What is Polycystic Kidney Disease PKD
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a progressive, genetic disorder of the kidneys. It occurs in humans and other organisms. PKD is characterised by the presence of multiple cysts (...
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umbilical hernia?
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About a year and a half ago my bellybutton "popped out" which, coupled with my distended abdomen, makes me look pregnant. At my last neph appointment my doctor said I have an unbilical hernia. He didn't sound too concerned or suggest surgery etc. It was quite uncomfortable for a long time because the sensitive bellybutton area became fully exposed instead of protected. Over time, the sensitivity has lessened.
Today I googled "umbilical hernia" and learned it can cause digestive problems and other complications if left untreated. Since I will be having a nephrectomy I would assume it is better to treat it when I no longer have huge cystic kidneys in my belly. I read that umbilical hernias can be caused my abdominal trauma, multile pregnancies (have never been pg) and abdominal growths. Anybody else have one or know anything about it? Other than the cosmetic aspect (it shows through my clothes) and some sensitivity it doesn't really bother me. Posted on 11/07/09, 09:11 am |
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good morning from chily upstate NY! Hernia's, I know all about them, have had several of them in my life, one of the complications of PKD. The typical symptom of an umbilical hernia is when the belly button pops out. I had to have mine surgically repaired and low and behold, it came back again. Next time, the surgeon used mesh to repair it,it finally stayed put. I've also had several other hernia's repaired. It seems to go hand and hand with PKD. Having weak abdominal muscles might also be a culipriate. I've had 4 pregnancies, but at the time I had these hernia's I was probably in the best shape of my life, go figure, just another thing to shake our heads at with PKD. Good luck with your nephrectomy and ask a surgeon about your hernia.
Lot of hugs, Norma... 
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Alinds,
PKD predisposes us to all sorts of hernias, often completely unrelated to the size of our cystic organs. It has something to do with how the connective tissue to held together (or rather how it's not held together properly) due to the influence of the PKD gene. I had an inguinal (groin) hernia develop when I was 27 just because...I hadn't lifted anything, was by no means overweight, had normal sized kidneys...it just developed and since it didn't bother me at all it took me 3 years to have it repaired. Talk with your surgeon(s) about repairing the hernia while they perform the nephrectomy. There is a chance the hernia will repair itself (turn back inside) on it's own once the pressure from the kidney is relieved, but if not, the repair should be relatively straightforward and can be done laparascopically. I can understand why your doctor isn't overly concerned. You intestines are probably already displaces by your kidneys. The enlarged kidneys tend to press up through the middle of the abdomen and press the colon and intestines out to the sides. The next time someone listens to your abdomen for bowel sounds, have them listen in the normal location, then have them move their stethescope to your side (literally the side) and find out if they can hear the sounds louder on your side than on the top. You may be surprised at what they hear. With large cystic organs, everything just isn't quite where the medical community expects them to be and while even though they can hear the right sounds in the right location, they're a bit muffled...shift the stethescope a bit and voila--nice and loud bowel noises come rumbling through. On the umbilical hernia, I've heard that some people tape a nickel to their hernia to make it flat against their abdomen. This seems a bit extreme to me but if it works for a dressy occasion.... Best wishes, Ruth
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