Melina81
Forum Replies Created
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Small Umbilical Hernia Repair Advice
Well now it has been a quite a spell since my surgery, over 9 months. I was having some initial pain and/or pulling when working out but it all subsided 4 months in.
As mentioned before, I am an avid weight lifter. I have been getting back to doing more core work (I have never been excessive with it, just enough for a extra core strength for my other lifts). All has been well until … I have never been a huge fan of sit-ups, but attempted some decline sit-ups 7 days ago. The sit-ups felt fine as I was doing them, but I began to notice pain the next day. This pain has progressed into a sore/raw/burning feeling inside, very similar to how I felt after surgery. I don’t feel any lumps and did the cough test on myself. Is it normal to feel pain this far out after activity? Could I have a recurrence without a lump?
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Small Umbilical Hernia Repair Advice
Sorry I haven’t been back here! I went with Sean Dort. If you Google him, he will pull up. 🙂
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Small Umbilical Hernia Repair Advice
I am so sorry to keep posting on the forum – but I do have a new question.
My surgery went really well. As I mentioned, I was literally 100% pain free 5 days after the surgery as if the hernia had never happened. I was not lifting but doing cardio, jogging with no problem at day 5 and felt like a million bucks (they said I was clear to do cardio when I felt fine, and I was up and walking with no issue on day 2 and never used pain meds post-op).
I had my follow-up at 15 days and my surgeon said I could begin lifting so long as it did not stress my core and at 3 weeks I am cleared to resume all activity. I am a competitive lifter thus fairly strong, but did nothing with direct core involvement and light weight. I also never had any pain while I was lifting.
After a few days I began to get incredibly sore in my abdomen and I would say the pain now is worse than with the hernia or even in the few days post surgery. The pain is around the incision but also radiating into my groin/back with mild pressure. I called my surgeon’s office on Monday and while my surgeon is out for the week, I spoke with the nurse. She said not to lift anything, ice it etc. and if I saw no improvement in a week then would have me come in.
I have been doing that for 3 days and no change. I have pushed around in there and don’t feel/see a lump other than maybe the healing ridge (I think anyway, it’s a hard nodule). As I massage around the tissue it feels raw to me? I guess that’s the best way to describe it. I am 21 days post op at the point.
Would I know if I tore a suture?
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Small Umbilical Hernia Repair Advice
Now that some of the swelling has gone down I was taking another look. There is still surgical glue on here …
IDK to me it looks like some odd swirl? It uses to just pull tightly to the center and now it looks swirled with the only middle being the expanded hernia skin.
I know it will take time like Dr. Earle said, but it just looks so odd to me? Does it still look normal?
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Small Umbilical Hernia Repair Advice
Now that some of the swelling has gone down I was taking another look. There is still surgical glue on here …
IDK to me it looks like some odd swirl? It uses to just pull tightly to the center and now it looks swirled with the only middle being the expanded hernia skin.
I know it will take time like Dr. Earle said, but it just looks so odd to me? Does it still look normal?
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Small Umbilical Hernia Repair Advice
Ok, I wasn’t sure if that part seen in the second pre-op photo/attachment is normal – where the hernia “was” and/or there is some extra skin.
I am glad to hear I am right on track. Thank you so much. 🙂 My little hernia was painful and I already feel so much better.
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Small Umbilical Hernia Repair Advice
I am 6 days post op. The doctor did a crease incision, I believe without mesh. My pain never exceeded a 4-5 (I didn’t use pain meds) and by day 3, I was pain free. 6 days out I feel no pain less the incision site healing and/or itching.
That being said, I am looking at my button and it looks funny to me? I know there is a good amount of healing that needs to take place BUT I have noticed, where my belly button was holding the hernia (pre-op pics are above) now it looks like a skin flap. Will this heal normally? Does it look ok to you? I have to say before the hernia I rather liked my belly button.
I attached a normal picture of me standing and a close up with the hole expanded (same as what I posted above pre-operation).
My follow up is next Thurs (10/1) with my surgeon.
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Small Umbilical Hernia Repair Advice
Thank you both for all your help. 🙂
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Small Umbilical Hernia Repair Advice
Well, I met a 3rd surgeon – he felt the defect was so small it would not need mesh, but would make the decision once he was inside. He is well aware of my activity level and felt due to the size, the rate of recurrence would be minimal and mesh would do more harm than good, especially considering how thin I am.
3 surgeons and 3 different opinions. This is all so confusing and I just want this tiny little thing fixed.
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Small Umbilical Hernia Repair Advice
This is unrelated to the surgery – I am still active in the gym until I get the surgery done. Would it be harmful or helpful to do exercises like planks?
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Small Umbilical Hernia Repair Advice
Thank you so much Dr. Earle and that does seem like a viable option per what I have read.
I know Dr. Towfigh has mentioned she prefers no mesh or lap placed mesh on thinner women (please correct me if I am misquoting here). I would be curious to hear her thoughts as well.
I attached a picture if that gives more insight. The first is me standing normally (button_1) and what the hernia looks like, the second shows me leaning back and the opening expanded (button_2).
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Small Umbilical Hernia Repair Advice
That is correct.
Bottom line – I am looking for the most effective treatment for my lifestyle. I realize no repair is fail-safe, but I would like to pursue the option that is most likely to hold for my situation. Least invasive and/or aesthetically pleasing is a “nice to have,” but longevity is critical considering I deadlift, squat etc. Of course, I am worried about complications with mesh, but I don’t see a way around using it.
Teng (lap preferred surgeon) did mention checking for other hernias while he is in there. I am not sure how much of a concern other hernias should be for me? You mentioned the differences are small. The first surgeon did not mention this to me.
Thank you so much for your help! This is my first surgery and while everyone seems to be telling me this is rather routine, I see my core as very critical and nothing to be taken lightly. That being said if you have any other advice on methods, how I should approach this or recommendations for surgeons in Las Vegas I am open.