Has The Protocol Changed In The Treatment Of An Hernia

[raybush]

I've recently discovered that I have an Hernia (near the groin area).I attended the doctors only to be told that Hernias are not treated unless they are causing you trouble/lots of pain ,I have got a few symptoms that I thought were related to my Hernia which occur from time to time, i.e, feeling bloated ,constipation ,very slight ache in the lower stomach ,all of which the doctor dismissed .
The Hernia was undoubtedly caused by over 40 years of weight training (which looking back I would not have changed), i now train with lighter weights .
I thought that the doctor would have suggested that the problem be dealt with ,instead I have to wait until it gets serious and the attend A&E ,or ,get an appointment with him...…...I felt a bit puzzled .
Any constructive comments would be great ,nothing rude or silly please.

[Cloverjo]

Apparently hernias can't be caused by lifting heavy weights, but an existing one can be exacerbated by exertion.

The NHS is under a lot of strain, and so hernia ops have been put lower on the list of priorities.

[tinkerbell23]

I agree with clover..

Locally hernias are only operated on if symptomatic!

Take care xx

[Sqad]

Ridiculous.

To wait until they become strangulated or irreducible is in my opinion exhibiting a poor and unacceptable standard of medicine.
If the hernia is symptom, then there is an argument for "waiting and see" but part from that I am speechless.

[Sqad]

"The investigators concluded that watchful waiting appears pointless, and they recommended surgical repair for medically fit patients (Br. J. Surg. 2011;98:596-9)."

I have mentioned this on many occasions that of Medicine and Surgery being a human study and I feel that "blanket management" of conditions should be avoided.

[Peter Pedant]

// then there is an argument for "waiting and see" but part from that I am speechless. //

no I think this may be standard procedure nowadays. Does it pop out when you have symptoms ? I think your doctor is right.

You could always pay to have it done

I have a large unsightly colostomy hernia ( post surgical hernias are VERY unlikely to block as the edges are smooth) and am happy with 'do nothing unless somethng occurs'

well there you are !
a variety of opinions there

[Peter Pedant]

The paper is worth a read
more than one conclusion can be drawn from the data

I thought they would say - wait until it is troublesome
but
they say
do it now - before it becomes troublesome which means that you are gonna be doing operations that dont need to be done
but hey surgeons need to fill their lists !

[Sqad]

PP.

"I think your doctor is right. "

I hope you are right, read this from the OP.

"I have got a few symptoms that I thought were related to my Hernia which occur from time to time, i.e, feeling bloated ,constipation ,very slight ache in the lower stomach ,all of which the doctor dismissed"

Playing Russian roulette there somewhat unless the doctor has good evidence to support his dismissal of symptoms.
Also...what is the occupation of the OPer? Footballer, builder......shouldn't that be taken into consideration?

[Rockrose]

Hi, even if they do take your hernia seriously the waiting list is very long, I was on the urgent list and was told it would be 2 years given the pain I was in I ended up going private using a small insurance I have through work.

[Sqad]

RockRose........money well spent.

[Sqad]

I often wonder if "waiting list" times are deliberately verbally inflated to force some "likely " patients to go "Private?" OR am I being cynical or disingenuous?

I know what I think.

[SparklyKid]

I had an inguinal hernia treated , only waited a few weeks. Blackpool Victoria hospital, excellent treatment/service. Also had both cataracts done there within weeks of referral.

[Rockrose]

It was I paid £3120 into the insurance and I’m sure the consultations and surgery cost a lost more.
I don’t know about the times given being inflated as I got my timescale from the NHS consultant secretary

[ChillDoubt]

Is it being performed laparoscopically or as an open procedure?
I’m only asking because where I work the recurrence rate for laparoscopic hernia repair is virtually nil.

[ChillDoubt]

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1534321-overview

[Sqad]

Chilli....we are not comparing the recurrence rate of opposing procedures, we( I ) am criticising the indications for even getting to base one .............a blanket proforma.

[ChillDoubt]

Indeed Sqad, just thought it might be beneficial to the OP in regards to recovery time etc and whether or not they’ve actually discussed this option.

[Sqad]

Quite. ;-)

[KARL]

I have a condition which, although not a hernia, shares some characteristics with hernias. It can be troublesome but is probably overall less so than a hernia. When I first reported it and was referred to a specialist it was dismissed as being a case of an oversized appendage. When a couple of years later I went back with the same complaint to my GP together with a self-diagnosis and my opinion of the specialist's verdict, the GP named it and sent me to the same specialist. The latter sheepishly asked if this was what I had suspected all along. I was offered an operation more or less immediately but declined, explaining that now that I know it is nothing sinister I would steer clear of the profession. I was left with the impression that, as with other cases of various types I know of, the name of the game is to put people off. This of course solves nothing, not the patients' situation nor the backlog of people needing attention. Meanwhile the NHS languishes as mediocre on international comparison lists - although to point that out is seen as distinctly anti-British by some.

[tinkerbell23]

Could you insist on a referral to a General Surgeon at least for another opinion x

[anneasquith]

Ok tinks?