Umbilical hernia AND ovarian cysts!

So, for the last few days my abdomen has been really sore and tender. Engaging my abdominal muscles is painful, like a really really bad strain. And then yesterday morning I woke up and realized that the area up behind my navel is kind of hard, and theres a sort of "lump" in there that's very painful. The really weird part: I stuck a finger in my navel and there was actually a little bit of pinkish smelly fluid leaking out a tiny bit (no sores or cuts or anything external).

So after talking on the phone to everyone I could think of I finally ended up in the ER, because it felt like it was getting worse and I was freaking out. They checked my urine for pregnancy, blood for infection, and x-rayed me to check for intestinal blockages... and found none of the above. They thought perhaps since I have PCOS and have had abdominal surgeries (to remove cysts and my right ovary and fallopian tube, and before that a lap. apendectomy) that my pain could be due either to cyst growth or scar tissue/adhesions, so next I got an ultrasound.

They found a 3 cm cysts on my left ovary and tried then to send me straight home with a referral to an ob/gyn/surgeon. It made no sense to me that a cyst like that could cause me pain way up in my abdominal muscles, so I finally grabbed the doc's hand and put his finger right on top of the sore spot, where he could feel my pulse strongly in abulge there. So, I was diagnosed with a hernia. The hospital's only surgeon on staff that day couldn't see me. So instead they still referred me to the same ob/gyn/surgeon, saying I could discuss with her a plan of action for the cyst and she could "assess" the hernia and tell me how long I might be able to make it before getting it repaired. Of course, she can't even see me until Monday, so in the meantime I have a prescription of lortabs that has me zombified.

The cyst worries me... simply because of my history. Four years ago I was hospitalized when I had to have my right ovary and tube removed due to a large cyst that caused torsion in there. So finding out for sure about another one just makes me nervous. But, the rational part of me still recognizes that these things CAN come and go - for all I know I may have had several in this long, intermittent, uninsured time.

I'm more immediately worried about the hernia. It HURTS. I have very little appetite, and pooping is painful because it requires engaging those muscles. I was told that it's not a true "emergency" until I start vomiting, because that will signify intestinal blockage caused by worse tearing. I need to be able to get some work done, I can't just sit on my ass "resting" forever. My husband just finally got switched to full time at work, but we can't enroll in the insurance program for 3 months (end of January) and even then we might be screwed if this is deemed a pre-existing condition.

So in the meantime we have to pay for yesterday's ER visit out of pocket, along with Monday's ob/gyn. If I'm lucky and our insurance will help with the hernia repair in three months, I'll have to wait that long to get it done. If they consider it a pre-existing condition though, they won't cover such things until we've been with them for a year. So... I guess my most imediate concern, other than paying these bills, is figuring out ways to make myself last as long as possible before getting this repair done.

Anyone here have any experience with umbilical hernias - living with them for an extended period before getting them repaired? Any advice on how I can do so without making it worse, but remain useful at home and at work?

agh, it hurts!

 

I don't have any experience, but I wish you luck!

Peace and love

 

Thanks mama. At this point, it doesn't hurt nearly so bad. In fact, if I can get away cancelling my doc appt. without getting charged anyway, I think I will and just wait till we're insured. I've thought about it, read about it, and I don't think she'll be able to tell me anything new.

The hard part is this: I need to live with this hernia, preferably without making it any worse, for at least 3 months. But I need to be able to both work (which for me is from home, so less a big deal - I can take breaks, etc. when I want) and EXERCISE because if I just sit on my ass for fear of hurting myself worse I'm going to gain back what I've lost. Does anyone have any recommendations about keeping my metabolism going?

 

((((((hugs!!!)))))) I have had two hernias... one umbilical, one inguenial, but both as a young girl. Both times they were hesitant to operate because of my age/weight at the time, but both times they eventually went ahead & operated. I know that the umbilical hernia was the worst of the two, yet that was present from birth & not operated on until I was 8 years old!

What I remember being told as a little one was that I needed to avoid doing anything that might cause them pain. For me that meant no aerobic-type exercises, and quitting ballet & gymnastic classes once they got semi-advanced. I could still ride a bike, swim, run & jump rope (simple jumping; no double-dutch or advanced jumps) but couldn't play basketball or "roughouse" with the neighbor-boys. Not that I think you'll be doing this, but climbing trees became a no-no the last year before my operation as well - it was the stretching that would hurt!

I'm sure that by now you've looked hernias up online & have a pretty good idea of what it IS... the idea is not to do things to pinch it off anymore than it is already. I remember my mom feeding me an awful lot of cottage cheese & yogurt in the last few months before each surgery to loosen up my bowels. It probably wasn't the best of ideas, but on the other hand... it worked. I also remember taking a lot of warm baths just before bed, and sometimes sleeping with a hot water bottle up against my stomach if I'd been a bit too active during the day.

I sure wish I could help more, but I haven't had hernia problems in nearly 25 years! Honestly, take it easy on the more strenuous exercises - that'll help more than anything!
love,
mom

 

Your hernia is now a pre existing condition. Any condition that you sought treatment for before your insurance kicked in is a pre existing condition.

 

Thanks for the advice! I feel lots better now, I think it hurt worse right then because it had just happened or had just gotten worse... but now it's not so bad as long as I'm careful. Like y'all said, no strenuous exercises and I'm mostly all right.

One good thing - I've been going over all the fine-print I can get my hands on re: our insurance to-be. They regard pre-existing conditions as anything for which we received treatment for the 6 months prior to the "determination date" (or something like that) ... that date, as long as we enroll at our first opportunity, is the date of his hire/promotion, which is a good week BEFORE our trip to the ER. So it should still be covered!

 

Awesome. Sounds like you're in the clear. My doctor recently told me that I have a slight hernia and not too worry about it. I rarely notice any discomfort. Hopefully yours will remain a managable amount of pain. Good luck.

 

Humble BEE OUCHIE MAMA~ huggy you.

Splint the area with a pillow, they sell hernia girdles (truss pad) at med supply stores. Heat applications attract fluids & increase circulation to an area, so heat pads I wouldn't recommend. Cool compress to reduce pain may be palliative.

Stool softeners will really help with the straining during b.m.s, also staying really hydrated, sometimes a tablespoon of hemp-seed oil (or other oil) with also slid those suckers out ( ewww bad choice of words)

Avoid lifting/straining, when lying down on your back, bend your knees so that don't stretch the abdominal muscles.

I would avoid foods that would bind up your stool : cheeses, diary.

Avoid spicy foods, as they can cause inflammation of the intestinal lining.

For the psychic/emotional stress that you are going through, have to deal with poopy heads in the mainstream medical industry (how embarrassing for me that they didn't give you these simple solutions) It seems to me that they were going by YOUR PAST HISTORY and not you PRESENT SYMPTOMS.

Anyway~ Bach Flower Essences: rescue remedy. A mainstay for all stress!

So you are clear that this hernia is a protrusion of abdominal content trough the abdominal wall, the area around the navel is susceptible, when you had the surgery, did they operate through the navel? Something to think about, is this a post-operational complication.

Also you talked about recent weight loss. I don't know your specific amount of weight, both the combination of weight gain and abdominal surgery could have predisposed you to this hernia.

These hernias go a long time with out notice. I'm glad you caught it now. Some are not so bad because of their location so ppl don't notice.

THe vomiting is a LATE SIGN of a intestinal torsion through a hernia.

EARLY SYMPTOMS: Severe Abdominal Pain, Fever, increased heart rate, nausea, absent bowel sounds (stethoscopes are cheap to buy at the medical supply store), abdominal detention (bloating)

Vomiting because of an intestinal torsion of course is an emergency, but actually telling you that is the only symptom is bad medicine. That is a higher level of acuity and thus harder on you as a person.

If you have early symptoms, like the ones above, fuck them and go in.

Did you tell your ER doc (and make sure to tell the OB/GYN) about the pink tinged fluid that came out of your navel. That's not normal, it's not smegma or cellular waste. It could be from you poking your finger in there too hard, the skin is fragile in there.

OR: Meaning that (VERY improbable, but MAYBE) a early sign of dehiscence (opening of the abdomen externally). THat sounds nutty, but it's better to make sure your covered in knowing everything than avoiding, and practicing "rescue medicine" and wait and see if it happens.

I'm nauseated on how they treated you and how this OG/GYN is treating you.

Obviously this cyst is NOT the priority for treatment. THe hernia is.

For having to pay the ER bill out of pocket. First, get an itemized bill before you pay, you have 1 month to contest any charges not applicable to your treatment. Also, sometimes hospitals over charge the non-insured to compensate for having to cut cost with HMO (evil system), so be aware and watch out. Second, arrange a payment plan and pay it off month to month.

I've had personal experience getting jacked and regret believing that hospitals are benevolent caretakers. Another reason to have socialized medicine (take the profit out of health care! )

HumbleBee~ I'm hoping you get through this in a good, good way so that you get back to your full potential, I can dig it!

There are bed bound exercises that can be done (research?) like tightening/relaxing muscle groups, stretches .I know you are listening to your body, so do what feels good, but avoid straining and twisting, jogging, and also watch out with your car-seat belt. Use a small pillow between you and the car seat belt if it might hit you there.

Be careful using anti-inflammatory (ibuprofen, tylenol, etc.) they might hide an infection & mask pain related to a torsion.

ANd if you catch a cold and have a cough, think about getting a anti-tussive to help the strain caused by a cough. But make sure that any meds you take with other medications may interact with each-other and check with a pharmacist before mix and matching. (hylands makes an awesome honey based homeopathic cough syrup)

Keep in touch if you have questions!

Rock on SIster!:hug: