6 hernia surgeries…. 6 months post op..new pain

This topic has 4 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 1 month ago by mamadunlop.

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- 06/11/2017 at 3:16 am #11014
  
  mamadunlop
  Participant
  
  This past December I had my 6th surgery. An abdominal wall reconstruction to remove all my mesh, repair a new hernia and reconstruct my abdomen since my muscles had detached and I was a mess. I was in the hospital from 5 days and was recovering for at least 6 weeks. I have been feeling much better than before surgery, but now 6 months later I have a new lump, new pain, exactly like all my other hernias. Is this really going to be happening Again? Can my abdomen handle another hernia surgery and will I ever have more than a year go by without a new One? I honestly want to know if it can ever stop? I want to hear from others that have had more than 4 surgeries. I had a new surgeon I trust for the last two. He is highly respected, he is not the issue. I am a fun loving 43 year old kid at heart that is not ready to feel as old as my body feels!!
- 06/11/2017 at 4:57 am #14788
  
  drtowfigh
  Keymaster
  
  Sorry to hear that. Was new mesh placed this last time?
- 06/11/2017 at 4:43 pm #14794
  
  mamadunlop
  Participant
  
  No, I now have a biological patch…. basically from hip to hip and groin to belly button…. one big pig skin. It was a very difficult repair, and my left side is always what has given me trouble, though I have had them on my right as well. The new one is in the same spot on my left that has given me a lot of trouble, it is pretty far over to the side, so it is hard to repair. I guess I am just frustrated more than anything….. I am overweight, and know that I need to lose weight (5’3″ 220 pounds) but not being able to exercise really puts a damper on that…and honestly, when you are in and out of recovery or in pain, it is very hard mentally to get on top of that. I soooo want to. But I also know that is not a magic fix either. I am sure genetically there must be a reason. This all started with a hysterectomy 8 years ago that gave me my first incisional hernia. I feel like I am made of swiss cheese 🙂
- 07/04/2017 at 10:17 pm #14827
  
  drtowfigh
  Keymaster
  
  Sounds like a hernia recurrence, which is expected if pure biologic tissue is used, especially for flank hernias.
  
  I would recommend against any further operation until you have lost a significant amount of weight. A physician-supervised diet would be my first recommendation. You may even want to consider surgical weight loss.
- 08/11/2017 at 6:22 am #14906
  
  mamadunlop
  Participant
  
  yep, just commented on my other post, but that is precisely what we are going to do. Gastric sleeve to get the weight down, and then will do a big repair of the new hernias next year….. until then I will deal with the pain….I am ok with this as I will do anything to get the chance of reoccurance down!
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