Hernia - another pain!

In between dentist appointments I went back for a follow up with my new family doctor. When we first met, I didn't like this guy at all. The second visit was much better, I think he was just overwhelmed with me the first visit. This time, he told me that I have a hernia and that he thought it would be best not to fix it, until I get my foot fixed first, BUT if I wanted to fix it, call him and he would set up an appointment.

The hernia is a little to the left of my right ribs, next to my stomach. It hurts when I sit down, or bend over. After a long weekend, in pain, I called him back and said I would like to get it fixed, if I can eliminate one pain, that would help a little, right?

I didn't hear back from my doctor's office for a week, so I called them and asked about the referral. They told me I had an appointment at the end of February. Ok, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, whew! I was hoping to find relief by the end of April or May at the latest. I could hang in there a while longer, there was hope of fixing the pain!

Not so! Last Sunday I got a call from my doctor and he said he had talked with the surgeon and they decided that I did NOT need to fix the hernia. He said that if I wanted to discuss it further I would need to make an appointment! Give me a break! So I made an appointment Monday afternoon...

When I saw him he basically repeated what he had already said. He and the surgeon felt that if they went in to fix this hernia, it MAY, EVENTUALLY cause another hernia to develop out of the new holes they made to fix the first hernia. I tried to explain to the doctor that I was tired of being in pain, and I was looking for some relief. He said, sorry, I don't know how I can help you. We just don't think it would benefit you to have another surgery! I wish he could live a week or even a day with my pain, and then see what he thinks about pain! I am still furious! I feel abandoned and helpless. I have the pain in my teeth, this hernia, my low back keeps grinding when I turn or bend down, my knees are catching and popping, and my left foot is still hurting. Pain- head to toe! Literally! I don't know how much more I can take.

I think I will call my gastroenterologist at Virginia Mason tomorrow and see what he says. I would not be pleased to hear that he does not want to fix the hernia either, but I would feel better if I heard the same thing from more than one doctor.

Of course I'm also having interstitial cystitis problems, and started a 6 week treatment with DMSO last week. The first few days after a treatment are very painful, so I'm still in pain from that, and have my next treatment on Wednesday this week. I hope that I feel better soon...

My irritable bowel syndrome is acting up and I haven't gone poo in over 10 days. I told my doctor this, thinking that maybe part of my bowel was caught in the hernia, but he didn't seem concerned. He said that I should take Miralax and stool softeners as soon as I haven't gone in 3 days. Now my stomach hurts even more,from my belly button down! Between the IC, IBS and this hernia, my torso hurts all the time! I hope that today is pain free for you, or less painful than normal. I'm sure I am in enough pain for the both of us! Hang in there with me! This is going to be a bumpy ride!