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Does Delay In Umbilical Hernia Surgery Cause Digestion Issues?
Question: Went to a clinic for umbilical hernia started causing discomfort. Nurse there pushed it in til it hurt bad, been having digestive issues since. Is it related?
This is one type of hernia where only part of the intestine can get entrapped and the nurse may not about this and pushed in to save your surgery. What are the symptoms do you have at the moment , please tell me the details , I may be in a position to help you http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/UserServlet?page=userProfile#earningsTabH
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I was hurting pretty bad for week after she did this. One morning i passed a normal bowel movement then about 2 hours later i passed black stool, and had an upset stomach the rest of the day. The next day i woke up and felt fine, with just minor discomfort in the hernia area. It generally became less ans less bothersome until a few days ago when the pain came back to my bellybutton area and abdomen in general to a lesser extent. I passed a small amount of black stool again after a normal bowel movement a couple of days ago but the pain in the hernia area persisted for a couple of days. Feeling better today but just wondeing if there could be a tear or sore or blockage in that area of the intestine. I have not felt nausiated or fever. Just some bloating off and on and slight heartburn. Along with abdomenal pain. Going to get hernia fixed in a couple of weeks, just hope it solves digestive issues as well.
Brief Answer:
Richter's Hernia.
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your elucidate history.
This is definitely suggestive of Richter's hernia in the umbilical hernia which the most common site of it.
In Richter's Hernia, only a part of the intestine is entrapped so the luminal ( tube) patency remains and one does not develop signs of fully obstructed hernia like distension of abdomen - pain- vomiting- obstipation ( inability to pass feces and gases both) and fever.
In your case the Nurse pushed in the hernia contents but due to Richter's type, the inflamed wall of the small intestine had bleeding which appeared as black stool ( malena ). The part of the intestine must still attached to the underside of the umbilicus giving you the discomfort till now.
You are lucky that the intestine has not perforated yet hence no full-fledged peritonitis, but the pain and other symptoms indicates that earlier the better to get exploration by Laparoscopy or open approach as decided by your operating Surgeon. He may advise you CT scan / contrast study of the intestines.
' tear or sore or blockage in that area of the intestine' > This is partial hence did not give the full picture of peritonitis.
Plan the surgery ASAP for correction of the hernia defect as well as the intestinal problem.
I hope this helps you to clear the diagnosis and get operated at the earliest.
Wishing you all the best.
Richter's Hernia.
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your elucidate history.
This is definitely suggestive of Richter's hernia in the umbilical hernia which the most common site of it.
In Richter's Hernia, only a part of the intestine is entrapped so the luminal ( tube) patency remains and one does not develop signs of fully obstructed hernia like distension of abdomen - pain- vomiting- obstipation ( inability to pass feces and gases both) and fever.
In your case the Nurse pushed in the hernia contents but due to Richter's type, the inflamed wall of the small intestine had bleeding which appeared as black stool ( malena ). The part of the intestine must still attached to the underside of the umbilicus giving you the discomfort till now.
You are lucky that the intestine has not perforated yet hence no full-fledged peritonitis, but the pain and other symptoms indicates that earlier the better to get exploration by Laparoscopy or open approach as decided by your operating Surgeon. He may advise you CT scan / contrast study of the intestines.
' tear or sore or blockage in that area of the intestine' > This is partial hence did not give the full picture of peritonitis.
Plan the surgery ASAP for correction of the hernia defect as well as the intestinal problem.
I hope this helps you to clear the diagnosis and get operated at the earliest.
Wishing you all the best.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I had a CT scan a few days after the initial climic visit with and without contrast and they said everything looked normal except the 2mm umbilical hernia. Is it possible the CT scan could have missed the Richter hernia? I also visited a hernia surgeon a week after that and he used ultra sound on me to show me the hernia. He never mentioned a Richter hernia. He wanted to do surgery because bellybutton is slightly red and the pain but i have no insurance to cover it. Thankfully a friend is going to pay for a doctor and surgeon visit this week and possibly the surgery as i'm sure the surgeon will recomend it. Could both CT and ultrasound miss a Richter hernia? What is the complications and recovery time for this type of hernia if it is what i have? It sounds very dangerous and now i am very worried.
Brief Answer:
Not dangerous and not be worried.
Detailed Answer:
Do not be worried, this is just not to soothe you but to tell you that you have not developed any symptoms of perforation or peritonitis. So just relax.
CT scan and the ultrasonography can easily miss Richter's. This is a name given to a condition when only a part of the wall is involved or entrapped. A surgeon should recognize and remember this in every case where the opening (neck of the sac of hernia) of the hernia is small as is in your case. And in your case the belly button is red and tender and you have symptoms as you have already mentioned , plus a history of pushing in of the hernia with malena and pain as you have already explained. You can discuss this with your Surgeon.
At this stage of the problem , the complication can be bleeding an malena as you have it, perforation would have been possible but fortunately not there. There is a small chance of stricture ( a ring of non-distensile tissue in the involved intestine ).
The recovery time after surgery you mean ?
IT is about 3 weeks.
This is not dangerous and you are lucky to have no acute emergency leading complication so relax , plan , and get this done. I have explained all these thing to make you aware that your Surgeon may not feel it necessary to tell you. Not to frighten you.
Anxiety will add to your problem .
Please do not use any truss or belt.
Not dangerous and not be worried.
Detailed Answer:
Do not be worried, this is just not to soothe you but to tell you that you have not developed any symptoms of perforation or peritonitis. So just relax.
CT scan and the ultrasonography can easily miss Richter's. This is a name given to a condition when only a part of the wall is involved or entrapped. A surgeon should recognize and remember this in every case where the opening (neck of the sac of hernia) of the hernia is small as is in your case. And in your case the belly button is red and tender and you have symptoms as you have already mentioned , plus a history of pushing in of the hernia with malena and pain as you have already explained. You can discuss this with your Surgeon.
At this stage of the problem , the complication can be bleeding an malena as you have it, perforation would have been possible but fortunately not there. There is a small chance of stricture ( a ring of non-distensile tissue in the involved intestine ).
The recovery time after surgery you mean ?
IT is about 3 weeks.
This is not dangerous and you are lucky to have no acute emergency leading complication so relax , plan , and get this done. I have explained all these thing to make you aware that your Surgeon may not feel it necessary to tell you. Not to frighten you.
Anxiety will add to your problem .
Please do not use any truss or belt.
Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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