Here is an excellent overview of the cause and repair. I have had several friends get the mesh repair and it has been very successful. Your DH will have to have it repaired...as you will read it does not repair itself. He should have been told not to lift anything and to rest till he sees a surgeon. I am sorry he got poor care...unfortunately that is sometimes the case with the medical community all over this country. There are wonderful MDs and then....

The risk of strangulation exists....if he shows any signs of increased pain and or n/v get to the ER. c ( and another very good overview)

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/hernia/article_em.htm

Here is a link that might be useful: Umbilical hernia

I've had 2 hernia surgeries, but I never had any pain with mine;just saw and felt a bulge. A hernia will not repair itself and trailrunner is correct when she says strangulation is a risk.

My husband had a hernia a few years back. It too was very painful and he had the mesh repair surgery to fix it. He was ordered to stay quiet for a week or so afterwards and for a while he couldn't lift anything heavier than 5 lbs. I would not return to a care provider you feel did not provide adequate care.

I just push mine back in. :o

I am poorly compliant patient. Mine also does not come out very often at all after I lost 20 lbs. When I was heavier, it would pop through and feel "sore" rather than painful. But my physician also did not seem to put a priority on repairing it if I could push it back in.

DH had one about 10-12 years ago. Had the mesh surgery and never had a problem again. This was in early summer and the biggest thing I remember is that he couldn't mow the lawn for about 6 weeks.

My DD had this surgery (she was 23 or 24 when she had it). It was a simple procedure, done as outpatient.

Hers would pop out and be painful. It would come and go, sometimes more frequently than other times. It started when she was a teenager. At the time, doctor told her she would need to get it fixed at some point but said it was not an emergency. She finally got tired of the pain and had it done a year or so ago. Hasn't had a problem since then.

I would suggest going and getting it fixed because then he won't have to go in as an emergency basis. I think surgeries under your control/schedule AND your preference of doctor/hospital are ideal.

My FIL went for emergency hernia surgery and passed away when the doctor perforated his colon w/o knowing, sent him home, and refused to have him back in the ER even when he developed a fever. (My MIL took him in anyway but it was too late.)

Had he just had it fixed with his doctor, I'm guessing he'd still be with us.

Yup, I've got one now. I cough a lot since I have asthma and I live on a dirt road where avoiding dust is impossible, on top of my regular allergies.

Two years ago I was laying on my back watching TV in bed. Not a good position to be coughing. All of a sudden I had a very heavy cough, felt a weird pain at the top of my abdomen. I put my hand there and there was an egg size bump.

It didn't hurt after it popped out but I still went to the doctor.

He said my hernia is around scar tissue where I had surgery there 10 years earlier and it's common for that to happen.

He said most people just live with it unless it causes problems. And he told me about the mesh surgery but said I would be a good candidate to get the hernia AGAIN since I'm a cougher.

The only time it hurts is if I bump it into something, like leaning over the washing machine getting clothes out which hurt like He!! and I never did that again.

So I'm keeping an eye on it and if it starts to feel strange in the least I'll have it fixed.

But I'm sure my hernia is way different from umblical hernias.

My husband had hernia surgery a few years ago. It was outpatient surgery and I believe it was the mesh. He hasn't had any problems since, but the recovery took longer than he expected.

My FIL had a hernia for years, but refused to have surgery. He was unable to do many things, and frequently had to lie down because of the pain. He was warned by his doctor that he would probably have to have emergency surgery eventually, but he still would not consent to having it repaired. Sadly, he passed away from pneumonia at age 77. I strongly believe that his inactivity because of the hernia contributed to his demise.

Thanks everyone for the insights. (I didn't realize the post actually posted, it didn't show up on my computer).

DH still hasn't been able to see his doctor, but I think part of that is him not conveying the correct message. With his ADD he tends to have trouble getting things across. In any event, your tips have helped ease his mind and now we have a better idea of what to expect.

He's sore still, and his belly looks like the pix in that link. But he's no longer worried he's going to die in his sleep (like someone told him happened to someone they knew). Sigh...I love my DH, very much, but he CAN be trying at times.

I had a hernia for YEARS b4 I knew what was causing the bulge in my lower side-groin area! Never had any pain with mine though!!

Lower-Abdomen/"Inguinal" hernias are SO common!

I still have some lower belly fat, so it was harder to detect with the "turn-head-&-cough" method. Referred to have a CAT-scan, and there it was!
Had it repaired last Sept. 2010. Real good surgeon and care here in Fargo, ND! I had the "Inguinal Hernia"...typical groin area tear off to the side. I had it for years the surgeon said. Hole was bigger than they thought! He could've put his fist through it he said!! He thought it may take an hour, but due to the size, it took 2 hours to fix!

I was restricted to 15lbs. of lifting for a month...ESPECIALLY the lifting AND turning-on-the-way-up motions. USE YOUR FEET TO TURN THE LOAD was stressed to me!!

So....yeah, I've got the "Mesh" too!

Faron

Faron, is it a painful recovery? Like I said, I'm not familiar with hernias in the groin area, but my doctor said it's my muscle that has the hernia.

I try to limit myself on lifting things but I've felt no pain doing anything. So far I haven't been limited in any activity.

If I do catch a cold and get the bad cough afterwards I get the strong cough medicine with hydrocodone in it which stops a bad cough in it's tracks. And it knocks me out and I sleep good. lol

Hey Oak!

My recovery wasn't that painful! Surprisingly little after the 1st couple days!! I just felt a little stiff going upstairs, getting into bed, etc. I just kept moving smartly and deliberately.

Since yours is apparently in a way different area, I don't have much advice...sorry! Just take care of yourself, and don't fool around with this TOO long...OK?!?!??

Faron