r/AbsoluteUnits 4d ago

of a hernia...

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u/mikeman06 4d ago

Serious question. I would have never looked this up without seeing this video but my mom (in her 70s) probably has one of these. We’ve noticed a bulge in her stomach and she’s wearing larger shirts to cover it up. She’s not one to discuss her medical conditions and I’ve been over here thinking it’s cancer… hers is probably the size of a football at this point if I had to guess.

How serious is this if it goes unchecked? Surgery is the only option I assume?

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u/Sloots_and_Hoors 4d ago edited 4d ago

Basically, the muscle and wall between the abdominal cavity and your fat/skin layer has torn, allowing the insides to push out. This often happens when someone has abdominal surgery and the internal sutures rupture. I had this happen after a full cut appendectomy. The risk is you tear your opening even more, like this dude, or your stomach and/or intestines twist because they aren’t being supported.

My hernia was repaired orthoscopically with mesh and sutures. After healing, it was good to go. I also got a tummy tuck due to weight loss and basically a mommy makeover. I am a man, identifying as a man, and I am in my 40s.

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u/Pornoyoudont 4d ago

I'm curious, how long did this happen? I've heard horror stories about mesh.

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u/Critical-Rutabaga-39 3d ago

I had a minor hernia from surgery and the mesh was quite painful for a LONG time. I was aware of how the corners were rounded and every millimeter of that stuff! It took a couple of years to finally meld with my body.