u/Cookie_Byte_exe

I've been reading about recovery advice and it's always "avoid bending, twisting" and "pacients should rest", but my surgeon tells me otherwise.

I have a 1cm umbilical hernia (no bulge - detected through CT scan) that causes some discomfort and, in rare occasions, horrible sharp pain for hours. It was decided that I should have surgery (open with mesh).

I asked my surgeon:

- how much time I needed off work

- if I could bend/twist/move or if I should stay in bed the first few days

- why open surgery and not laparoscopic

Surgeon said:

- Laparoscopic is better for "bigger surgeries" to make it more comfortable to patients, since open surgery would be very invasive and leave more scars. In my case, it will be a tiny incision and laparoscopic would actually leave more scars.

- I will need just 3-4 days off work (office), since people with this type of small surgery are usually fine to return to normal day life in just a few days.

- I can bend/twist (gently). And I shouldn't stay in bed. I should lay down to sleep and then get up as usual. Only thing I shouldn't do for at least a month: lifting heavy objects or any type of unnecessary strain.

Is my surgeon right about this?

I'm about to get surgery for a small (1cm) umbilical hernia with mesh... It's my first surgery ever and I'm terrified. More afraid of the results than the surgery itself... Any successful stories around here?

I've been dealing with health issues (not life-threatening, but bothersome) for the last few months and that's enough suffering already. But to notice changes in how my supervisor and boss treat me now is unbearable.

They've always been nice to me. But that changed the moment I started going to appointments (doctors/medical exams). Also, obviously, I've been feeling a bit down and it shows a little. Still, when I'm at work, I'm working!

Now they're acting cold and distant with me. And I'm thinking "Gee, thanks... I didn't realize people couldn't have health problems around here. I'm so sorry this is bothering YOU."

If this wasn't enough, I heard my boss talking to a coworker who has kids, about something related to them (and not the first time, btw)... "Just go. Don't worry about a thing. When it's our kids, it's our responsibility. Go, go on! No problem at all." All sweet and kind.

Well!!!... I guess I should go adopt a few kids so that I can take care of my health issues in peace and get loving understanding compassion from my superiors!!!!!

I'm sorry... I really needed to vent...

I've had this sharp needle-like pain with pulling sensation in the belly button, on and off, for decades, since childhood. It would force me to bend over and stay in that position for hours! This would happen after getting up from a sitting position or moving my arms up.

I went to the ER twice and both times they did an ultrasound that revealed nothing. They concluded it was either gas or a very small hernia impossible to detect. I never had any visible bulge.

For the last two weeks I've been feeling small triggers 4-5 times a day. It's either a quick pulling sensation or lighter pain just for a second.

Went to the ER yesterday and, again, an ultrasound revealed nothing. But they did a CT scan just to be sure and they detected a small fatty hernia. They scheduled an appointment with a surgeon in a few days just to analyze the situation for now.

But they told me at the ER that these small hernias don't cause symptoms most of the time. But since they couldn't find any other problems, they assume my symptoms are caused by this hernia.

Does anyone here ever had a situation like this? I heard people with small hernias and no bulge don't have symptoms... so I'm afraid to get surgery for it. Because it may not be the cause of my symptoms, and that means I might get surgery for nothing. Any advice?