Hi. Dennis here. This is not about low carb health but I figured we had a lot of heavy, like me, (or formerly heavy) members in a similar circumstance.

About a year ago I developed a belly buton hernia from aggresive coughing (didn't help that I was so overweight). Anyway the doctor told me the current wisdom is not to fix it unless it is symptomatic -- that is you can't push it back in and it is danger of strangulation.

Mine doesn't hurt unless I'm sick or have an IBS bout. Then it is hard to push in. It goes down when I lay down and so far I can push it in but I have to a lot it seems.

I saw the doctpr the other day about an unrelated issue and he said it was totally up to me about fixing it. He said he's seen people have one for years and years and never fix it and he's seen people have a medical emergency in a year.

I'm really torn (pun intended) I just don't know if I should fix it or not.
I'd hate to do the surgury and have cronic pain or complications.

I'd appreciate any feedback from you folks that have had similar problems. Have any of you had one of these for 10 or 20 years unfixed?

My mom had one for a long, long time (not sure if it was umbilical or not) and then finally got it operated on. They didn't have insurance, so it was a big deal to pay for that.

I don't think it is major surgery is it?

Oh, my kitten 20+ years ago was born with a hernia and they operated on it when he was about 8 weeks old or so. I don't think he even had to wear a cone of shame.

My DH had a standard groin hernia, his first ever operation at age 64, but he is and has always been thin. The doctor was thrilled that he was, the operation is easier for the surgeon if he does not have to borrow through layers of fat, and are fewer complications.

Used Small incisions, tacked on a flap of mesh fabric, and we were in the car on the way home in under an hour! A new anesthesia, instant awake and out the door... and then he walked upstairs to bed but was not even tired. Think he only took Tylenol for a few days after. We had found a brilliant hernia specialist, used a local outpatient surgery unit, and the whole procedure was a non-event. Only mistake... Had he waited to Medicare it would have been less money out of pocket. Just wanted it done though, even though not bothering him.

Mine is a belly button hernia higher up on the abdoman. It's about the size of an egg and I can still push it in. However I've read that some people who had it fixed with mesh ended up with chronic pain. That would bum me out of course. My other concern is whether or not it will enlarge and have to be done later. If I thought it would stay like this no problem. But I'd hate to wait until my 70s or 80s and have a higher risk of complications.

The internet will drive you crazy reading all the horror stories of course.

Thanks

We read those too before the appointment with the surgeon. 😱😱Doctor gave long explanation of the older problems, "new & improved" brand he uses, how technique of attachment impacts, etc., etc. DH is still involved in the biotech industry so had already reached out to contacts about the various products pros and cons. But if yours doesn't bother you now, a "wait and see" Year at a time and then reevaluate, should not be an problem. Or seek an opinion from a specialist. The doctor we used was a member of the American Hernia Society (now there's a fun bunch of guy ). Maybe a short consultation meeting with a local member of that group?