Hernia now......

[daisycandoit]

I was so worried for the last week or so, I could feel something in my upper abdomen and though, omg one more chemo to go and I've got a tumour. When I saw the Doc. on Thursday he says it is a hernia, new to me! any others have this? I was so relieved though as you can imagine, always go for the worst option, thanks Diane xxx

[Hidden]

Hi Diane

I have a hernia... They are common with people with OC....... mine is an incisional hernia with my bowel sticking through... at first I thought it was a tumour... sometimes it is bigger than other times.. the surgeon told me it would be a major operation to put it right... and not always successful so I was monitored until I had a recurrance of OC I think they have put that on the back burner now with bigger fish to fry LOL so I just put up with it... and I try not to lift anything heavy or stretch up too high....I doubt now whether I will ever have mine fixed... it was caused through my first operation... try not to worry... It is something you can live with... but take the advice of your surgical oncologist for the best way forward... Love x G x

[daisycandoit]

My onc. did not think likely they would operate he said it would further weaken the muscle wall, I have had 2 big ops, he says we are likely candidates for it! as you say, bigger fish to fry just have to adjust to it, shopping etc. thanks Gwyn, love Diane xxx

[Helen1]

I have an incisional hernia as well,I look about 6 mths pregnant & my belly button is off centre! I had my abdominal debulking surgery a year ago & it was first noted in September & has been increasing in size since,no problems with it other than the size! I asked my oncologist to refer me to a bowel surgeon to have it checked out,i don't want surgery on it but want peace of mind that someone who is an expert in this area has checked it out.

[daisycandoit]

Dear helen, thanks so much for sharing that, I feel really part of the clan now! seriously though sounds like you are right to insist on seeing another specialist, i will see my gp about mine because it is not the oncologists area, I think i have had it for a while not knowing, I noticed when I lifted shopping I felt like I had strained, all the best to you, love Diane xxx

[Hidden]

Dear Diane

Just wanted to say ... a surgical oncologist is the right doctor to see... Not a general surgeon... Love x G x

[daisycandoit]

Oh ok Gwyn, thank you for that, I see him regularly at the moment anyway, love Diane xxx

[Hidden in reply to daisycandoit]

Hi Diane

I asked the surgical oncologist that if he was going to operate.. was it likely he would find cancer... or even make the cancer return... "He said I won't lie to you, I often find cancer when I operate... But it is incidental to me operating and not because of " in other words operating doesn't make the cancer return... It was already there.. and by operating he just could see it... you know an old wives tale.. used to say if they open you up It spreads ( not true) thought I'd mention that.. love x G x

[daisycandoit in reply to Hidden]

Hi Gwyn, thank you for explaining this, it all helps to be in the picture Diane xxx

[Hidden]

Hi Diane

I developed a hernia too. Had it fixed end of last year. Very scary time, was convinced that they would find something else, but all was well and it got rid of the unsightly lump (or one of them at least) on my abdomen. Now I'm just one big lump............but hey I'm still here so who cares if my figure is not perfect.

Take care, love Chris x x

[daisycandoit]

Thanks to you too Chris, was scary time not so worried now, but I will have a scan at the end of chemo, so we shall see whats going on, love Diane xxx

[Hidden]

HI Diane

I had an incisional hernia just above my belly button caused by ovarian cancer surgery. I actually had mine fixed by my plastic surgeon when he did my nipple reconstruction (I have had a double mastectomy as well as ovarian cancer surgery due to having the BRCA gene mutation). I just asked the surgeon if he could repair it at the same time and I was surprised and very pleased when he said yes.

Best wishes

Sharon

[Whippit]

Dear Diane

I'm so pleased and relieved for you that it was just a hernia - even though looking at the replies this isn't exactly a walk in the park - but better than another tumour. Thanks for posting up your question. I had no idea that we could develop hernias and I guess it's not a good idea to lift anything too heavy. I wonder whether that's why they're so paranoid about not lifting anything after surgery.

I'll definitely avoid heavy weights.

xx Annie

[MargaretJ in reply to Whippit]

Dear Annie it is! They would not let me even lift my lovely Radley Handbag because of the weight of the magnets!

Mxx

[Whippit in reply to MargaretJ]

Ah we must warn everyone to be good after surgery and not lift anything heavier than a credit card for six weeks. Love Radley Handbags too! xx

[Hidden]

Hi Annie

Yes! a hernia is very common..... I didn't know that you are more prone to one if you have abdominal surgery... (I wish I knew) I certainly would have been more cautious..... even to stretching to put washing on the line...not just lifting......Another common condition of OC is constipation which then leads to a colostomy or stoma as some call it..... with OC you can get a lazy bowel..... so you need to make sure you go regularly.. It doesn't necessarily mean that your bowels are hard.. It just means you need to go and don't ..and have no inclination of going until it is too late hence the need for a stoma... I didn't know that the absence of wind is significant if you haven't emptied your bowels...you really need to make sure that you go often... my doctor advised me to eat pears.. ..and if one day I haven't been I eat a pear and it works....I never let it build up... sorry to be talking about something so horrible..But to be forewarned is to be forearmed....Love x G x

[MargaretJ in reply to Hidden]

Hi Gwyn!

Pears, plums, peaches, strawberries, pineapple, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, the composition of my breakfast most mornings! My colostomy was the result of a tumour between the vault of the vagina and the anterior wall of the rectum. It was beginning to restrict the rectum, hence the colostomy, unfortunately irreversible but one can live with anything if one has to!

I am at my daughter's house in London and looking forward to a few visits to galleries etc not to mention lobbying my MP!

M

[Hidden in reply to MargaretJ]

Hi Margaret

Yes there are other reasons for having a colostomy for example tumours... I really feel for you...I think that must be terrible.. I was just pointing out that if you haven't got a tumour blocking that area... then it is best to try and prevent having to have one.. It is bad enough when people like you have no choice.. Have a good time in London and your lobbying love x G x

[MargaretJ in reply to Hidden]

Too true Gwyn! I used to think my grandparents' insistence on regular bowels was ridiculous! Not any more. The hernia risk following surgery is really high and the reason for all the warnings! My specialist nurse was great as were the staff at Arrowe Park on the Wirral where I spent a week with post op abscesses! All warned me about the hernia risk. My son was born with a double inguinal hernia and had them repaired as a baby, my dad had a femoral hernia at the end of his life so I took the need for care and support very seriously!

You seem to have a relatively uninformative onc from what you have said in your posts!

M xx!

[MargaretJ]

Hi Diane! I was warned about the risk after my first surgery and further after the second, particularly round the site of the stoma. Hence I wear support pants! I also take movicol if necessary and eat a diet very high in fresh fruit and veg, salads and wholemeal. So far I have been lucky? Constipation made me feel so ill when I was first diagnosed that I just won't risk it. The district nurses were fantastic and I refer to them ad 'dynarod', much to their amusement.

The beauty of this site is that we can discuss those topics which people generally shy away from.

I trust you are feeling a bit better, you may find a medium to firm pantie girdle will hold the hernia in and relieve the discomfort!

Margaret!

[Hidden]

and don't forget good old fashioned prunes!! I have them everymorning on my Special K, works a treat.

Chris x

[daisycandoit in reply to Hidden]

I was thinking of getting prunes! the clinic has given me Movicol for now, thanks for all the feedback been excellent advice, love Diane xxx