abdominal hernia

longwalks1

sorry if this is in the wrong sub forum, cant seem to find where to discuss health issues (the health forum said NO talk of medical issues)
Ive got a small abdominal hernia, on/above my belly button, you can hardly see it its about the size of a peanut under my skin, but after shedding bodyfat its not more visable. I went to my GP like a good boy catching the problem early on, thinking it'd be easier to put 2 stitches in it now, than 40 in 5 years time, but was told 'dont worry about it, if it pops out just poke it back in. Theyre harder to treat the smaller they are'

i was a bit shocked, my GP is excellent, never questioned him before but is it normal to leave a hernia, even if it is small? I keep dreaming that it gets worse and spills out too, sad i know but have dreamt it a few times now

Any advice greatly recieved

balletshoes

sorry, no-one is allowed to give any kind of medical advice on this forum (rightly so).

Bryando

I would trust your GP, he is the one who has trained for years and has the letters and title to behold his name!

meer53

I think your GP is right, if he thought it needed treatment he would have suggested it surely ?

System

if you google: NHS + hernia a page will come up called: Hernia - Definition - NHS Choices. It gives quite a bit of information on hernias. You could also try a general family medical book if you want to find out more, but if as you say your GP is good, I would go by what they say.

fluffnutter

In the new outsourced NHS your GP simply can't be arsed with the paperwork of putting your treatment out to tender, having all the bids back, sorting through them all to find the most cost-effective solution from a company who won't go bankrupt between accepting the work and doing it and, moreover, that he and his mates have got shares in.

You probably do need the treatment, but the profit margins are too small for them to bother. Welcome to NHS.co.uk. You know it makes sense

vintagebrighton

I'm not giving medical advice I'll just say what my GP told me as I have the same problem. Small umbilical hernias are more likely to get strangulated which means major trouble and an urgent trip to A&E. I know many NHS trusts don't operate on these any more, you have to pay to go private. Maybe you could do a bit of research yourself? There's plenty of info around and you can always ask for a second opinion.

dizziblonde

vintagebrighton wrote: »

I'm not giving medical advice I'll just say what my GP told me as I have the same problem. Small umbilical hernias are more likely to get strangulated which means major trouble and an urgent trip to A&E. I know many NHS trusts don't operate on these any more, you have to pay to go private. Maybe you could do a bit of research yourself? There's plenty of info around and you can always ask for a second opinion.

Backing this up - it was what I was told when my daughter had an umbilical hernia - basically the bigger ones were better as less likely to get "stuck" (strangulated) compared to the smaller ones and that they would only really worry if you couldn't push it back in... hers was a baby-hood one though so they left it and it healed up of its own accord - obviously a bit different if you're an adult.