Hernia, any experience/ advice?

Hi Charlie, I would say that modern key-hole surgery and materials make a standard Hernia operation a low risk. Typically its day surgery meaning an early start at the clinic, general anaesthetic, and return home same day after recovery time.

I'm very happy with mine and didn't require both sides, despite the surgeon keeping his options open to do both.

I've had no issues despite standing on the pedals on some steep hills, which previously caused the issue.

You should worry about the possibility that the intestine which is pushed through a hole in your fascia of your belly will get incarcerated. This is a acute emergency and you should be rushed to hospital for an immediate surgery. Otherwise the incarcerated gut will die and you lose a piece of it. You maybe will have an artificial bowel outlet on your tummy for a couple of weeks to protect the anastomosis.

https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/saving-lives-with-gus-inca...

I've had 2, one on each side of my groin. Both operated on in my teens. I remember causing my first when I was about 6, trying to pick a mate up and then I remember waking up on the floor after a blinding pain. It took until I was 17 when I experimentally pressed on it (with one side of my groin being higher than the other), and feeling the insides going back in, for me to go to the doctors and get it operated on.

Second one happened when I was 18 after doing some weights. Up until 18 I was about 8 stone and tried beefing myself up but vanity made me pick up heavier than I could handle and bad form did the rest.

In both cases a mesh was fitted to hopefully make that area stronger.

Since recovering from both I've trained nearly every day (twice a day when I was in the RAF) and been as heavy as 16 stone. I've squatted enough weight to crush my L5 and not had a recurrence of either hernia. I've heard that hernias are hereditary and my Dad has had a few.

I've felt twinges and due to the inherent weakness of that area it's caused other muscles to try and take up the slack, leading to back pain and tight hamstrings but that's my own fault for not training to improve my weaknesses, rather training around them. I'd suggest trying yoga once you get back to full fitness.

A friend had the keyhole version in the same area and it failed pretty quickly without too much effort. I think it was done wrong in the first place. He's since had it done the same way as mine and feels a lot better. 

All I have are 2 angular scars either side of the old chap. It looks like a small nosed elephant is holding it's breath

I've had 2 hernias.
The first was quite large and brought on suddently by a week at an outdoor activity centre. I still remember the distinctly weird feeling of
The op was straightforward but I was in some discomfort immediately afterward. I had intended to take two weeks off work but my GP advised me to take longer so I took a month up to the Xmas holidays (I'm a teacher) and rerturned to work after 6 weeks with no further problems.
I've felt an occasional twinge since which got less frequent over time. Apart from the scar (which only my partner ever sees) I now have problems with it at all.
No idea what caused the 2nd which didn't develop as quickly. I waited longer for surgery this time. My surgeon was sympathetic when I was offered a date for srugery which was inconveniently in the run up to exams (his wife is also a teacher) but warned me I could have an even longer wait if I deleayed, so I went ahead (after asking a recently retired friend if she would be free to do some suppyl work). He also advised me while I was awaiting surgery to call an ambulance immediately if at any time I couldn't get the lump to go down - a strangulated hernia can cut off the blood supply to part of your intestine.
This time I was off work for less than a month and recovered much faster. I cycled to hosptial through the Clyde Tunnel on a rented Nextbike, but got an Uber home with my partner (they won't let you leave hospital alone after a general anaesthetic).
My advice is that if you're being offered an operation you should take it. You'll be very tired for a while afterwards and will be advised not to drive or ride a bike for a couple of weeks but it's worth it to put an end to the discomfort and prevent the risk of a strangulated hernia.
 

I've had one side done a few years ago and am due to have the other done in a few weeks.

First one was no issue whatsoever, no pain, back in work within a few days (my job does not involve heavy lifting though).

It's a pretty minor op but does come with a reasonable risk of ongoing pain afterwards. There are various techniques to fix a hernia, I had the bog standard mesh but there are other options which may be worth discussing with your surgeon if you're particularly concerned about any specific complications.

I've recently recovered from an umbilical hernia operation, not the same and I suspect not as worrisome as an inguinal hernia. I surprised myself by how worried I was, come the day,  about what everyone told me was a 'routine' op. I was even more worried when my blood pressure prevented my first appointment for surgery going ahead. 

All went well in the end with a couple of weeks recovery.

I would see a doc again and get on the list, then think about it armed with their advice. As Secret Squirrel says, you never know how long the waiting list is going to be. I suspect that the longer you leave it, the harder it may be to fix, and the more likely a serious rupture, especially given your work.

Check your BP to make sure you won't rule yourself out of a general anaesthetic as well. Good luck.

I think you need to really really careful.  If work finds out you have a diagnosed injury that you havent told them (I'm assuming you havent) about you'll be in deep doodoo.  They probably arent insured whilst you are in the role you are doing so depending how they take it they may throw the book at you.

Besides with the NHS in the current state its in I'd get on the waiting list ASAP coz you just dont know how long it will be.

I once knew some weight lifters and they said this was pretty common.  Like you I left mine when I could have fixed it earlier.  Finally did something about it when it was causing me grief more frequently.  Though thankfully not like a scene from Aliens.

Now fixed.  Surgery and recovery vary quite a bit depending on circumstance. My mother had them and in her case it was like trying to repair a bad sidewall blow-out.  Mine was minor.  I took things easy for a bit, did some of the suggested rehab, noticed it less and less, got on with life.  However by the time I got it fixed I was a fair bit less energetic than formerly anyway.

Been years now and apart from very rare twinges - like other scars - I never notice.  I don't race but do occasional distance riding.  For me the paperwork *recommended* doing some abdominal strengthening.  I occasionally even hit the gym though I don't lift heavy.  I'm not sure it's a bar to that though - again check in with medical advice / yourself.

So good luck, take it easy, take plenty of advice but don't *ignore* the medics!  For many people these aren't a drama.  The usual but it is true: listen to your body.  It may take time to re-learn the feel of when you can push things a bit and when to stop.

Surprised you'd been weight lifting, both at work and the gym, with an inguinal hernia - it's the one thing they tell you absolutely not to do. That, and straining on the potty. Whereas bike riding I'm told is pretty OK.
If its getting to the point where it irritates and annoys you, and it's getting worse, then I guess you've got to seriously consider getting it done. My Dad had both sides done and I'd never have known had he not told me. Not that he does any cycling! Or heavy lifting.

Not personally had the experience but one of my childhood memories is my dad chasing round the garden in his dressing gown after the escaped guinea pig when he was supposed to be recovering from his hernia op.

No operation is trivial so I don't blame you for resisting going under the knife, the main thing I've picked up from people I know who have had it is not to assume you are special and instead take plenty of recovery time to let the repair heal and gain strength - several people I know have had repeat ops because of being too enthusiastic.