Hi. I've been told today I have an insicional hernia. I noticed it on tuesday (4 days ago). The hole is quite large, about 4 inches by 2 inches and there is not always anything sticking out (is it likely to be bowel sticking out? ). I had a bowel abscess, undiagnosed, ending up with a colostomy for a year (from Jan 13) and then a reversal of the stoma and restructuring of bowel (bit cut out) in Jan this year. the hernia does not hurt as such but the skin burns and tingles. I was told by my GP that i should ignore it as it is v. difficult to repair and a major op but as this is the same GP who missed my abscess for 4 months (telling me I had IBS until I went down to 6 stone and my bloods were all over the place) I am not sure I trust him. Any advice very much welcomed. I am an active working 55 year old slim/thin woman. Thanks Ann
Hi Ann
I have a incisional hernia , had a abscess on my appendix march 2013 , they couldn't find appendix so cut me from belly button down , 6 weeks after opp I got chest infection and I think with all the coughing , I ended up with incisional hernia it was quite small but now I look about 4 months pregnant ( not a good look for a woman of 58 ) I have a date to go in and get it repaired on 4th dec , these hernias do seem to get bigger over time , apparently you can have this opp as a day patient , I have to stop in a few days due to other medical probs , if I where you and there's another doctor in the practice I would go and see them for second opinion , I wish you good luck and good health
Chrisx
hi, I had my incisional hernia operated on the 26 august. a major operation. In less than a year it had gone from a small bump to 30cm x15/20 cm. yes it was the bowel that was coming through the muscle wall and lost domain moved from the left side to the right. About 20 months ago I had a dangerously perforated appendix and considerable sepis, this is the reason for the incisional hernia. I now have a poly popelene mesh attached where the surgeon could find un damaged tissue to stop the bowel from bulgeing etc I have a 25cm scar running from near the navel on the right side to the right side above what was the appendix. the operation took several hours. late in the afternoon on the tuesday and I am amazed that Iwas sent home on the friday. however it appears to be successful wont know until check up in october.
I am 61. If I was you I would contact your original surgeons secretary explain that as a result of that surgery you now have a what you believe to be an incisional hernia and could you have an appointment for a surgical review. If the hernia is small it is possible to have day surgery . This type of hernia is less likely to stangulate but it will get bigger the other alternative is no surgery but you would need to wear a special corset for life!!!! You could also writing a letter to your GP asking him to request the surgical review. Best wishes and good luck
Thanks both for your replies. I'm going to take action and go back to original surgeon. Don't want it to get worse and it's down to my gps wait and see stance that I ended up with stoma in the first place. You really have helped. Thanks very much x
P.s. Chris, good luck with your op. I hope all goes well.
Thanks Ann, hope all goes well with you to, let us know how you get on .
Chrisx