Help!! I have to go to Disney with a hernia!

[FutureMrs.Incredible]

While I was pregnant with my (giant!) son, I developed an umbilical hernia and diastasis recti. It never bothered me until a couple of months ago. If I am doing a lot of bending and lifting, the hernia will get irritated and extremely painful.

I finally met with a surgeon the week before last, who will be doing a robotic arthroscopic surgery. However, he didn't want to do it before our trip, because I would still be healing.

We leave on April 7th. I am very nervous that it is going to be irritated, which will interrupt our plans. Now my husband will be doing all of the lifting of the kid to prevent a flare-up. At the moment, my treatment strategy is to take two Tylenol and lay back for half an hour. I can always have my husband sit me on a bench or the ground with a Mickey pretzel and come back for me after him and my son go on a ride, but that is not ideal.

Has anyone used one of those hernia belts? Was it helpful? Any other tips or tricks for going to Disney with a hernia?

 

[EilonwyWanderer]

I have one of those but it has (thankfully) never bothered me (11 years and counting!). I would say if you are at all nervous about it, getting one of those belts is probably a good idea. If it works, great! If it doesn't work, oh well you tried and that Mickey pretzel idea sounds good!

 

[FutureMrs.Incredible]

I have one of those but it has (thankfully) never bothered me (11 years and counting!). I would say if you are at all nervous about it, getting one of those belts is probably a good idea. If it works, great! If it doesn't work, oh well you tried and that Mickey pretzel idea sounds good!

Thank you for the reassurance. And I love Eilonwy!

 

[HeiHei2018]

You may want to find out if you could lie down at first aid. Finding a whole bench or even open pavement to lay on can sometimes be challenging. Tom Sawyers Island probably offers some good spots.

I’ve never had a hernia, but I have definitely powered through Disney on injuries. You can do it because adrenaline. Schedule yourself an extra day off work when you return if you can.

 

[FutureMrs.Incredible]

You may want to find out if you could lie down at first aid. Finding a whole bench or even open pavement to lay on can sometimes be challenging. Tom Sawyers Island probably offers some good spots.

I’ve never had a hernia, but I have definitely powered through Disney on injuries. You can do it because adrenaline. Schedule yourself an extra day off work when you return if you can.

Lying down at first aid is a good idea! We luckily return on late Friday night, so I can chill and recover all weekend.

 

[elvispursley]

Had the same thing with my “giant” preemie of a son as well. I used an abdominal support at the time. Agree with using first aid for rest breaks or taking an afternoon break at the hotel. Glad you’re getting it fixed—I never did anything about mine and now have horrible low back pain from it nearly 20-years later.

 

[FutureMrs.Incredible]

Had the same thing with my “giant” preemie of a son as well. I used an abdominal support at the time. Agree with using first aid for rest breaks or taking an afternoon break at the hotel. Glad you’re getting it fixed—I never did anything about mine and now have horrible low back pain from it nearly 20-years later.

I am definitely going to be buying a belt.

We will be taking afternoon breaks. I can lay down then, and I think a gentle swim to stretch out my back might help too.. The 3yo needs a break anyway.

I'm so sorry about your back pain!! I'm really lucky that my insurance is covering robotic surgery and dissolvable mesh, which will be minimally invasive. My hairstylist had to be cut open to have it done and had the worst experience ever! I'm looking forward to having it be all done and over!

 

[EilonwyWanderer]

I am definitely going to be buying a belt.

We will be taking afternoon breaks. I can lay down then, and I think a gentle swim to stretch out my back might help too.. The 3yo needs a break anyway.

I'm so sorry about your back pain!! I'm really lucky that my insurance is covering robotic surgery and dissolvable mesh, which will be minimally invasive. My hairstylist had to be cut open to have it done and had the worst experience ever! I'm looking forward to having it be all done and over!

I was told to just leave mine alone until it bothered me and then they'd fix it...but it's never bothered me, though I'm always very aware of it, if that makes sense. Part of me wonders if I should just schedule to get it fixed, but I'm always like maybe I should drop 30 pounds first...and then I don't so...good for you for planning to take care of it!

 

[FutureMrs.Incredible]

I was told to just leave mine alone until it bothered me and then they'd fix it...but it's never bothered me, though I'm always very aware of it, if that makes sense. Part of me wonders if I should just schedule to get it fixed, but I'm always like maybe I should drop 30 pounds first...and then I don't so...good for you for planning to take care of it!

Well, I cannot live like this. It is unbelievably painful when it flares up. Sometimes they say that you should lose weight before you get it done, but I am certainly no longer skinny after becoming a mom!! The surgeon is using a dissolvable mesh, so if I ever get around to losing the mom weight, it will not stick out. You could ask your doctor about that!