Ugh, I mentioned in GD in a discussion about my hernia :Update:

[MerryBlooms]

Last edited Fri Jan 3, 2020, 01:29 AM - Edit history (1)

have an appointment on the 7th with the surgeon, but can't wait. The pain and pressure has become unbearable, the lump has grown about a third in size since I saw my doc two weeks ago. I'm going to the hospital first thing in the morning. I'm hoping my insurance covers it. The horrible sounds, pain, flatulence, loss of appetite, and inability to to eat more than a few bites and then the horrid pain that sometimes follows after eating is just too much.

This was originally caused by a car accident in 2006. Been repaired three times, last with mesh. It was giving me some trouble this summer, but wasn't too bad. Then, at a Halloween party this year, a guy asked for a hug, but instead, as I reached up, he grabbed me up and swung me around. My back is full of titanium rods and plates, and I'm fused from my L2 into my pelvis. When he lifted me, I screamed in pain and told him to put me down, but until others, intervened, he kept jerking me around. Someone put a chair under me and he set me down, the pain searing through my body was incredible. At first i thought he'd messed up my back. I was pretty much down the rest of the week with my ribs hurting so bad. Turns out, he'd damaged my hernia. I can't believe it. A fun evening turned to shit because some jackass guy couldn't keep his hands to himself. I don't know how many days of work I'll miss. It's so unfair to my clients. They depend on me for their care, and i won't be able to help them. I am letting them down, but it wasn't my fault... but that's not really an excuse. I am hoping the doc will release me to do light care... cooking, med delivery, etc... I know lifting mattresses, carrying groceries and the like is totally out.

I'm so upset. I just keep crying.

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Just home from the hospital. Slightly incarcerated large hernia, CT scan,,, after having to use an ultrasound to find an appropriate vein that the dye would hold. Anyway. The surgeon that specializes in my type of case is on vacation, and will be back the day I have my appointment with him. That particular surgeon specializes in multiple incision repairThe ER doc says it definitely has to be fixed asap. So, I'm to remain bound as tight as a drum, limited activity and as much reclined position as possible. Gave me anti nausea drugs, morphine, ativan and 2 roxicodone to get out in front of the pain so my regular pain meds will do the job.

Thanks for all the DU support. Love you guys to the moon! I will be sure to follow doc's advice to to tee. Want this to go as smooth as possible.

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. Very sorry to hear this.

Get thee to the hospital ASAP like you said, get this taken care of.

Good luck!

[MerryBlooms]

17. If it gets hard or changes color, I'm supposed to go back to ER.

For now, doc says to take it very easy and keep it tightly bound.

TY

[Phoenix61]

2. I'm so sorry. I'm sure you haven't been sleeping

well between the pain and the worry. Fingers crossed they take care of you the way they should tomorrow and put you on the path to wellness. I’m sure your clients will miss you but you need to take care of yourself.

[MerryBlooms]

18. Thank you. I arranged to have the heavy duties covered,

but I am able to do meal prep, and light duty. I'll be super careful.

[Laffy Kat]

3. Yikes! Yes, go to the ER!

I'm not sure where exactly your hernia is, but you can get strangulated intestines in severe cases. You need to have that looked at again, ASAP. Let us know what happens.

[mopinko]

7. second this. get in the car. go now.

[MerryBlooms]

19. It feels like it's up kinda under my lower right rib,

which with the swelling, is causing a lot of rib pain. I'm wrapped tight and and reclining a lot for relief. No bending over or reaching up.

[mia]

4. I'm so sorry to read this.

I wish you well and hope that you will get relief from your pain and worry soon. I would be crying, too.
Take care, MerryBlooms!

[MerryBlooms]

20. Thank you. I see the surgeon on Tuesday.

The ER doc thinks surgery will be shortly after my appointment, after looking at the CT results.

[UniteFightBack]

5. Try to take it as easy as possible tonight...the stress and emotion cannot be helping. I know it's

easier said than done but you absolutely have to. Is there anything you can do to get any relief? Hot or cold pack.? Any pain killers around or can you take aspirin or ibuprofen. ? I'm sorry if these suggestions sound silly but I have no idea about hernias and I felt bad reading your post.

[MerryBlooms]

21. I've been taking it very easy, and when I sit, it's in a recliner.

Your suggestions aren't silly, and I appreciate you taking the time to reply. Heat doesn't seem to make a difference, but cold makes it burn. Doc has me on pain meds, they take the edge off, good that they don't take the pain completely away, because I need to know if this thing takes a bad turn.

[Skittles]

6. wtf, the guy picking you up

that's just SOOO wrong

hang in there MerryBlooms, keep talking to us......there's always someone on DU and we care

[MerryBlooms]

22. I'm a little gal, and men have been picking me up all my life.

You'd think since I'm 56 y/o, that it wouldn't still be a thing. But it was a young guy, definitely over 6', he'd been drinking... He feels horrible that he hurt me. I'm hoping he learned a valuable lesson.

Thanks, Skittles.

[lunatica]

8. Go to the emergency room immediately

Even your doctor would tell you to do it if he knew how bad your pain is. Pain is our body’s way of saying HELP!

Get help.

[MerryBlooms]

23. Yep, called the doc in the AM and he said Go! lol

[hedda_foil]

9. GO TO THE ER RIGHT NOW! This is far from normal and may be very dangerous.

It sounds like you may have a strangulated hernia (intestine) and that can turn gangrenous, especially when surgery is delayed for days. For God's sake Merryblooms go now and don't wait until tomorrow. You could wind up out of commission for a month or longer if you put it off any longer.

[MerryBlooms]

24. Not strangulated yet, but I have to take it very easy and wrapped until I see the surgeon Tuesday.

Ugh, I'm so awful at laying around, I cannot wait until the surgery and done with recovery.

[hedda_foil]

29. I'm very glad you had it checked out, MerryBlooms. Hope you feel better soon.🤗

[MerryBlooms]

35. Thanks, hon.

[littlemissmartypants]

10. I'm wondering how you are. I hope you are able to get the care you need.

I certainly understand the crying. Unfortunately, I also understand that many men entertain as a result of privilege, an ownership attitude with no respect for a woman's right to bodily autonomy. I am so sorry someone disrespected you that way. I hope that you are able to get relief for your pain and salvation from your suffering soon. ❤

[MerryBlooms]

25. Thank you.

Yeah, I don't get why picking me up has always been a thing. I'm betting though, that other little women have had the same issue. The ER doc seemed to think the surgery will happen right after I see the surgeon on Tuesday, so I see a light at the end of the tunnel.

[Kali]

11. OMG

hope you went in right away and all is going better now. please chaeck back in when you can!

[MerryBlooms]

26. Yep, called the doc in the AM and he said Go!

You wouldn't believe how many people were there with the flu. I told the ER doc it was the night of the walking plague. lol My sis and I kept our masks on, and we've both had our flu shots, so should be okay.

The worst part was them trying to find a vein for an IV. After three pokes, they got the ultrasound machine and finally found one on the back of my left arm. I have some pretty fancy lookin' bruises. lol

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

12. Get treated right away,

then sue the asshole who hurt you.

[MerryBlooms]

30. I won't be suing.

He's a big dumb jerk of a guy, but he didn't mean to hurt me. I've been told by several people he feels horrible that he hurt me. I told them to be sure he's learned his lesson, because the next person would most likely sue him into bankruptcy.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

36. You are a better person than I am, then.

Even if he didn't mean to hurt you he was careless, or at least negligent, and I hope he might at least turn his remorse into an offer to pay some of your medical bills.

[UTUSN]

13. So, SO sorry.

[MerryBlooms]

31. Thank you.

[Niagara]

14. Go to the emergency room ASAP

Your body is telling you that there is something extremely wrong, don't ignore it. Please let us know how you're doing when you're able to. Thinking of you, MerryBlooms.


So many issues could be avoided if people would keep their hands to themselves. Ugh!

[MerryBlooms]

32. Hanging in there, lots of time in a recliner. Now my butt hurts too. lol

[Laffy Kat]

15. Damn, MerryBlooms.

Do you have someone to take care of you? Mind the doc. and keep that truss pulled tight. Keep us posted.

[MerryBlooms]

16. Yes, plenty of love and care, I live with my two sisters.

Last year, my eldest sister's doc was recommending she go into assisted care, but I said no way. I raided my IRA and she hit her nest egg, and we bought a mobile home. I am her care giver and POA. We brought in our middle sister to also live with us. So, the middle sister has been covering the physical stuff I can't do right now, but I'm still handling the medical and POA side.

Appointment with the surgeon on Tuesday (he's on vacation until then), so I'm hoping surgery a day or so after that, recovery, then back to normal.

[Skittles]

37. nice arrangement!

I'm betting that in the future, this style of living will become much common. Keep us updated regarding your surgery, OK MerryBlooms?
DU cares!. Wishing you a speedy recovery. And for sure keep sticking the guilt trip on that young idiot - make sure he learns his lesson!

[MuseRider]

27. Old Critical care nurse and older ER nurse here.

The advice is good for someone else but after all you have been through in the past with this I would worry about waiting even 3 more days. Be very careful and if the pain gets worse or the hernia looks different go straight back to the ER. Be sure you are not masking a different kind of pain or just letting it get worse because the meds will handle it.

I have heard mixed reviews on the mesh. Try to read up on that while you wait if you can. See what you can find and talk to your doc about it. I won't say more because I have been away from all this for quite a while and feel very uncomfortable saying anything more.

Be very careful with yourself, it seems you know all of this but we all care and feel the need to stress this.

[MerryBlooms]

33. Thank you.

Yes, ER doc told me what to watch for. The pain meds take the edge off, but definitely do not relieve all the pain. I don't take pain meds at night, that way I have a complete picture of what the pain level truly is. I will be able to tell if it takes a nasty turn.

[Ohiogal]

28. Hi MerryBlooms,

I’m so sorry to hear of your predicament. Please know that so many of us here on DU care and are sending you all the good karma we can muster. I can’t imagine being in constant pain like you are.

Why do men think they have the right to pick up a small lady? I’ve seen this happen with a shorty girlfriend of mine. Her own adult sons pick her up all the time! Crazy.

Glad to hear of your update. Hang in there .... you sound like a wonderful, caring, person.

[MerryBlooms]

34. Thank you so much.

I hope a few tall guys chime in and tell us why it's so appealing to pick us little gals up. The ones who know me and know how many surgeries I've had- lots of titanium rods and plates in my back and fused from the L2 into my pelvis, so being jolted the wrong way, I worry could shift my hardware. I don't know if my back could withstand another rebuild. People never know what sort of physical/mental shape one is in, so physical contact should always be gentle.

I appreciate DU support. Lots of love here.