Tuesday 28 April 2015

A Tale Of Two Hernias....

I should warn you this post has photo's of my hernia. I'm fully dressed, but it's not pretty...

I started having babies 21 years ago, and after no.1 baby I was left with a gap between my stomach muscles which allows everything through to form a ridge between my boobs and belly button when I raise my head if I'm lying down. I was young and naive, and I just believed that was what happened to every new Mum. I was blissfully ignorant until after no.5 baby when a new lump appeared beside my belly button. I noticed that I had a pencil sized hole, which I could poke the lump into, and then actually my finger. I realised this must be a hernia, and told my GP at my 6 week check.

In fact the gap left between my stomach muscles is a Diverticulation or Diastasis and shouldn't have happened, but is relatively common and not treated, but the lump by my belly button was a Paraumbilical Hernia.

A Tale Of Two Hernias


More than a little annoyingly, my local authority had decided not to do Hernia operations until they become really bad, so I watched my tiny little lump and pencil-sized hole grow over the next 2 years, before my GP eventually referred me to surgery.

Paraumbilical Hernia no1 Oct 2012
Hernia 1 - 23rd October 2012
I only just made it to my planned operation. By the time it came around I'd been vomiting after every meal for a couple of weeks. I couldn't eat regular sized meals, I was in a lot of pain. I was told that my Hernia needed a mesh to repair it, and the operation would be around 2 hours.

When I came out of surgery it had been far less than 1 hour, and when my Surgeon came around he told me 'a couple of stitches fixed it, no need for a mesh'. I was pleasantly surprised I'd had less intervention than required.

Fast forward and here I am exactly 2 1/2 years later....

Paraumbilical Hernia no2 April 2015
Hernia 2 - 28 April 2015
A couple of stitches didn't fix it for very long. General consensus seems to be anything larger than 3cm needs a mesh. In fact it was only 3 weeks before I saw the telltale signs around my belly button and knew it was returning. Other things in my life got in the way since then, but I eventually went to my GP a month ago, and got an instant referral to a Surgeon. Then I got flu and was very poorly with a nasty cough for nearly 2 weeks. My already broken stomach muscles couldn't cope with the coughing.

Today I got a phone call I wasn't expecting and I have been told my operation should be next week....wow. So soon. Thank heavens.

So I'll be taking another little break next week all being well, and then in theory I'll have 6 weeks recuperating to make my blog awesome and catch up on the bazillions of posts I've always wanted to write (yeah, right)....and then I will be able to wear clothes with waistbands again!! Just the small matter of surgery first....


23 comments:

  1. Look like you are having an alien in your first photo and two little aliens in your second photo! Look painful! Fingers crossed and hope you will get it sort out!

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    1. Thanks Eileen. I'm hoping that John Hurt doesn't burst out of there while we're eating dinner one night :p

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  2. Aw, poor you Jenny! That looks painful and uncomfortable. What a nightmare that the first operation didn't work. Fingers crossed for this one and I hope you feel a lot better after! xxx

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    1. Thanks Fiona. I'd be lying if I said I couldn't feel it :D

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  3. It looks so painful Jen, you must be so uncomfortable. I do think this is great timing, here's to a speedy recovery and a good Summer with the family.

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  4. I had the op a year ago. Good luck with it, hope the mesh sorts it out this time. Hope you have a speedy recovery :-)

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    1. Cheers Tina! I hope yours never comes back and wasn't allowed to get as bad as mine is x

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  5. I'm glad you're getting the op now despite having to wait for so long for it to be fixed properly.

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  6. You know Jenny I think I have a bit of a diastasis but I've not got round to getting it checked.
    Hurrah for mesh & comfort! X

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    1. Hahaha - hurrah indeed!! Just as long as it all goes to plan :) x

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  7. Oh. my. gosh. I hope the surgery goes well - about time you got fixed! x

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    1. Thanks Donna. It really does feel like I've had a hernia FOREVER :D x

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  8. Blimey Jenny, you are so good not moaning constantly about it. Very best of luck for the op - Here's to waistbands & a speedy recovery

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    1. I have enough to moan about already, you didn't want to hear me whinging about this one too :) xx

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  9. I'm appalled you had to wait so long for surgery in the first place! All the best for the operation. I hope it goes well and that it rids you of the hernia once and for all. I'll be thinking of you.

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    1. Thanks Nell. I've been postponed somewhat annoyingly, but hopefully I won't have to wait too much longer.

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  10. Ouch Jenny that looks awful. So pleased you are getting it sorted and make sure you get that rest afterwards to properly recover - it's about time you let people look after you! xx

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    1. If only! Sadly it's now been postponed, even though my urgency has been raised, so I shouldn't have to wait too long - and then I'll be sure and tell my family what you said! :) x

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  11. It really does look painful. I'm glad you've not long to wait, but after all the organising you went to its a bit of a nightmare. Big hugs lovely xx

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    1. Thanks Susan. I'm relieved I have another date, but yep, it's been a bit of a pita ;) xxx

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  12. Very nice experience you have shared. This information will help new mom. Thanks for your sharing experiences.

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