Inguinal hernia got big quickly

[seeker]

Inguinal hernia got big quickly

I’m forgetting I’ve asked you this question. My apology.

[seeker]

Inguinal hernia got big quickly

WasInTn,

What kind of mesh did you have for your repair?

[seeker]

Inguinal hernia got big quickly

No more questions….for now.

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Really good to know you are still doing well.

Sue

[WasInTN]

Inguinal hernia got big quickly

See here about NPHI mesh.

http://hernia.tripod.com/meshsyst2.html. Entire FAQ is at http://www.nphernia.com/faqs2.html

They also have FAQ and all details of how mesh is held in place and what is tension free technique. During 2009 or 2008 my PCP during the yearly physical told me that I had hernia and needed to be careful – kind of watch and wait. I ignored and went as usual. But by 2014 there was a small bump and it started growing bigger. More than bump part, I was in pain during bowel movement or during walk/run and eating. Particular worse pains came when I ate in buffet dinners (too much loading) and when I ate cheesy stuff that caused indigestion. I had to be very very careful while lifting stuff even if that was a gallon milk can.

Then I learned from NPHI discussion board ( http://www.network54.com/Forum/557220/ ) that hernia can be hereditary. My father had it and died with it without ever going to surgery. My brother had it for over 20 years and never went to surgery. He was suffering bad. He went to surgery after I had mine and lamented that he should have gone 20 years before to not lose the quality years of his life. He had surgery both sides and is very happy now.

Any case after seeing all these details and choosing non-mesh repair with Dr. Tomas of Florida I decided that since this is hereditary non-mesh is not suitable to me. Since if I use non-mesh, due to weaker genes I can get a recurrence. That made me chose Dr. Goodyear of NPHI. I cancelled Dr. Tomas appointment and sent my papers to NPHI and asked for a phone interview and Dr. G called me to answer all my questions. He was very easy to talk to and very friendly.

On July 30th I went to PA, met Dr. G on July 31st 9 AM and he examined me for 15 minutes, answered all my questions (I wrote them on paper) and made me feel at ease. I was rolled in to surgery at 10:30 (All these were set up on phone first before going to PA). While Dr. G was talking to me about surgery they added some anesthesia via nasal cannula (sp?). Next thing I know was my family pushing me to wake up in post surgery area. I walked out after 1 hour observation. That was it. I slept like a baby.

Two years after surgery, no pain, nothing. Everything is good. My main worries before were two things. 1) Due to surgery what if I had some block of Urinary tract? I read on Google that some people can have this and they insert a tube through penis to pull urine out. Cannot even imagine the pain and suffering. 2) What if the mesh reacts and causes clot that can travel to lungs or brain?

Dr. G answers were these 1) why would you worry about urinary tract if you never had any such problems? This surgery would not even touch anything with urinary tract. This answer did *not* put me at ease but after surgery when they rolled me out they gave me cookies and soda. Within 5 minutes I asked nurse to walk me to bathroom. It was ONLY THEN I recognized that I asked the question to Dr G and smiled to myself. There was free flow and never any obstruction. 2) the mesh is outside the blood stream and will not cause any regular blood contact to cause clots. So the question is irrelevant.

Other minor worry was – would the mesh be rejected due to reaction from body? yes it is possible in a very small percent of people who are allergic to surgical gloves, plastic blah blah. I have never had any allergies in my life. So why bother?

What made me to choose surgery? – I was in pain and decided that either I die on surgery table or get this cured. I was not interested to live with pain on a daily basis and let not the pain control my life. During one of those indigestion episodes (after eating cheesy pizza, and mind you I never ever have indigestion since I am vegetarian and eat good fiber stuff), I had to hold my hernia before any bowel movement happened. That made me decide I go for surgery as well.

Oh BTW I went to a local surgeon with all these same questions and the guy answered OK but I was not convinced to put my man parts in his hands. May be he is good but when I asked him the mesh name, he cannot recall and was scratching his head. Another surgeon who did surgery to my colleague did not do good job and the colleague said not to go to him. All roads then pointed to PA and NPHI. I am happy I went to Dr. G

Any more questions?

[seeker]

Inguinal hernia got big quickly

Hi WasInTN

I was wondering – as you seem happy with your repair – what kind of mesh your doctor used. I’m also understanding that you consider the doctor doing the repair as important in your success. Any positive encouragement that you could offer – I would be grateful for. Please explain to me why you chose to use mesh in the end.

I am suppose to go for my femoral hernia repair on Thursday with a hernia specialist using Progrip mesh laparoscopically and even though I’ve been assured by two top doctors that this should be the safe and wise choice – I am experiencing extreme anxiety over the surgery. I am half thinking to go the suture route even though the chances are low for lasting as long.

I am sending an identical posting to BeenThere to get his opinion too.

Thank you for your response. You posts have been reassuring in the past.

[mela414]

Inguinal hernia got big quickly

Thanks seeker. I had my pre admission testing today so am set for Thursday morning. I had an appointment with my GYN also and kept him up to speed on the surgery for Thursday. He was at a lecture this weekend so I didn’t get a chance to fill him in. He is going to pop in at the end of my surgery to take a peek in my abdomen with the surgeon after he does the hernia repair. I am going to have him check me for adhesions as I have a terrible history of them and also endometriosis which they don’t think has recurred. I just want to make sure from all ends. I have been dealing with this pelvic/abdominal pain for months and initially it was though it was muscle spasms and I was treated as such. I didn’t have the obvious bulge so diagnosis took longer. Things escalated quickly and the bulge is finally obvious. I think I am getting it on the left side too! Hopefully they will be able to check that once they get in. I really need to get this fixed and back to life as I have not been able to do much of anything because of the pain.
I hope you are able to do your pre ops and stay on schedule. Im glad that you do not have pain that holds you back. Walking 2-4 miles a day is impressive! I hope you can get this done and put it behind you. From your other posts you have mentioned it has gotten large quickly. Is it femoral? For some reason I think you said Inguinal in one of your posts.
You brought up a good point about the mesh. I am having one used for me. The odds seem to be for it. Fingers crossed.
Nervous but hoping to be rid of this pelvic pain.

[seeker]

Inguinal hernia got big quickly

Mel,

I have the same concerns that you have been expressing over getting the mesh to repair the hernia. I have to believe that there is a reason that they continue to use mesh in repairs for as long as they have because there is no better alternative and that it must be worth the risks to use it for a more reliable repair. It has been repeated many times throughout these posts that as long as you have an experienced hernia surgeon, your odds are much better at having a more successful outcome with the mesh implant.

It is hard to read about the pain you have been experiencing with your hernia. It is my hope that your surgery finally offers you complete relief and that you can lead a normal, pain free life once you recover from your surgery. Right now, except for little pains and aches reminding me that my hernia is there – I am doing very good. I can still walk 2-4 miles a day.

My surgery is scheduled for this Thursday – but because I had difficulty getting my preop tests done – I may have to wait a week.

Hope this finds you feeling better.

[mela414]

Inguinal hernia got big quickly

Seeker. I think we are both having the same surgeries on the same day. Mine is scheduled for this Thursday October 20th. I must say I am having a lot of pain and sometimes feel I won’t make it til then ughhh. How are you doing?
Are you doing it laporoscopically with a mesh? There’s so much mesh talk on here that it’s scaring me. I’m being cautious with eating because of pain with BMs and trying to keep things running smoothly and easily. Ive been taking colace but still find myself struggling and having to give up if I feel it’s going to cause more pain. Wishing you well.
Mel

[seeker]

Inguinal hernia got big quickly

Thank you wasintn for your reply. Sorry for the delay.

Just to let everyone know how things are going:

I saw my surgeon on Tuesday and he said that I have a femoral hernia that is best treated laparoscopically and with mesh. As I am certain I have one on right and left side, I am extremely anxious about getting so much mesh. I feel I do not have any recourse at this point and must trust the experience of the surgeon and so I am going through with it. Ironically, 4 years ago I went through extensive surgery to fix prolapses without mesh and the incisions from this invasive open surgery is what caused these incisional hernias. Now I must finally get the dreaded mesh.

I am thanking my blessings to have an experienced surgeon and that there is a corrective surgery for this condition. But it would be great to hear from anyone who has had surgery (especially femoral hernia) with mesh and who are doing well years after. And it would be great if any surgeons could offer their confidence in the outcomes of this type surgery in an experienced hernia surgeons hands. My surgery is scheduled for next Thursday.

Thank you for all who participate on this forum.

[WasInTN]

Inguinal hernia got big quickly

Seeker
I would want to make sure that you have no indigestion. No forcing while emptying bowels and while sitting on toilet seat. If required, drinks LOTS of liquids (not strong protein shakes) and to have a smooth bowel movement.

No heavy exercise, no lifting – no, not even the milk can. And if possible do this (slowly) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarvangasana and if you cannot, that is fine too. Have stress free life. Everything will be OK.

Yes Hernia can grow from one day to the next quickly depending on what you do. Do you have IH both sides or one side only? You also did not say you are male or female (Or I missed it).

One word for now R-E-L-A-X. Go easy with everything. BTW by eating less nobody died but by eating more definitely people got some diseases and died. So there is really no worry. 🙂