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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 12/3/2018 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
Well its 15 weeks since surgery #3.At the top of my stomach when I'm standing is a little soft bump.When I'm sitting its not there.Just wondering what it could be? Any ideas??
Posted 12/4/2018 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
Scar tissue, adhesion or a hernia? Just some thoughts — maybe you should get a follow up with a GI or your surgeon.
Posted 12/4/2018 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
Would a hernia be so high up??? Being Doc used my spleen scar that area has been cut open 3 times so scar tissue is a possibility.Have to make a call to get into see Dr
Posted 12/4/2018 4:58 AM (GMT 0)
I don't know, but it could sound like a hernia if it's soft. I would think scar tissue would be harder. Hopefully it's nothing to worry about.
Posted 12/4/2018 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
if you had laparoscopic, then there are up to 2 additional small incisions for the light/camera and the air pressure tube. Did you have those? Could one of them have incisional hernia?
Posted 12/4/2018 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
No laparoscopic
Posted 12/5/2018 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
So how many inches between bump and incision? It really does sound like an incisional hernia.
Posted 12/5/2018 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
Is it near the area where your stoma was? I have a small bulge next to where my stoma was located.
Posted 12/6/2018 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
Bulge is right below top of incision-say 2",further up from Stoma about 6 " up.I'm eating more and have gained weight since surgery 3.Gained about 10-15 lbs
Posted 12/6/2018 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
DB whats an incisional hernia???
Posted 12/6/2018 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
an incision is through several layers of skin/derma and through one or more layers of muscle. Each layer gets stiched when closing. We only see the stitches on the top layer. It is very common - especially on the abdomin which gets moved/stretched a lot in the course of normal movement, for some of the lower layers to pop stitches and open up.

I had an incision hernia on my appendix scar. When I tried to get it repaired a few years later, things went wrong and I ended up getting cut open and part of my colon removed. Then a year later, that 2nd incision got an incision hernia.

They can grow over time. It looks like I have a grapefruit under my skin on the lower right, and maybe a lime under the skin a few inches up from my navel.

Because things move when you are laying down or standing, the hernia can be a few inches offset from the outer layer scar.

Post Edited (DBwithUC) : 12/7/2018 8:12:34 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/6/2018 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds like a hernia to me, not uncommon for those of us who had surgery.
Posted 12/6/2018 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
OK So what is done if anything? should i eat less?? stomach is getting larger bc I'm gaining some weight
Posted 12/7/2018 3:21 PM (GMT 0)
while keeping trim could help, so could avoiding strain like lifting or turning certain ways.

the main complication from an incision hernia is that the "guts" poking through form adhesions with the under-surface of the skin they are in contact with. sometime these tear and there can be sub-dermal bleeding, or pain.

treatment is a surgical hernia repair. in some cases just getting stiched up again. But often the condition of the muscle around the mouth of the hernia is not good for holding stitches and/or the mouth is not easy to close by pulling the lips together. usually some type of surgical mesh is placed over the hernia and many screws or staples are used to fix the edges of the mesh to the muscle tissue around the mouth.

ironically, I would be more open to mesh after colon removal. I am a little mesh skittish because taking out the mesh on my 1st hernia (had to be done to get at colon) enlarged the hernia even more. But I learned that having one or more pieces of mesh would complicate things if I ever needed a colonectomy. What really sucks is that my options for stoma placement are limited. You cant put a stoma where there is no muscle layer to anchor it - so nowhere over or near my multiple hernia mouths.

since you already had the colon surgery, a small laproscopic procedure to put some mesh over an incisional hernia seems low risk. But, I would 1) confirm it is a hernia with MRI or CATScan, and 2) wait a year or so and see if it is growing or causing pain.

good luck
Posted 12/7/2018 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks DB.Funny with me is i have always been slim,i just tuned 60 last week and as i was getting older and gaining weight]im 6'5-230ish] it was always in my stomach.I have boney shoulders and skinny arms where the weight never goes to.So time for a little discipline with diet,that should help some.Lifting is something i will be doing as long as I'm a contractor,prob should start having my guys do more lifting and me less.Also have to get my ass to gym and get in good shape.Thanks again and ill see what surgeon says on 19th and let everyone know
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