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Chronic pain and recurring Hernias
Here is my latest update:
I saw Dr. Martindale and really liked him. He sent me for a CT scan which confirmed that I do have a new hernia on the right side, and that my mesh on the left side looks like it has adjusted a bit. He thought that it appeared to be attached slightly to my colon, but was hesitant to confirm that without being able to look at it. I have had some bowel issues and blood in my stool periodically over the last few weeks so he decided to send me in for a colonoscopy before I have surgery. I have a colonoscopy on Monday, and then will have surgery the following Tues, March 31st.
He is a bit more conservative than Rebecca Peterson in Seattle. He will do an open repair of my new right side hernia, hoping that for once, it is a typical normal repair 🙂 On the left side, he said I have two layers of mesh, one on the outside of the abdominal wall, and one inside. He is hoping that he can just remove/ repair the one on the outside as that will be much less invasive, but is prepared to go all in, if, when he gets in there, he sees that scar tissue and the lower mesh need to be removed. Depending on what the colonoscopy shows (if it shows any blockage related to the hernia mesh) He may change that plan.
I am happy to finally be getting surgery. I would love to feel like this will bring an end to things, but honestly, I will just have to see how the surgery goes.. I know being conservative and not opening me wide open and removing everything is the better route, but part of me was hoping he would just take it all out, and be able to sew me back up good as new…One can always hope!
I made a comment about being the 5% that get recurrent hernias and he laughed and said, nope…you get the joy of being the 1% who get all the complications…..at least I feel special! 🙂 I wish more surgeons let their patients know that all of this can happen. I had no idea 2 years ago that I would could be in this boat, having my 4th hernia surgery and experiencing life changing pain on a daily basis. So many times we are told the risks in a breezy “don’t worry about it” way…i was not prepared for this at all!