Diagnosed with bilateral inguinal hernias

[drtowfigh]

Inguinal hernias can cause bloating even if no intestine involved. It’s mostly a reaction to the pelvic pain.

But severe bloating is likely a GI problem. Consider SIBO hydrogen breath testing and also evaluation of your gallbladder with a HIDA scan.

[Good intentions]

I just noticed that there was a recent publication in Hernia baout hiatal hernias.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10029-023-02756-5

Published: 24 February 2023
The effect of surgical repair of hiatal hernia (HH) on pulmonary function: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Y. Wang, Y. Lv, Y. Liu & C. Xie
Hernia (2023)

“Introduction
…
The related symptoms include digestive symptoms, such as regurgitation, dysphagia, dyspepsia, or reflux, and extra respiratory symptoms, such as dyspnea, cough, hoarseness, or anemia [3]. For all symptomatic hiatal hernias, surgical repair is necessary. Therefore, perceiving symptoms and ascertaining what role the hernias play in those symptoms is of crucial importance. However, the majority of clinical manifestations appear to be nonspecific, making it hard to determine the true extent of hiatal hernia impact.”

[Howard]

Thanks.

https://herniatalk.com/forums/topic/hernia-or-psoas/

Similar kind of scenario, I wonder what the outcome was.

Hernia or Psoas?

[William Bryant]

https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/living/hernia

[William Bryant]

I believe British hernia centre does mainly mesh but one surgeon there did do do tissue repair, Martin Kurzer using Desarda. Scartersville who posted on here consulte with him and it was Martin Kurzer who suggested a German surgeon instead.

You may find a bit more about bhc by searching Scarletville old posts.

I didn’t realise Martin kurzer was no longer at the bhc .. I think he now has his own practice so another UK non mesh surgeon to the UK list.

On ibs I’ve read inguinal hernia can produce IBS like symptoms – not sure why but did read it somewhere.

[Howard]

Always feel IBS is given when nothing else comes to light. I don’t suffer from bad gas or cramps, just always so swollen.

I have an Oximeter, always seems to show as normal. The palps I feel more in my neck, hence the vagus nerve theory.

I agree the British Hernia site is a little outdated, more info on their methods here – https://www.hernia.org/tension-free-mesh-2/

The reviews seem good, unless they weed out the bad ones.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by  Howard.

[Good intentions]

It’s not clear what repair method the Centre prefers for inguinal hernias. It is worth researching their method and understanding the pros and cons. Many surgeons that used to do open repair have converted to laparoscopy and even robotic repair. There is a huge push to get the new technology in to the field.

The Centre’s web page is very dated. The last publication referred to is from 2009. The Inguinal Hernia page has a reference from 1972, not clear why.

https://www.hernia.org/types/inguinal/

[ajm222]

yeah, most very small inguinal hernias don’t contain any intestine and just a little bit of fat, which then even recedes when sitting or lying down or being inactive. when my hernia was repaired recently there was in fact nothing in the hernia sac at all while lying on the operating table.

also, your symptoms very much sound like classic IBS (which of course is a diagnosis of exclusion and doesn’t really tell you that something specific is wrong except that the brain/gut connection is sort of messed up). i had a lot of those symptoms, sometimes extreme, for several years. had a lot of tests. they found nothing and just said it was IBS. just getting that diagnosis helped me a lot and eventually most all of the symptoms went away.

[David M]

I havent had my hernia surgery yet. Ive always had various intestinal stuff that’s come and gone. It’s very possible that the stomach problems were as a result of the change in my diet that corresponded to the pvcs. Specifically, I thought maybe the pvcs were a result of drinking too much caffeine. They probably werent, but I switched off coffee and changed to soft drinks (dr pepper)which i didnt normally drink. I realize these also have caffeine, but not as much, and I was only drinking about 20 to 30 ounces a day.

So,the stomach problems might have been something from that. At any rate, presently both problems have cleared to a large degree.

I would try to get myself one of the oximeters with the heartbeat graphs and watch the graph when the heart palpitations are happening. Possibly the intestinal bloating is not the root cause. Those oximeters are maybe 30 dollars.

[Howard]

Palpitations occur when bloating is extreme. When the bloat settles down somewhat, palps go away. Been told it’s the vagus nerve being compromised, everything gets pushed up from the bloat, hence lungs feel squashed. Have had numerous ECGs over the years, all fine. I know there’s more stringent tests you can have but my GP didn’t seem concerned. Did yours clear up after hernia surgery?

[David M]

Random suggestion, probably wrong, but if youre having palpitations and shortness of breath, what makes you think your heart is ok? I recently had to wear a heart monitor because I noticed my heart felt funny and watching my heart beat on an oximeter, I could see that I was getting a missed heartbeat on a regular basis. Mostly this was due to a premature ventricular contraction, which is something that can affect people with otherwise normal hearts.

When this happens, the ventricle fires early before it fills with blood. It’s not necessarily dangerous unless it happens a lot. When it’s acting up, though,there is some shortness of breath and a sort of feeling like you’re riding a bicycle with the brake on. Now, mine has cleared up a lot, but when it was occuring regularly, I was also having a lot of intestinal problems. Perhaps this was just a coincidence.

[Howard]

Thanks Good Intentions, fully understand the medical process where illness = money to be made. Will not rush into anything, will consider all opinions. if I can get a referral to the British Hernia Centre (people fly in from all over the world to be treated here) I would hope to be in safe hands. It’s only an hour from me.

[Good intentions]

Often in inguinal hernias, especially small ones, there is no intestine protruding. It is fat or omentum. The small intestine is not involved at all.

I would not assume anything. I have become cynical and skeptical so have a jaundiced view. Learn as much as you can and beware the “we’ll try” approach. Many surgeons have the view that if problems persist the patient is free to come back and they’ll make another attempt. In the hernia repair field today, new industries have grown from the problems that typical hernia repair causes. Pain clinics (which you seem to be familiar with) and mesh removal are two big ones. Each new industry has investments behind it and needs a steady flow of customers. It takes the pressure off of the surgeon to get it right the first time. If there are problems they will just pass you down the line to the next specialist.

There are definitely surgeons who are experts in multiple disciplines though, and will take a more holistic approach. You just have to find them.

[Howard]

Understandably, I will be seeking further advice on this issue, hopefully at the British Hernia Centre in London. They can address both my hiatal and inguinal hernias. I am aware of what issues a hiatal hernia can produce. Surgery for this is brutal and I decided long ago it wasn’t worth the risk. I’ve had nuclear gastro emptying tests, 24hr PH testing, tons of other tests that I can’t recall but all showed a normally functioning GI tract. Three endoscopes, one of which didn’t even find a hernia.

Surely with bilateral inguinal hernias, if you have two parts of your intestines sticking out in places where they should not be, restricting bowel movements and gas, bloating occurs? Quoting one surgical consulting website, “An inguinal hernia can cause someone to feel like they had an enormous meal when in fact they did not. This very common type of hernia can also make you feel bloated”. Ditto for hiatal hernia of course.

I just want to find answers. I am not overweight or unhealthy, just severely restricted in lifestyle choices.

[Good intentions]

Just curious and I hope you don’t mind the discussion – but have you already been referred to a hernia specialist? When I was diagnosed with a hernia by my primary care physician he immediately offered to refer me to a surgeon. I took the referral and began researching. If I had followed the normal path and went directly to the referred surgeon, I probably would have had the surgery within a week or two. It would have been open surgery, probably Lichtenstein or a plug and patch.

[Good intentions]

To answer your direct question, I think that the odds are against you in thinking that small groin hernias would cause your symptoms. Nothing wrong with hoping but you are in a dangerous position now. There are many paths forward that could lead to more problems. Most of the surgeons that you talk to will be happy to schedule you for a mesh implantation as soon as they can fit you in.

Good luck and be careful. Don’t gamble.

[Howard]

Having extensively researched and read a lot of what @drtowfigh has said in various posts here, I beg to differ.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by  Howard.

[Good intentions]

The hiatal hernia seems to fit the symptoms better doesn’t it? You might be hoping for too much. Has no doctor suggested surgery for the hiatal hernia? You might be on the “repeat customer” program for pharmaceuticals.

Be careful moving forward. If you see a hernia specialist about a groin hernia it’s easy to imagine that they will schedule you for surgery, repair the inguinal hernias and leave the hiatal hernia alone. You will be back to where you have been over the past eleven years. Maybe worse off if you get certain types of repair.

You might consider seeing a weight loss surgeon. They often have expertise in hernia repair and a broader knowledge of gastrointestinal issues. The surgeon who removed the mesh from me is a weight loss surgery specialist, who also repairs hernias.

[Watchful]

Most of the symptoms you’re describing are not symptoms of inguinal hernias.