I was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia several weeks ago, and the flare ups have been debilitating. I'm 62 and have a complicated history including a daily infusion of antibiotic through a PICC line to keep a hip replacement infection at bay. I'm also on Prednisone since my oncologist had to stop my immunotherapy because it caused pericardial effusion.
The doctors I consulted with today determined that the risk factor is too high for surgery. I also have a hiatal hernia which hasn't been as painful, but I'm unable to get a recommended colonoscopy because of it. It's complicated. The doctors also mentioned that it would be unlikely I'd get clearance for surgery from cardiology due to the effusion and atrial stenosis.
For now, I'm good for a few days, maybe a week or so, and then a flare up for which I can do nothing to relieve but lay down, ice up, and take acetaminophen. The pain during the flare up really prevents me from doing anything else and causes some nausea - in addition to the fear of the hernia becoming strangulated. I've already been to the Emergency Department once for the pain, the best they could do was push the hernia back in, which I've been told I can do on my own. Ouch.
Since surgery seems out of the question for now, how does one manage a hernia like this? I'll be getting new hernia truss but the one I'm using now doesn't seem to be making a difference in whether I have a flare up or not. What can I do to not activate a flare up?