Hernia - Questions

I have mesh and the surgeon said my first hernia was quite large.

Maybe that's why it recurred.

 

Latest update: Met with a 2nd surgeon yesterday and he confirmed the same as the 1st did (100% no doubt hernia on left and strong possibility of one on the right)
He reviewed the numerous options, (Open, laparoscopic, Combo or straight robotic) He Recommended the robotic along with mesh that is applied between the layers.
Next step is for their office to review surgery dates with me and set it up.
Just curios if anyone has named their hernias? We named my left hernia "Humphry and the right one "Henry".
Some days Humphry wants to be outside most of the day and some days he is comfortable inside (not bothering me)
Henry is a recluse and I have not seen him at all. I don't even know he's there.

 

Haven't been online for a few days. First surgery was open not lapro, the second was also open. The after effects of the transection are minor, just some permanent numbness. Living with the entrapment and getting a surgeon to fix it was the hard part.

 

I've had repairs on both sides without issue. Well almost without issue. After the last one I felt great the next day and went back to work shaping a rifle stock with a wood rasp. Standing, feet spread working that rasp back and forth wearing sweat pants. Later that day my balls looked and felt like those steel testicles you see hanging off the back of good old boy trucks.

We did have a humourous moment while prepping for surgery. I had already had my silly pill an hour before so when the nurse came in to explain the procedure and recovery she said I could expect possible swelling of my "Ball Sack". I lost it laughing and so did my wife.

 

I had a right side inguinal and umbilical hernias repaired at the same time around 2007. Both repaired open with mesh on the inguinal. I re-ruptured the right-side inguinal hernia late last year and put off surgery for a little while. I’m going in this Wednesday to have it repaired again, but this time they’re doing it laparoscopically. Hope recovery isn’t as bad as the first go-around. All caused by weight lifting.

 

Does the numbness bother you? Does it feel like pins and needles or no feeling at all?

 

I too had an inguinal hernia from losing a lot of weight. Didn't know that could happen but apparently it can. I had it done about 7-8 years ago by robotic-ally and haven't had any issues. As far as recovery and pain I'm not sure because I had it done the same day as a breast reduction and tummy tuck from all the extra skin of losing weight. That recovery sucked so I'm not sure if there was any real recovery issues from the hernia.

 

not really a bother at all.

 

I had a larpo appendectomy in March, 3 holes in my belly.
In the last couple of weeks, I've begun to feel like I'm getting a hernia at one of those incisions.
I can feel a little something, not sure if it's a hernia or scar tissue.
I'm going to my regular doctor on Friday to see what she says.

I'm scheduled for a shoulder replacement in January.
I'd guess if I have to get a hernia operation soon, it is going to set back my shoulder surgery.
Something about healing and the risk of infection for the shoulder replacement.

I was off 6 weeks after the appendectomy, I took it easy those 6 weeks.
Not sure what I did to have the sensation I'm feeling now..

My last CT scan, before the appendectomy, showed gallstones and some pretty big (5mm) kidney stones.
I've had kidney stone issues since the 1990s.
They said there is no reason to do anything as long as they don't move.

 

I had a hernia repair in 2006. Fat had migrated into my scrotum....and I thought I was getting slimmer! LOL

Seriously that is what I thought. Got a bad virus, went to ER, they did an ultrasound, misdiagnosed that to be intestines in there.

Doc did the surgery, "all fat in there" he said. I was pretty sore, took a week off from work (teaching college chemistry at the time).

I was pretty sore, properly showering was hard. I asked my dad to install a shower squirter (wand?) so I could wash my backside.*

I developed this tingle.....not much....just enough to keep me awake. Right where my right leg attaches to my hip.

I DIDN'T SLEEP FOR FIVE DAYS.

I began to realize I was losing my marbles. I didn't do anything rash but I found I would alternatively sob then yell.

I had to do something so back to the doc. He said "most hernias are the size of a finger----yours was the size of an upper forearm! I used two mesh pieces for you. I had to cut through a lot of nerves to repair all of that---that tingle may never go away."

That was a hard thing to hear.

He prescribed a bottle of Percocet. I took one pill and was just as buzzed as if I had had a double on an empty stomach!

I only had the one pill. That night I slept fine...the tingle was gone.

I saved the bottle but I think a GF stole it! I only ever had the one pill.

I made a full recovery. Meshes are holding out but sometimes I get a "pinch" if I do too many pushups.

I've since dead lifted some big weights doing odd jobs for people. No problems.

I'd had that hernia since 1995! I had been to a doctor before, had ultrasounds, they didn't see it. Some mornings I'd wake up to great pain that would go away once I walked around a bit. Heck, I took that thing to India and back with me! Took it skydiving, swimming, lots of Soloflex use with it......

 

The Scheduler call me on Friday and I booked the surgery for Dec. 17th and a post op follow up for Jan 2nd.
I decided to go with the 2nd surgeon since he has more experience and a co-worker had 3 hernias repaired by him with good results.
I could have had the surgery on Nov. 26, but I thought it was too close to Turkey Day and I currently have a cold I want to make sure is gone before the surgery.

 

I had it done probably 10 years ago using the mesh, via laparoscopy. There were 3 incisions, one by the belly button to inflate you, and then one on each side. There was my primary surgeon and an assistant surgeon working from each side. Had it done on a Friday and went to work Monday, but I could sit all day, so other than jumping to conclusions, I could rest. Took about a week to fully recover, but there were lifting restrictions for about a month or so.

 

Had a CT scan done this week. All is well, no hernia! So glad. Must have had a diverticulitis flareup or something. Thankfully all is well. Don't like the idea of the knife.

 

FYI, When I had the Ultrasound and CT Scan they could not find anything 100% conclusive but saw some swelling. The 2 Surgeons were the first to say without a doubt I have at least one if not 2 hernias. To be honest, I was kind of relieved when they confirmed this as it was finally a diagnoses and then we could make a plan to get it corrected. Here lately, Humphrey has really been panful. The pain is relived when I put pressure on him, but it can make it difficult to even the simple things like standing and walking at times. While I am worried that there are chances of complications I am somewhat anxious to get the surgery over with and on the road to recovery.
If you continue to have pain or discomfort along with any noticeable swelling or bulge, I would recommend that you keep following up with the Dr. until a true diagnoses is given.

 

Well guys, yesterday I had my surgery and they found and repaired (via robotic) 2 inguinal hernias (One each side)
Surgery took about an hour and recovery took slightly longer.
According to my wife, the surgeon said everything went well with no complications and it was it was easy since I was so fit.

I came home last night but couldn't lay down due to the pain from the trapped gas that migrated to my shoulders last night.
That pain lasted about 4-5 hours and was relieved with some heat and moving around.
They gave me 3 Oxy but I do not plan on taking them unless the pain really is severe.
Tylenol and Motrin every 3 hours and so far, the pain is very manageable.
Everyone at the hospital was pleasant and overall no complaints.

Hoping for a good recovery with no side effects or complications down the road.
Follow up with the surgeon is Jan 2, so I am off work until then.

Oh yea, No signs of Humphry or Henry coming out of their house.

 

Glad it went smooth, wishing ya a complete and speedy recovery.

 

That's good news OP.

Hang onto whatever Oxy you don't use, don't let people tell you what to do with your property. You never know when you'll need that later.

When I had my hernia operation, showering got a lot harder. My dad came over and installed a shower wand so that I could direct water to the nether regions in an efficient manner. BEST THING EVER.

 

Thanks for the info. I already have a wand so I will make sure to use it.

 

Rest and get better. Glad everything went ok.

 

I love the wand so much, I've kept one in a small tool bag with a few plumbing tools and teflon tape. That goes into the motel shower so I can enjoy it while I'm there!

 

Went for my second hernia repair on January 2nd. I was originally supposed to do it December 5th but my daughter brought something home from preschool that turned into an ear infection for me, sinus infection for my wife and MIL and bronchial pneumonia for my FIL. Luckily, the kids didn't seem to fare too badly with it.

It was an open repair. The mesh was still intact so he didn't need to put more in.

Friday evening, I sneezed and felt like I tore something all the way out to my hip and also noticed something down in my scrotum that didn't belong there. Sat in the ER overnight then they did a blood test, urine test, CT scan and called the hospital where I'd had my surgery. Looks like I tore my internal stitches and I now have some "material" (I assume that means muscle tissue) down there but no bowel yet. Gist of it was that it was not serious enough and not soon enough after my surgery to justify cutting me open again. If I'd done this a day or two after the surgery, they might have put my under again and repaired it.

My follow up with my surgeon was already booked for February 7th and he's apparently on vacation until then so I'll discuss it with him at that time.

In parallel, I'm also going to see if my family doctor can refer me to a team of surgeons at our local university that deals with complex and recurring hernias for a second opinion.

 

Jeez, if your daughter would just bring home a puppy like a normal kid.

Hope you’re doing ok. Stop putting parts on your truck. Take it easy and heal, eat easy food so you don’t push to hard.

 

Good luck and hopefully you can get this corrected once and for all.
Keep us posted on how this turns out.

I am almost 1 month post surgery and as of now I my biggest issue is the itching from all the hair growing back where they shaved me.
Overall I am feeling very good and started back with cardio and staying under my 25lb weight restriction.
Hoping that no complications or side effects occur over time.

 

They told me not to lift more than 10 pounds for the first 6 weeks. I think the first time I had surgery, the next limit after that was either 20 or 30 pounds for the next 6 weeks.