? I set up my own surgical consult in two weeks but have a vacation coming up in a month and would rather do the surgery after the vacation.
6. What symptoms other than the obvious should I be looking for to indicate this is getting worse and if it is getting worse what should I do other than wait for the doctors appointment.

OK, it sounds like I am freaking out and maybe I am. Never had a major medical issue in my life and am in perfect health other than this.

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First Helper fuerza

fuerza

replied February 20th, 2012

Experienced User

1. go to the herniabible dot com and look up their core strengthening exercises to help firm up the area.

2. you can make it get larger faster if you do strenuous weight lifting or very aggressive exercises. light stretching is okay, dancing should be fine, unless you are lifting people.

3. keep stools soft with either more fiber, citrucel or magnesium therapy at nights. can also do some prune juice just before bed.

4. sex is okay, just don't be lifting your partner for some he-man sex move.

5. people do wait. if you have no bulge where the hernia is always staying out, then it would be relatively safe to wait and shop around for a HERNIA SPECIALIST, skip the general surgeon.

6. look for it to be popping out more often and more importantly, popping out and you can't gently coax it back into your body. keep an eye on your scrotum that it isn't twice it's size all of a sudden. some hernias can silently slip into your scrotum and enlarge it. of course, if you have excruciating pain all of a sudden, that needs attention.

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davewe

replied February 20th, 2012

Thanks for all this great info. I did already stumble upon the herniabible and that site encourages a wait and see philosophy, as well as self-help rather than surgery.

I also found the JAMA study which indicated wait and see is effective. And also read the horror stories about post operative issues.

Decisions, decisions.

Are there hernia specialist doctors who are not surgeons. I assume that any surgeon I go to will recommend surgery.

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fuerza

replied February 20th, 2012

Experienced User

i like the way you think about how surgeons think. almost all hernia specialists are going to be surgeons, but...BUT...there are rare occasions where you will get a hernia specialist that will suggest the 'watchful waiting' approach. let's be honest, surgeons make their money by doing surgeries. that's just how it is. so the majority of the time you will hear them suggest surgery. if you visit the north penn hernia institute's forums, that is one site where doctors' names are easily and readily given out on who you can see, who you should be careful with and where they are located. good luck with your decisions.

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	Tags: inguinal hernia, hernia, physicians, Exercise, symptoms, surgery, sex, surgery questions, back stretching, exercise health

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