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Surgery or live with it

OrsonKartt

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,850
Location
Suffolk
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
over selling.... oh so many things are enthusiastically oversold
Hi all,

I'm a 65 year old active male who 3 months ago while playing tennis acquired an inguinal hernia. I had one a few years back from the same cause but I'd hoped that I'd be ok slowly getting back into sport.

Anyhow pre hernia my fasting glucose levels were in the 4's and low fives. (I eat less than 20 games of carb a day.) Now they range from low to mid 6's. - I can see no other reason in my life style other than this injury for the increase in blood sugar levels.

Yesterday I managed to see a doctor. It says a lot about our medical system in the UK that to see a doctor about a non life threatening injury takes that Long but thats another issue for another day. The Doctor asked what I wanted done, he could offer no advice about surgery and said the decision was entirely mine. Knowing the pain and recovery time from the last op I said I could wait a few months.

My question today is am I missing anything in making this decision. ie are there know/ documented examples of slightly high elevated sugar levels shortening mortality etc. etc.

In short I'd welcome your thoughts especially if there are any studies or personal experience along these lines.
 
I have one, have had it for about 22 years.... I find it easy to live with and I lift weights as well. I can't comment on effects on bg levels, but only reason I could see for it causing a rise is that possibly it has reduced your activity levels?
 
Tophat1900 said:
I have one, have had it for about 22 years.... I find it easy to live with and I lift weights as well. I can't comment on effects on bg levels, but only reason I could see for it causing a rise is that possibly it has reduced your activity levels?
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Hi Tophat, thanks for your thoughts - well the actual numbers , according to my fit bit are the same, but I've replaced the tennis with walking which is by nature less intense
 
OrsonKartt said:
Hi Tophat, thanks for your thoughts - well the actual numbers , according to my fit bit are the same, but I've replaced the tennis with walking which is by nature less intense
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Yeah, I played a lot of social tennis when I was younger. Good fun. And I'd imagine that could be the reason or part of it. It's way more physical then walking, unless you are grinding your way up hills at a good pace.

Whether or not you can just live with the hernia or not, I don't know. Some can, some can't, an individual thing I believe.
 
- yep I hear that, for me, at the mo anyhow its a grinding ache that leaves me more than a mite tired but maybe I can find ways round that? I have this creeping doubt though.... I'm figuring I'm not getting any younger and if its going to be done the sooner the better? .... Anyhow a month or two figuring this out isn't going to kill me....
 
OrsonKartt said:
Anyhow a month or two figuring this out isn't going to kill me....
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It's a long time since I lived in the UK, so I'm out of date, but won't the GP have to refer you to a specialist for you to get in the queue for the op? I'm assuming it'll be a few months before you see the specialist even if he refers you....
 
Don't forget that it won't improve on it's own and that if they become trapped they can lead to some pretty serious complications such as a strangulated hernia.

On the other hand diabetes can be problematic where recovery from surgery is concerned.

You just have to consider the pro's and con's but you should have received better advise from your doctor.
 
Hi. Those BS readings are actually quite good and should not cause you long-term problems. I had an inguinal hernia mesh op a few years back and wouldn't rush to go thru it again. Took a long time for the pain to fade having had no pain before (!). My consultant said most of these inguinal hernias never result in a strangulation anyway if left alone.
 

Only you can figure it out.... maybe get that referral and see where you stand. If it makes life uncomfortable, you'll know what to do.

Good luck in any case.
 
Stress ([physiological and mental) does raise blood sugars but obviously surgery will cause you some risks. Personally I'd ask the surgeon about success rates and likely recovery times. As you've kept fit and active with pretty good sugars, you may find it goes well.
If this hernia won't heal itself and you are in any kind of discomfort you may find you need to change diet in order to keep bloods to non-diabetic levels that you've enjoyed previously.
No experience of this hernia other than my baby son who got his done with no problems but he was 8 months' old and not diabetic.
 
EllieM said:
It's a long time since I lived in the UK, so I'm out of date, but won't the GP have to refer you to a specialist for you to get in the queue for the op? I'm assuming it'll be a few months before you see the specialist even if he refers you....
Click to expand...
EllieM said:
It's a long time since I lived in the UK, so I'm out of date, but won't the GP have to refer you to a specialist for you to get in the queue for the op? I'm assuming it'll be a few months before you see the specialist even if he refers you....
Click to expand...
Oh yea , I'm sure there will be at least a few months of extra waiting once the GP has sent me off to the specialist too!!
 
Thanks for your thoughts- re diet: at the mo I eat under 20 grams of carb a day which consist of green veg , cheese and nuts . I'd miss those in a bad way if I cut down further
 
OrsonKartt said:
Thanks for your thoughts- re diet: at the mo I eat under 20 grams of carb a day which consist of green veg , cheese and nuts . I'd miss those in a bad way if I cut down further
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Hi Orson,
I've had two inguinal hernia mesh repairs, one on each side. The first, in 1993 when I wasn't diabetic, was eight weeks between seeing the GP and getting the op. The second, last year, it was eight months until the operation. This was even though at the pre-op assessment after 2 months I was registered as urgent on the waiting list.
In light of the delay in treatment I think you should consider getting into the system now. You can always change your mind later, the NHS won't mind!
My experience of both ops was very good, very little discomfort (compared to the constant ache of the hernia) and back to fitness within 2 weeks. As a previous poster mentioned the hernia will not get better without treatment and mine was getting a lot bigger by the time of the op.
Best wishes whatever route you decide on.
By the way, I found that the hernia itself, and the recovery from the op, had no discernable effect on my BG.
 
Hi, I have had an inguinal hernia for as long as I can remember, Cant give you advice but personally, they aint cutting me open unless I'm in agony, I have had the hernia longer than the DB so no idea if it contributes.

Best of luck
 
Hi Pete,
Many thanks for your thoughts ...its really useful for me - Cheers!
 
...Hi John, I've been looking at changing doctors for an age but in my catchment area all the reviews of the various surgeries are pretty dire. It looks like a dumping ground for poor practice.....
 
@OrsonKartt - My OH has had 2 inguinal hernias, then more recently an umbilical hernia. Some folks tend to be prone to them, and inguinal hernias will quite often present on the ther side, sooner or later.

With hernias, such as yours, I'd always be in the same camp as @JohnEGreen , on the same grounds.

My OH has always sailed, played golf and tennis. He is now 72 and still playing at least 18 holes, three times a week - 36 holes a day in some competitions.

Should a hernia strangulate it is very painful and can quickly become life threatening. Bearing in mind some of our passage-making could be days on end, that ws the risk that flipped the coin for my OH. He's very much of the where possible, don't meddle mindset.

Of course, it's your call, but I'm with the others in suggesting you start the ball rolling and have the discussion with the surgeon. I'd also suggest you hae the other side looked at closely.

Good luck whichever route you decide.
 

I think maybe seeing the consultant would help you make a well informed decision.
I had surgery for an umbilical hernia, just over two years ago now. I was told all the risks and equally told the choice was mine. I left thinking I will wait and see, and after a few more months of worsening pain, and it starting to impact daily life, ability to exercise, and lift my daughter etc I decided to go ahead and have it repaired.
The care in the hospital was very good, I was prediabetic at the time, but they checked my blood sugar levels, I dropped too low whilst fasting waiting for my turn to go into theatre, and then afterwards checked levels. I was surprised how I was expected to get dressed and leave within a few hours. The pain was considerable and I had under estimated how long it would take to recover at home. Good luck with what you decide, there’s risks in everything and I made my decision once the pain was becoming too much and too often.
 
Hi all,

Many thanks for all your thoughts. I've now written to my GP asking for an appointment with a specialist.
 
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