Last Updated on June 8, 2017 by Heather Hart, ACSM EP, CSCS
I always hoped my lasting internet fame, the thing that kept readers coming back to my blog for more, would be my above average running abilities and captivating writing style. The truth is, my running skills are mediocre at best, and my ability to captivate an audience is wildly sporadic. So what keeps people coming back to this blog, day after day keeping my page views higher than they should be?
My hernia surgery blog.
I’m serious. My “What to Expect During Umbilical Hernia Surgery Recovery” posts trumps everything I’ve ever written. Even that time I ran a naked 5K, or caused an outrage with the back of the pack runners resulting in a personal phone call from the editor of Runner’s World himself (and that post legitimately went viral). I get comments on the post and direct emails from people suffering from hernias weekly, and most often, people are asking for a current update. They want something to reassure them that life will return to normal post surgery.
Well my friends, I have some bad news for you:
My hernia returned.
Hilariously accurate cartoon credit: http://theawkwardyeti.com
The surgeon who performed my hernia repair promised me there was only a 1-3% recurrence rate. Well, I guess I’m the lucky winner! If I had to give a timeline, I’d say that the hernia returned about 6 months post op. It has bothered me a bit here and there, but has made itself extra present within the last few months. Since I had moved nearly 1,000 miles away from the original surgeon, and was temporarily without health insurance, I didn’t bother getting it checked out. Because the hernia is coming through the diastasis recti (gap in my rectus abdominis), it does tend to come and go. I’ve spent the last 1.5 years “sucking” my stomach in and pushing the hernia back behind my abdominal wall. Writing it out makes me realize how awful it actually sounds, but it has simply become a daily habit for me.
Lately, however, I’ve been having a harder time “sucking it in”, to the point where my abdomen is so swollen I almost feel pregnant. Further, the intestines pushing on the walls of my abs are causing my diastasis recti to become worse. Let me tell you, it’s an uncomfortable scenario when you can actually FEEL the rectus abdominis separating.
Gross.
The final straw was 30 miles into a 100 mile ultra marathon, when the hernia was nearly the size of a clementine poking out above my belly button. I actually tried to tape it back in, true story.
GET BACK IN MY BELLY!
The threat of a possible emergency situation due to an incarcerated hernia was not enough to get me to a doctor. No, instead it was the fact that the stupid hernia ruined a race I had trained more than half a year for, that’s what finally got me to cave and get this thing taken care of.
Again.
So, that’s where I’m at right now. Referral with a primary care doctor has been done. Consultation with the surgeon happens on Tuesday, where I’m hoping we can discuss alternative ways to repair the hernia to hopefully prevent recurrence again (a different type of mesh? Fixing the diastasis recti?). And hopefully, we can get this sucker repaired once and for all…ASAP.
Stay tuned for more of the #ChroniclesOfHernia*…because I might as well blog about it, right?
*disclaimer: credit where credit is due, a random person in the Barkley Fall Classic 50K Facebook group gave me that idea, it was too good not to use.
Heather Hart is an ACSM certified Exercise Physiologist, NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), UESCA certified Ultrarunning Coach, RRCA certified Running Coach, co-founder of Hart Strength and Endurance Coaching, and creator of this site, Relentless Forward Commotion. She is a mom of two teen boys, and has been running and racing distances of 5K to 100+ miles for over a decade. Heather has been writing and encouraging others to find a love for fitness and movement since 2009.
Amber Ross
Hi Heather! Very sorry to read about your recurrent hernia and subsequent impact on running, that blows goats. I work in general surgery, and speaking from experience, a recurrence of an umbilical hernia in a person of your size and health is unusual. Patient’s have a tendency to self-blame when hernia’s recur and I would advise you against that; certain repairs are much better than others (the same goes for surgeons). I hope you get good info at the upcoming appointment and be sure to inquire about laparoscopic surgery! Open hernia repairs are pretty uncommon these days.
Pat
I have the same exact problem. 23 months after a naval hernia repair with mesh and get bloating and pain after I strength train, swim or run. Have also developed Diastasis Recti from naval to sternum. I continue to exercise but no racing. Would like to hear what your solution is.
Helen
The way you are sounds a lot like me. My babies stretched out my abdomen and I guess I broke it down with all the intense labor type jobs I’ve done throughout my life. My last baby left a nice little hernia above my bellybutton and I was told it was nothing other than fat by my obgyn’s nurse. Come to find out 8 years later after it turned into a baseball sized hernia. Luckily, the doc at the ER was able to push my intestines back in, but due to the damage of my abdominal wall, I needed mesh put up everywhere. Sad thing is, I’m afraid I won’t be able to hike or unload the back of semi trucks again. Please give me hope that the body can heal itself and I can once again take charge and show my team of guys what’s up!
Helen
I’m just curious if hernias don’t happen much in smaller, athletic women because they don’t life that much weight compared to guys who do? I’m also small, but I can put up items like lawn mowers and grills. Is there a way to strengthen the abdomen after surgery without having another blow out?
Debby Cooper
Hi Heather ! loved your last blog on your journey of surgery and recovery. Just recently had a small paraumbilical hernia repair done and totally agree with the pain etc of your last post. unfortunately 4 wks on the tissue has died and Surgical debridement was needed today to assist in removing the dead skin tissue and make way for the healthy skin tissue to take over and help heal over the now gaping 5cent piece hole i have. im told due to poor circulation of already stretched skin can cause the tissue to die off and very common. also that it should heal over and look quite normal but alas with a scar. it has been a harrowing experience to go through this alone and not knowing if the healing is normal or should i head off to get it checked. a few of my co workers have had before and assured me it was quite normal, that was till it got infected. now a relapse in my healing and a set back in getting back to my training 🙁 wishing you all the best 2nd time round that all heals quickly for you. Deb
Krissy
Hi all, thank you for your blog. I had a question, I am 48 hours post op for an umbilical hernia with mesh repair. Is it normal for the hernia to still look like it’s there? I did call my surgeons office and the nurse said that was normal due to swelling, but just wanted to get some of your opinions? TIA!!
Catarina
Hi… I can not tell you how happy I am to have found this page as I had surgery 3 weeks ago for two hernias that were above my belly button. My surgery was also NOT laparoscopic. I am 40 years old… Actively worked out 5 days a week. This has been a nightmare for me from day one. I can not begin to tell you how much I regret having the surgery done and I am so sorry that yours came back. This recovery flat out sucks and my surgeon gave me the same crap that i’ll be good to go in a couple days. Ummmm not even close. I’m “better” so to speak but no where near where I want to be. I feel like a baby at times because I’m complaining so much but I’m over feeling like this! I truly hope you are ok and that your hernia has fixed itself (which would be a miracle in itself) but would really hope that that could happen for you! I am struggling… really struggling. I regret the surgery and feel like nothing will ever change that. Thank you for sharing your story and making me feel normal because there is nothing normal about hernias.
Linda Closs
Hi Folks would anyone have an approx. time to wear an abdomnl. binder so my Umbil.Hernia will heal properly?
George
Sorry to hear about the recurrence. Everything you said in your beginning blog was spot on with me and would have been great info had I found it ahead of my own surgery. My mistake was trying to lay down flat the first two nights. I soon realized that the couch and pillows as you said were the best option for both rest and ability to get up. I also used a pillow as you with the trips to the bathroom. My only additional advise would be this. I would have started on a soup, oatmeal, fruit type of diet two days ahead of surgery. I to didn’t like taking the hydrocodone and concerned about the constipation and only used the narcotics for two days and that was every other dose with ibuprofen. Fortunately, my pain level was not that bad. What led me to finding your blog was that I am also an active person and find sitting still doing nothing extremely difficult. I want to get out and start running again and getting things done around the house. Do you know what caused the hernia to come back? Obviously, I don’t want to damage the repair by doing to much to soon but I do want to get started doing something. Thanks for your blog and I wish you the best with your second recovery.
claire
She doesn’t answer any of the questions. Blah, goodbye. I think I’ll write a more authentic blog about my experience with umbilical hernias.
Heather
Hey Claire! I have a full time job and two kids, so I don’t have the time to answer most of the questions. Further, most of the questions are things that should be answered by a doctor, not by me. But I assure you, nothing about my surgery was not “authentic”. I’ve got the scars to prove it. Have a wonderful weekend.
Jon
Are you back to normal? Was the second surgery a success?
Heather
twice, I should add: https://relentlessforwardcommotion.com/2017/07/adventures-with-ventral-hernia-surgery-take-two/
Sherry
Heather, I’m to have my surgery in two days. First hernia op on right side, intestines coming out, surgeon used mesh (about 11 years ago). I have complications I believe are from the mesh. I have nerve pain and reoccurring cellulitis attacks. Doctors say that the cells maybe harbouring in the mesh. Can’t say for sure. Nothing but extreme pain that nothing can relieve. And I have tried everything.
Now I am about to have umbilical hernia surgery in two days. I have told the surgeon absolutely NO MESH. Whether my problems are from the mesh or not I’m not taking any chances. There are cases documented on problems people have had (like mine) and a documentary with the show W 5. Take a look for what it’s worth and do some research on the mesh. Your post with info on what to expect was helpful, sorry to hear you have to go through another surgery. Wish you well.
Rodney Drouet
In two days I’m going for my third hernia (mesh) surgery this time the Doctor says I won’t be able to lift over 10 pounds I said “for how long” and he said “for life” I said ” but a 12 pack weighs 12 lbs”, he said ” drink 6 packs”. I
figure mesh is a temporary fix that keeps the Doctor’s bank accounts topped
off. I guess that’s why American health care ranks 17th in the world. I think
Cuba is number one. Merry Christmas to all.