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parietex progrip removal, an exercise in futility?
This is a repost to my original discussion, I’m sorry I must have deleted my first 2 posts somehow instead of editing them…
I had bi-lateral inguinal + umbilical hernia surgery with 3 pieces of mesh(2 pieces of parietex progrip in groin & 1 piece of symbotex composite in umbilical) implanted in Feb 2015. It all began from me lifting things for my mother in Oct 2014 when I became over exerted feeling like things had sunk downward a bit in my stomache which followed with over a week of constipation. After an N.P. examined me saying I had no hernias she then suggested imaging at the hospital if things didn’t improve. After a ct scan at the ER showed only 1 very small umbilical defect containing fat, the ER doc came in saying “they only see one in there but I felt an inguinal hernia too, its there trust me” so I was sent to a surgeon. The first I went to said, “you don’t have any hernias, come back if something pops out”. So I went for a second opinion with that surgeon saying, “you have four hernias and I can fix them for you”. I said “but the first surgeon said I had no hernias” so he printed out 4 slides of my ct scan where he circled the 4 hernias to convince me of his diagnosis. So being frightened of them worsening or popping out into my scrotum I agreed to him fixing them but since my mother has a vasculitis autoimmune disease(I vehemently denied allowing an implant for fear of rejection), I said “only use mesh if its absolutely necessary to fix the hernias, otherwise sew them up or do nothing if they’re small enough” to which he nodded ok. Anyway I had the surgery which he did lap tapp with me saying after, “so you used 3 pieces of mesh, those hernias were bad huh? I mean it was necessary then huh?” to which he replied “well it would of been necessary in the next 3-5 yrs probably, it was a preventative procedure” I was kinda shocked, having been led to believe there were definitely 4 hernias that needed fixing prior to the surgery. Since the operation I have had all sorts of complications from allergic/autoimmune(bloating, swelling, inflammation, etc.) to groin/testicular pain(between 2-8 out of 10 at times) as well as vascular issues with my genitals turning purple at times of pain & activity. This prompted me to get other opinions with numerous surgeons since the surgery saying, “I don’t see why he did the surgery in the first place, you had no real hernias”. Hearing this made me wonder if removal would be easier or more possible if there’s no hernias being held in by the mesh currently. So finally I am here to ask what the optimal timeframe is to attempt to remove this parietex progrip & is it even possible without me losing a testicle? Because of the Polylactic acid microgrips that take 18 months to dissolve, is it better to attempt removal sooner to prevent more tissue in-growth or later once the microgrips have dissolved? I also believe I may have a solution or idea to dissolving them quicker or de-laminating it easier so to speak from all the vital structures in the pre-peritoneal space(triangle of doom: epigastric/iliac vessels, triangle of pain: sperm cord/ilioinguinal & other nerves) and wish to have a surgeon confirm or deny its feasibility…