[Perfesser]

For the last couple of months, I've been having some interesting abdominal pains. I thought they were related to malabsorption and things not being digested well. Sometimes I would have shooting pains that took my breath away. They are symmetrically opposite from where my appendix still sits, so it wasn't that, and they came and went apparently at random. Sometimes it was just vague feelings that something was lurking ready to pounce and hurt me bad.

A few weeks ago, I got a whiff of that crud that everyone was passing around. (When you stand all day in front of 40 - 100 students, all coughing in your direction ...) Anyway, I was coughing and every time I would cough, I would get such stabs of pain shooting up from my left groin area that I had to stop in mid-cough to make it go away. About the same time, I was coughing and felt (and heard) something down there go "pop"! (Hmmm - this is not normally expected behavior ...)

Long story shortened (too late!!), it looks like I have an inguinal hernia. Tomorrow I'm going in to have it fixed. Oh boy! More surgery!! ("Take a deep breath and count backwards from 99." "Ninety ni...") At least it'll be easier for the surgeon to find things in that empty belly now that the fat's all been moved out!

So the good news is that they found the problem and it is repairable.

The bad news is that it's gonna ruin a lot of good time preparing my classes for next semester, and it ain't gonna be any fun at all!

The ugly news is that Peanut's folks (who think that WLS is not normal and interferes with the way God made us) have no reservations at all about me having this surgery, which will install a nylon mesh to close the defect in the abdominal muscles that God put there ... <sigh> They're such good people, and we love them dearly, but they're easier to live with from 1200 miles away!

Anyway, if I post anything tomorrow that sounds like I'm incoherent and on drugs - it's only because I'll be incoherent and on drugs!

Enjoy!!

CT

[judijo]

Poor CT.

Mesh for hernia repair is an awesome God-inspired invention...right up there with WLS. heh Mesh makes much better repairs than stitches.

Happy to know you now know (way to many nows there. LOL) what the problem is, and you are on the way to recovery. Sleep easy.

[DeMarie]

Good luck - heal quick!

[GinaGurl]

best of luck and i hope you feel better soon take care and rest

[A new me]

Perfesser I just had this same surgery about 4 weeks ago. November 21st. I had an umbilicial hernia back in May. Then had some issues and then found the inginial hernia. Had that fixed about a month ago. I got, or my surgeon should I say got a bit more than we bargined for when he went in there. I had 6 others. So in all I had 7 hernias and then the one that was just done back in May.
But I am all better now and just went back to work. Still a bit sore and wearing a binder but I am good as new.
Best wishes with your surgery.

[LadyLisa]

I hope all is well with you and keep us updated, surgery you gotta love it..

[Janice Carol]

Good Luck on your surgery tomorrow. And I hope we do see some incoherent post from you tomorrow because that will mean that you are feeling good enough to join us. (Also because I love to listen to incoherent people who have had pain medication, thats probably because my family says I am hilarious on pain medication.)

[Imlosinit]

Good luck tomorrow!! I pray all goes well and we see your incoherent self on the boards. LOL Hope Peanut pampers you good.

[SarJen01]

Good luck tomorrow. I'll be thinking about you. Hope they only find one and not 7 like A New Me.

(Please post while on painkillers or not. Your posts are always fun.)

[Perfesser]

Judijo - I had an umbilical hernia fixed about 6 years ago with the hi-tech window screen. No problems at all. I gotta agree with ya, I'm glad I have this option!!

A new me - WOW!! You were busting out all over! What was holding you together? They must have used a yard of mesh on you!! Glad you're okay! Is seven your lucky number or something?

Peanut hates to drive in lousy conditions, and the forecast for tonight and tomorrow morning is for snow, freezing rain, wind gusts to 29 mph, continuing through noon tomorrow. She's really excited about it (if you call stress and freaking out being excited!)

So if we crash on the way home (30 miles) from the hospital, maybe I can get a quantity discount on the second surgery the same day!!

CT