Has anyone had a hernia due to their surgery?

BBShipbuilder
BBShipbuilder Member Posts: 7
in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1
I had a complete hysterectomy lin May of 2011. Underwent six sessions of chemo and two of radiation. Feeling great despite the neuropathy in my feet. Now I have a four inch tear that needs repair. Told I will be laid up six to eight weeks. Not looking forward to going under the knife again! Has this happened to any you?

Comments

  • debrajo
    debrajo Member Posts: 1,095 Member
    #2
    Yep, I had a six inch long
    Yep, I had a six inch long umbelical hernia due to surgery. Even though it showed through my clothes, it wasn't giving me any trouble. Dr. said to leave well enough alone. Flash forward a few years and I needed gallbladder surgery. Couldn't get to the gallbladder til they fixed the hernia. They do take several weeks to heal, I don't think it will be that long. It was the most painful surgery I have ever had.I wasn't supposed to drive, but I did, five days after surgery, but the kids wanted to trick or treat....so you do what you have too! Hope all goes well. Best Debrajo
  • BBShipbuilder
    BBShipbuilder Member Posts: 7
    #3
    debrajo said:

    Yep, I had a six inch long
    Yep, I had a six inch long umbelical hernia due to surgery. Even though it showed through my clothes, it wasn't giving me any trouble. Dr. said to leave well enough alone. Flash forward a few years and I needed gallbladder surgery. Couldn't get to the gallbladder til they fixed the hernia. They do take several weeks to heal, I don't think it will be that long. It was the most painful surgery I have ever had.I wasn't supposed to drive, but I did, five days after surgery, but the kids wanted to trick or treat....so you do what you have too! Hope all goes well. Best Debrajo

    Hernia Surgery
    Thanks for the info! Don't have to worry about my gallbladder......it's already out. My doc has repeatedly warned me about the pain AND to follow his instructions about lifting. The hardest thing for me is to sit still! Pretty hard with horses and two story house. But it is time to fix this thing. Counting my blessings that all is good in the cancer world. Again, thanks for your input. Hope all goes well with you in this life changing journey.
  • Kaleena
    Kaleena Member Posts: 2,088 Member
    #4
    Hernia
    Hi BB:

    Sorry you have a hernia. I had my hysterectomy with traditional surgery. Then they found cancer, so a month after my hysterectomy I had to have surgery again for staging, then I got an infection at the surgery site which took 5 weeks to heal. I was given the ok to resume activity, but then I felt a tear. I developed a hernia which they did not repair and it kept getting bigger. I looked lopped sided. I even had to learn to sit up differently because of it. 4 1.2 years after that surgery, I had a recurrence which required surgery and I asked if since they were in if they could fix my hernia. They said they would try if it was ok. They did the debulking surgery however by this time my hernia was huge so they brought in a special colon/intestinal team to do the surgery. So it was like getting a tummy tuck and such a relief to be finally rid of that hernia!
  • BBShipbuilder
    BBShipbuilder Member Posts: 7
    #5
    Kaleena said:

    Hernia
    Hi BB:

    Sorry you have a hernia. I had my hysterectomy with traditional surgery. Then they found cancer, so a month after my hysterectomy I had to have surgery again for staging, then I got an infection at the surgery site which took 5 weeks to heal. I was given the ok to resume activity, but then I felt a tear. I developed a hernia which they did not repair and it kept getting bigger. I looked lopped sided. I even had to learn to sit up differently because of it. 4 1.2 years after that surgery, I had a recurrence which required surgery and I asked if since they were in if they could fix my hernia. They said they would try if it was ok. They did the debulking surgery however by this time my hernia was huge so they brought in a special colon/intestinal team to do the surgery. So it was like getting a tummy tuck and such a relief to be finally rid of that hernia!

    Hernia Repair
    Sounds like my hernia is similar to yours. I know what you mean about feeling lopsided....I AM! Not excited about the surgery but feel like I'm carrying a watermelon around. Very uncomfortable.Needs to get fixed. Sometimes I can feel it pop when I sneeze or cough. Doc said he will insert a mesh and remove skin similar to a tummy tuck. Like that! Gonna loose my belly button. Don't need it anyway. Also obgyn surgeon will assist and take a look inside and take some tissue samples while he has the opportunity. This whole experience certainly charges your life! Thanks Kaleena for your insight.
  • txtrisha55
    txtrisha55 Member Posts: 693 Member
    #6
    Got one.
    I have two but only one has torn through. The Drs PA said that unless it bothered me, I could put off the surgery to have it fixed. So I am in a holding pattern till it starts to bother me. I cannot do it now any way as I have to much to do at my job to take off to recover. Plus my daughter is planning on getting married in late January 2013 so there is a lot of stuff to do. I will try to get it done next year sometime. The young super skinny PA girl talked to me like I was a 2 year old and not a old 56 woman and that she had to explain things to me. Like since I was overweight it is like stuffing to much in a plastic bag and it just has to explode if you put to much in it, but they could fix the problem as they can also do the sleeve to help me lose weight while they are repairing the hernia. This type of talk went on for a good 30 minutes while I sat there not saying anything. She said she was sorry if she said anything to upset me, I told no you did not upset me, you pissed me off and that I would find another dr to take care of it for me. Two weeks later another scheduling nurse called me to set up the appointment to have the surgery, I explained that I would call them when I wanted it done and explained how I felt about the PA assistant that I spoke with. She apologized and I told her, it wasn't you so do not apoligize. So bottom line is yes I have two hernia but have not had the surgery yet and so far it is not bothering me. I will get it done next year. So far it is not sticking out so not noticeable. Good LUck with your outcome. trish
  • BBShipbuilder
    BBShipbuilder Member Posts: 7
    #7
    txtrisha55 said:

    Got one.
    I have two but only one has torn through. The Drs PA said that unless it bothered me, I could put off the surgery to have it fixed. So I am in a holding pattern till it starts to bother me. I cannot do it now any way as I have to much to do at my job to take off to recover. Plus my daughter is planning on getting married in late January 2013 so there is a lot of stuff to do. I will try to get it done next year sometime. The young super skinny PA girl talked to me like I was a 2 year old and not a old 56 woman and that she had to explain things to me. Like since I was overweight it is like stuffing to much in a plastic bag and it just has to explode if you put to much in it, but they could fix the problem as they can also do the sleeve to help me lose weight while they are repairing the hernia. This type of talk went on for a good 30 minutes while I sat there not saying anything. She said she was sorry if she said anything to upset me, I told no you did not upset me, you pissed me off and that I would find another dr to take care of it for me. Two weeks later another scheduling nurse called me to set up the appointment to have the surgery, I explained that I would call them when I wanted it done and explained how I felt about the PA assistant that I spoke with. She apologized and I told her, it wasn't you so do not apoligize. So bottom line is yes I have two hernia but have not had the surgery yet and so far it is not bothering me. I will get it done next year. So far it is not sticking out so not noticeable. Good LUck with your outcome. trish

    I hear ya!
    While I can appreciate the role of a PA , I think the medical profession should add "bedside manner" to their training. I started to complain about my uncomfortable, lopsided stomach and asked why it was sticking out so much a few months after my surgery. I was basically dismissed and told it was part of the healing process. Three months later when I was getting ready to return to work, a CT scan confirmed a four inch tear. Then I was advised that I needed surgery immediately. I held my ground and sought my obgyn's and my gp's advise. They gave me the warning signs in which I should go to the emergency room. They also told me to have the surgery when I was ready.......and to consult with a couple of surgeons. My gp said it wouldn't hurt to loose 20lbs but the surgeon wasn't concerned. Just goes to show you have to weigh some advise that you get! Sometimes it seems like the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing in the same office. Now I know it is time to get the hernia fixed. So here I go! Thanks for your input. It's good to share our lessons learned. Read your bio, for what it's worth, I was told that if CA-125 is below 19 that's ok. Also CA-125 is not always a reliable marker for some people with uterine cancer. One advantage to getting hernia fixed is that the surgeon who performed my hysterectomy will assist. He wants to look inside and take some tissue samples.
  • txtrisha55
    txtrisha55 Member Posts: 693 Member
    #8
    BBShipbuilder said:

    I hear ya!
    While I can appreciate the role of a PA , I think the medical profession should add "bedside manner" to their training. I started to complain about my uncomfortable, lopsided stomach and asked why it was sticking out so much a few months after my surgery. I was basically dismissed and told it was part of the healing process. Three months later when I was getting ready to return to work, a CT scan confirmed a four inch tear. Then I was advised that I needed surgery immediately. I held my ground and sought my obgyn's and my gp's advise. They gave me the warning signs in which I should go to the emergency room. They also told me to have the surgery when I was ready.......and to consult with a couple of surgeons. My gp said it wouldn't hurt to loose 20lbs but the surgeon wasn't concerned. Just goes to show you have to weigh some advise that you get! Sometimes it seems like the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing in the same office. Now I know it is time to get the hernia fixed. So here I go! Thanks for your input. It's good to share our lessons learned. Read your bio, for what it's worth, I was told that if CA-125 is below 19 that's ok. Also CA-125 is not always a reliable marker for some people with uterine cancer. One advantage to getting hernia fixed is that the surgeon who performed my hysterectomy will assist. He wants to look inside and take some tissue samples.

    Hernia Surgery yet?
    Just checking on you to find out if you have gone through the surgery yet and how you are doing? trish

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