Hello All;
I am hoping someone can help me or lead me to some good research. I have an umbilical hernia from my first pregnancy. My Dr. has repeatedly told me that it’s not very big. HOWEVER, she refuses to do anything about it unless I lose 70-80 pounds. I am also pre-diabetic. She says that type of surgery is very simple but becomes extremely risky when the patient is diabetic and extremely overweight. I am morbidly obese at 5’3” 271 pounds (starting weight).
I am now down to 224 after 2 months on keto combined with IF and EF. My hernia was HUGE, but now I am noticing that it is really really going down. Keto has been wonderful so I decided to couple it with IF/EF. I really need to lose weight a little faster but more importantly I need to get my insulin levels down. Currently, I do water fasts about 5-6 days per week with a day or two for keto refeeds. I was curious to see if this was affecting the hernia, so started doing some research about fasting and hernia’s. I found a couple of people claiming that their hernia’s were healed through fasting. This is AMAZING to me. I do not want to have hernia surgery. I have already been cut twice due to C-sections and I don’t want to be cut again. But this ugly belly poking out is just horrible so I need to do something. Has anyone experienced the scenario where the hernia just healed itself? Looking at my own body, it seems like the muscles around that area are tightening and the hernia is pulling in. Is this really possible or just my imagination? @richard, @carl, have you heard anything regarding this? I know autophagy is magical, but is it a miracle?
Can Fasting Heal Umbilical Hernia
I imagine that fasting can have an impact in a positive way, but I haven’t done much reading on the subject.
There are 3 mechanisms of fasting that come to mind, that might help in the repair of a hernia. I mention them here so that you might have other ideas in regards to investigation of the subject:
- Autophagy and Apoptosis - You’ve already mentioned this one, and this could help remove the scarring and any damaged cells.
- Human Growth Hormone - The increase in HGH has intriguing possibilities.
- Stem Cell Production - Supposedly, stem cell production goes up when you are fasting. I did a quick search and located this article in regards to stem cells and this issue specifically: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264745099_The_future_of_stem_cell_therapy_in_hernia_and_abdominal_wall_repair
There are probably other mechanisms that I’m not thinking of where fasting can help repair the hernia.
I have one myself, so the topic peaks my interest.
Great article. Thank you so much. If anyone posts anything additional or I learn more info, I will be sure to reach out to you.
I had an umbilical hernia for a couple of decades. It eventually got to the point where it was interfering with everyday life, and the insurance company agreed to let me have it repaired.
I can’t speak to whether fasting will heal your hernia, but I can well believe that as you lose weight, the hernia will improve. I was quite surprised to learn that the actual hole between the muscles was quite small, despite the size of the hernia bulge. The mass poking through the hole was all omentum, so it was painless, fortunately.
The operation was done at my heaviest weight, which was around 250 lbs. / 113 kg. I don’t remember whether the surgeon cut off the protruding tissue or merely stuffed it all back into my abdomen (probably the latter), but he was able to close up the hole, and I have had no trouble since. The big challenge, apparently, was dealing with the large pouch of skin, so I have a nine-inch (23 cm.) external scar. The internal scar is less than an inch (2.54 cm) long. I also lost my belly button in the process.
I am very glad to have the hernia dealt with. If I were you, I would certainly consult with a surgeon about what the repair would involve in your case; you don’t have to go through with the surgery, but you might find it helpful to know what such an operation would entail.
I am now down to 188 lb. / 85 kg, which has greatly eased my fears that the hernia might open up again. It would have been nice to lose this weight before the operation, but it is what it is. . . .
I honestly don’t know. Sorry. I expect that structural weakness can not be fixed without surgery … but how exciting it would be if it could.
I hadn’t thought about this before but I think my husband had a mild hernia (not diagnosed, but we both noticed it). Very small, only visible in certain light/situations.
I haven’t seen it for years now. He’s not keto, but he’s been LC for a while and fasts regularly (mostly IF, occasionally a 1 or 2 day fast).
My hernia doesn’t bother me, other than the physical appearance and my inability to sleep on my stomach. I have noticed a significant decrease since Keto and fasting. If it gets small enough, I may be able to live with it without surgery. I guess time will tell. In the meantime, I will keep EF/IF and document the changes. It may be worth seeing a doctor so he can document changes “officially”. I will keep you posted for those who are interested.
(I know this is a older thread being bumped, but I assume someone else may want to know this)
I found this forum doing a google search, reason for this is I have/had a inguinal hernia. Figure it started over 2 years ago. and this would be my second hernia, first was corrected with surgery. anyway, I bounce back and forth from keto to paleo diet. I am at 8 weeks here with keto and IF, out of nowhere the hernia is GONE. I can not find it. before it was easy to find, it stopped me from doing spider man planks and decline sit ups (painful & bulge).
but I can easily do these now with no problem and no bulging. So I can not explain this either. the fasting was 24 and sometimes 44 hours. also my keto diet is very clean. I also upped my potassium and sulfur intake. my BF is at 10.4%, 195 pounds.
One possible explanation might be that you had visceral fat causing something to be poked out the hole, and now that visceral has been taken care of by eating keto. Can’t say for sure, but it’s possible.
I doubt, however, that the separation between the muscles has closed up on its own, but perhaps if you reduce the pressure enough, who knows? I’d love to know what an MRI showed.
I have maintained 9 to 12% body fat for about 3 years. So the body fat is pretty low. But thank you on the reply. A very possible theory either way.
Hi @Goal179, Thanks for starting this thread. I am in a similar situation, got about 25 pounds to reach my goal weight. I am 5’2" and managed to loose 25 pounds with keto within 3 months period, just before the pandemic started. Recently developed a hernia in my abdomen.
Would like to check with you and others whether Keto and fasting helped with Hernia or did you end up getting a surgery?
How’s your hernia since you posted this. Thanks again for starting this thread and hoping to get some lights thrown in that direction!
Regards,
K
By the time I had my surgery, a large amount of omentum had pushed out through the hernia. I doubt that any amount of fat loss would have made a difference. Unfortunately, we’ll never know, because I didn’t start eating ketogenically until several months later.