Visiting Dr Kang next month, any tips?

[Jungin]

Hi, my name is Jungin Kim.

I’m sorry that Stephen has retired. I am a nurse here, and a new English speaking contact of this hospital.

If you have any questions regarding Kang surgery, I would be glad to help you.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me.

My email adress is as follows ;

dolkongkji@gibbeum.com

[Alan]

1 year update (a little late, completely forgot I even had surgery!), no issues at all – no sign of any discomfort or pain, no numbness etc.

[Max L]

Hi Alan. Just read your one year update and glad to hear you are doing great. I am also planning to fly to Korea in April of 2024 for surgery with Dr. Kang. Just recently received an email informing me that Stephen Kwon has retired, which increases my anxiety level a bit higher, since I’ve read that Stephen has been very helpful to non Korean speaking foreign patients. May I ask if you were suffering from pain prior to your Kang surgery? Also, what type of sutures did Dr. Kang use for you (absorbable or non absorbable)? Hope you continue to do well Alan. Regards, Max.

[Alan]

That is a shame – he was excellent, have they mentioned a new English speaking contact for you?

I opted for permanent Proline on Dr Kangs recommendations after discussing with him, I was dead against anything permanent but he changed my mind.

[Max L]

Alan, thank you for your response. Stephen said he would forward my information/request to Dr. Kang’s office, but I have yet to hear anything back. I plan to follow up with that this week. Appreciate your updates, as they are very encouraging to all those who may see Dr. Kang. Hope you continue to do well.

[Alan]

Some people do not need any repairs after the mesh removal. If required then a meshless repair can be done after removal.

He uses both, depending on patient preference.

[roger555]

Did Dr Kang use absorbable or non-absorbable sutures? As far as I know he uses non-absorbable in some cases.

• This reply was modified 2 years ago by  roger555.

[sensei_305]

I wonder if hernia mesh is removed laparoscopically, and tissue repair is to be done, will the tissue repair be done laparoscopically or do you have to have an open surgery during same time?

[William Bryant]

Thanks for update Alan. Hope pain continues to ease

[Alan]

That’s interesting about the ice, the nurses gave me two packs, one for each side and then a pair under each arm (my temp shot up on the first night). I found it did help with the pain but obviously only while applied.

I was stuck in the middle seat on the plane and didn’t want to disturb the chap sleeping in the isle seat 😂, will be changing to an isle seat for the return so I can move about (I’m 6’3″ so not much room to stretch)

I had my 1 week checkup with Dr Kang today which involved an ultrasound and chat. Everything looks good he said. Interestingly he said I had a small double indirect hernia forming on the right side which he fixed during surgery. He also said the right side has minimal chance of an indirect hernia so I’m hoping I won’t have to come back again for future repairs.

Pain is significantly better today, I’m a bit gutted I haven’t been able to tour Korea but as long as the repair is good and I can make it home I’m happy.

I asked Dr Kang about mesh removal and repair just now, he said he just completed one this morning, laparoscopic is not easy as he will have to remove the mesh via open surgery (Maybe best seeing a laparoscopic specialist?) but open mesh is not a problem.

• This reply was modified 2 years ago by  Alan.

[William Bryant]

Dr Kang does remove mesh, Chuck will know a bit more about whether Dr Kang can remove mesh no matter how it was put in or not as I think Dr Kang replied to Chuck on here about it.

Google Dr Kang Gibbeum hospital. That should get the contact details you need.

[sensei_305]

Does Kang remove mesh as well? Where do I find his contact info?

[pinto]

Kang nixed use of ice! He was surprised that I thought ice would help healing. In fact I never needed ice but before that I had read stories on the internet about people using ice post-op. I got the idea ice would be needed. Also I thought I would need aspirin, etc. but never had to use it.

My understanding is direct IH is more painful than an indirect one. I had indirect but as I said I needed a crutch to go from my bed to the restroom in the hospital and anytime thereafter walking. My only pain was getting up from the bed. Walking wasn’t painful if I took measured steps.

I had no pain on the plane. By that time I didn’t need a crutch but avoided any strenuous movements. Driving home from the airport though was tough on me. But not after my 2nd operation (for recurrence). The two were very different about pain–the 2nd time around, no crutch needed and I was more confident moving around after the first week, incl. my drive home from the airport. (Note: for my 2nd one I am unsure I would have been able to leave the hospital unassisted. I purposely stayed there several days for security. The result was that my condition was immensely better, immensely, than at the same time period for my first op.)

Alan: (My ankles were like balloons after arriving!)
You may already know we need to flex our ankles and calves during the flight to forestall such swelling. Sometimes walking around is big help but don’t push it if you don’t feel fully confident. Get an aisle seat as close to the john as you can.

[Alan]

They gave me a load of ice packs shortly after surgery which helped a lot.

I’ll ask for a wheelchair at the airport, did you have any issues on the plane with pain? I might ask if I can have a isle seat so I can get up frequently. (My ankles were like balloons after arriving!)

Dr Kang said a direct hernia needs quite a lot more repair than indirect and would be more painful, especially bilateral. It’s very swollen but not red so he was happy to discharge me.

[pinto]

@Alan
“I guess I have a low pain threshold…”
Not true. I have a high pain–high–threshold but needed a crutch over there for my first operation. My only pain came from trying to raise myself out of bed and of course needed a crutch to walk. Don’t despair because by the end of the week you won’t need the crutch. Going home in the airport I used a chair because I wouldn’t be able to handle my baggage. I had rapid recovery after that. Good luck.

[William Bryant]

Hello Alan, appreciate the updates and I hope the pain subsides for you.

I seem to remember that some of Dr Kang’s other patients applied ice (like a pack of frozen peas) to area, that might help BUT check with Dr Kang first to see if it’s a good idea.

[Alan]

I just got back to the hotel, I had to stay over another night as I had bad pain when standing. Had to get a wheelchair to the lobby and borrowed some crutches to get from the taxi to the hotel room (Stephen managed to get some from another department).

I guess I have a low pain threshold as every other patient was fully mobile the day after and out by 10am. I’m in no pain lying down so worse case I’ll spend the rest of the time in bed. I’m going back for a checkup next Wednesday.

The surgery was easier than I thought, arms and waist strapped down, area shaved and iodine applied. Then a hello from Dr Kang before the sedative was injected, that’s the last thing I remember until waking up just as Dr Kang was finishing up, I didn’t feel a thing.

Food was good, it’s rice, soup and a mix of pickles/kimchi. I ate the first meal shortly after surgery but once the local wore off I was in a lot of pain so skipped the next meal.

Dr Kang and Stephen were amazing as well as the nurses.

[Mike M]

Alan I am glad to to hear your operation was uneventful. Heres to you feeling better soon and a perfect follow up!

[William Bryant]

Thanks Alan, get some rest and I hope recovery is straightforward.

It’s good to have feed back from another Dr Kang patient. Appreciate it.

[Alan]

Yes, I was asleep minutes after they injected my IV so didn’t see/feel a thing, woke up towards the end as he was finishing up. Pain is not great at the moment, trying to sleep through it (Will be staying overnight as it as a double hernia).

Dr Kang came round to check up, he said no issues at all during surgery.

I’ve got Acupan 0.9% on an auto doser.

They keep bringing me loads of Korean food which I’d love to eat but feeling sick. I felt dizzy earlier, they checked my blood pressure and said it was low so stuck another saline bag on.

[William Bryant]

Was it local anaesthetic you had Alan?

[Alan]

Just out of surgery, slept through most of it. The staff are amazing here, very friendly and a few speak English.

[William Bryant]

Good luck Alan