Fellers, any hernia input appreciated.

I have had an umbilical hernia for some time. A Thanksgiving day passing kidney stones had the medical team there mention to my ol lady that they saw it but it isnt bad. But I have another, the classic location for men, right side. I have only been aware of it for about 3 yrs, it started as little more than a mildly painful sensation to becoming more & more bothersome, particularly of late. About 4 nights ago I had my 1st sensation inside best described as superhot burning. I have a hernia belt and it provided almost, if not instant relief. I have only worn it on a few occasions but it sure helps. However, I know this is only temporary relief & not a fix. Today I felt some pain while showering, and soon as I went to dry a felt myself swollen and am easily visibly swollen on that side. I have the belt on and again it helps but this is the 1st time it has pushed out. I felt it go back in when I put the built-up area of the belt against it and tightened it.

Here is my question to those of you who have had one: Does any of what I said sound familiar, and if so, how long before you had it fixed? Keep in mind I have no fear of drs or procedures and as a farrier this type op will shut me down for a while, and just as well when its freezing out than summer time. Does what I tell you seem like a stage in yurs somewhere? I know all of em are different but trying to find some common ground is all here. Thanks for any help.

I doctor at the V.A. Hosp., and for my umbilical one they tell me go straight to ER if naval turns black, but if its just sticking out lay flat & push it back in.:eek: Yeah, I know. Welcome to McGuire V.A., Richmond, VA. No advice for the one bothering me other than come in when it blows and you cant stand it. Dint bother tellin' em that dint really add to anything I had already planned, without a medical degree. Did comment that the rest of the world has a common hernia procedure done, seems like caveman medicine to me. Yeah, I know about an ER without being told come to one if its hurtin bad.

quit sucking so hard hitting that left handed cigarette

That has nuthin to do with it Poxmeister, 'cept maybe some related coughing that dont help. That sounds like something the V.A. would tell me, or "Just wrap yur abdomen in real tight elastic bandage and come back in 6 mos." Or "Sprinkle some dried rhinocerus horn over a bowl of tapioca pudding and eat it."
Dangit Pox, you musta certainly violated some site rules in this cold-hearted response to my life-threatening condition. Gonna see if Slab has an 800-LOCK-U-UP number on the snitchline, and cash reward. Report yur azz for emotional abuse.
Dadgummit Im gonna sprout an intestine here and I draw in a cold fish like you first customer.

I have a naval hurneia and have for about 9 months now. My doctor told me not to worry about it, unless it starts to turn black or really bothers me. Normally it doesnt bother me, however this week we have been doing physical inventory at work. So its acting up at the moment. Not familiar witht eh belt you speak of, and doubt Ill use one. If it gets that bad, Ill get the surgery. According to my doctor, the hurneia is where your instestines are pushing between your muscles or something like that, hence the black and pain concerns. It will affect your stools too. And it can impact your performance in the bedroom as well. Sounds like you need to get the surgery. Ask the advice of a medical professional first.

Should I have surgery for inguinal hernia now,or should I wait?

Now don't you die on me before we can have that cold brewski. Yeah, go ahead and whine to daddy; I ain't skeerd...Sissy

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Originally Posted by horseshoer

That has nuthin to do with it Poxmeister, 'cept maybe some related coughing that dont help. That sounds like something the V.A. would tell me, or "Just wrap yur abdomen in real tight elastic bandage and come back in 6 mos." Or "Sprinkle some dried rhinocerus horn over a bowl of tapioca pudding and eat it."
Dangit Pox, you musta certainly violated some site rules in this cold-hearted response to my life-threatening condition. Gonna see if Slab has an 800-LOCK-U-UP number on the snitchline, and cash reward. Report yur azz for emotional abuse.
Dadgummit Im gonna sprout an intestine here and I draw in a cold fish like you first customer.

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Dear Pox,
Watch yur back, Slab's goon squad is on the way.
Signed,
Ratfink
***************************************

Hey fellas thanks. Yeah I am all for the surgery, V.A. keeps giving me excuse after excuse using other medical problems of mine as the culprit. Crissake, I had 2 surgeries done at this same hosp. that after dressing out and waiting to go to surgery I was in a 4 man room, other 3 hernia outpatient surgery cases. Feel like its time to try force something, which with a V.A. hosp means jumping up n down raising cain so much ya pop a 3rd hernia just on that.
Thanks for the link LBM, I sometimes forget the net as a resource after as many times as I have used it as such.

I do not have a hernia but from what I have read that when the intestines push through the muscle it can cause the intestine to lose blood flow and and cause that portion of it to die. Also, surgery was the only way to correct the problem. The muscle tear will not heal itself.

i've had two umbilical hernias......the major concern is that the intestine gets twisted and stangles itself cutting off blood supply.......it is not a big deal unles that happens but it will only get larger and more vunerable with time, my Dr. said that if it gets twisted, you'll know it, wont be no doubt about whats going on and the clock is ticking, if you dont get to ER soon enough you get a colostomy bag. I had the first one fixed by a surgeon who was a combat surgeon in Iraq ......the way they fix it is they push the intestine back in and put a piece of mesh over the hole in the stomach muscle.....she used a piece of mesh 'bout the size of a half dollar and it came back in 3 months, just worked its way around........the next procedure i had done was arthroscopic and the mesh is the size of a dinner plate... i have confidence it will be ok. Now the other kind of hernia you have, ive known two people who have had them fixed and the recovery seemed to about the same, back to work in a couple to few days. Sounds like the VA just dont want to do a "preventive" type surgery which is not in your best interest, you need to get it done ASAP........my daughter has an umbilical hernia, she lives in Canada, they wont do hers either because they have government controlled health care, they say she dont need it YET

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Originally Posted by fishinRod

Sounds like the VA just dont want to do a "preventive" type surgery which is not in your best interest, you need to get it done ASAP........my daughter has an umbilical hernia, she lives in Canada, they wont do hers either because they have government controlled health care, they say she dont need it YET

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I have a comment about that too. But, it will proabably get moved so I will keep it.

Thanks for posting this thread Shoer. Keep us posted. I have grown an "outty" in my older age. My wife sez I remind her of her when she had the little ones with my belly and my "outty". I think the grandkids started mine with their little elbows in my belly button.
DP

Shoer, the "pocketing" caused by hernia's can and will lead to intestinal stasis. This is bits of stuff stuck in the areas that are protruding, it'll cause the swelling(inflamation) and blackness(necrosis) both of which continue to deteriorate your condition. The swelling can be a sign of infection(not always) and will change the flora of intestinal bacteria, this isn't good as you age. MD's are all different, with the VA running 1st in cost control. GO GET A DR THAT WILL MAKE YOU COMFORTABLE, sure there's gonna be some out of pocket expenses, but the alternative sucks. Also, you need to work on the things that caused it, coughing and weight control. As we age these muscles naturally "shrink" or "thin" from a variety of reasons, which you've probably already heard time and again. Walk, walk, walk its very beneficial.

I found I had a regular hernia Christmas morning 1999. I was standing nekked in front of the fireplace warming the buns and saw a big bulge on the right side (not that bulge). I coughed like they made you do while the doc felt you up in a high school physical and the damn thing blew up like a small balloon.
Went to the doc that week and was all stitched up the first week of January. Have a nice 3' scar down there now and they put a polypropylene mesh in there too.
I hear nowadays they do the repair with an arthroscope so they don't cut so much muscle and the recovery is much quicker.
Get it fixed.

Shoer

I am on the mend from an inguinal hernia surgery on the left side. It has been no fun but it did have to be taken care of. I know this is not the same but the results of putting off the surgery are the same and in some instances that can lead to gangreen. Be careful and take care of yourself.

Just get it done it's not worth the pain and agony. I had a double hernia when I was younger and at my last VA check I have the start of an upper Hianal hernia. Just have the surgery and heal up.