[ajm222]

That makes sense. Though I am always amazed at how many surgeries my surgeon does her in the US in a given day as it is, factoring in how involved and intense the whole process is. That said, he’s doing maybe 5 at most and not 10.

[ajm222]

I believe Dr. Felix said his initial tissue repairs lasted him 20-25 years. He got them when he was younger and likely a good weight. I am sure a lot goes into how long they last. Weight, age, activity level, overall tissue health, quality and type of repair. I know my grandfather got a tissue repair in the late 70’s or early 80’s when he was in his mid to late 50’s possibly. As far as I know it lasted him the remainder of his days (lived to 91) but can’t say for sure as we never talked about it. If he had a recurrence in his very old age he probably wasn’t bothered by it and didn’t mention it.

[ajm222]

I believe Dr. Kang’s ultimate hope for all this hard work is that like Shouldice, Desarda, etc, his method will eventually be widely accepted and practiced the world over. I believe he’s continuing to do studies and publish so that he has the evidence to present to a much broader audience proof that his technique works and should be done by others, who will come to him to learn. Obviously it’s not likely to make much of a headway into the whole mesh dominated world of hernia repair. But if it’s indeed as great as everyone says, eventually it will take hold with more surgeons in other countries. And I am sure he’s training his son to do it as well in the meantime.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by  ajm222.

[ajm222]

yeah, most very small inguinal hernias don’t contain any intestine and just a little bit of fat, which then even recedes when sitting or lying down or being inactive. when my hernia was repaired recently there was in fact nothing in the hernia sac at all while lying on the operating table.

also, your symptoms very much sound like classic IBS (which of course is a diagnosis of exclusion and doesn’t really tell you that something specific is wrong except that the brain/gut connection is sort of messed up). i had a lot of those symptoms, sometimes extreme, for several years. had a lot of tests. they found nothing and just said it was IBS. just getting that diagnosis helped me a lot and eventually most all of the symptoms went away.

[ajm222]

That makes me feel a little better. Mine isn’t painful really. Just obviously hinders movement. And after everything I’ve been through, I’m super sensitive to even the slightest sensation. So moving around with this lump pulling on things and pushing against things is just disconcerting. I think it does also cause a little discomfort or soreness because of the pressure, but not much.

Hope you’re next surgery goes smoothly! I am also hoping this is my last surgery for a long time. But at this point I’m not placing any bets.

[ajm222]

And for anyone with a seroma or lots of swelling, was it really uncomfortable for you walking around until it started getting smaller? Having a large and firm lump in your groin is not the most comfortable thing I’m finding, even in the absence of pain (though today, after a nice night of almost zero discomfort while lying down, I have quite a bit more soreness today in that area – always seems to be how it works – two steps forward and one step back).

[ajm222]

I have the operative report but don’t have any way of knowing what technique was used because I don’t under all the details. He didn’t mention a specific branded repair. In fact prior to surgery he kind of suggested that these repairs all have some similarities and not to get too caught up in the branding and that he would do what was necessary to fix once he saw the situation and condition of the tissue. I’m sure whatever he did was most similar to one of the major types of repairs but I just don’t know which. I will likely ask him when I go for my follow up in a month.

[ajm222]

Thanks again. Seems others had a similar experience and saw relief after several weeks. It’s hard to imagine walking around with this thing for another month or two but if the long term picture is good, I’ll survive. Shouldice and other experts seem to suggest that just waiting for the body to reabsorb them is best as draining them is risking infection.

My biggest worry is that it might somehow compromise the repair, but it doesn’t seem like that typically happens for whatever reason. Maybe it even puts some useful pressure on the stitches, keeping them secure. Ha, probably not.

I’ve been regularly using a heating pad per doctor’s instructions and keeping up with the pain meds for their anti-inflammatory impact. I also probably need to start moving around more. The pressure at night sometimes makes things uncomfortable and difficult to sleep, but otherwise it’s mostly just an annoyance.

[ajm222]

What’s weird though is that ‘edema’ is also normal and common and seems almost the same, but treatment is opposite. Seroma – rest and heat. Edema – cold and activity. What’s a patient supposed to do with that, especially when there’s no real obvious way initially to tell which is which?

[ajm222]

I think that’s true. Mine was general.

[ajm222]

Thanks! That’s very helpful. I can’t believe it was that large and that you lived with that for a while. That’s crazy. So did it eventually totally go away in the sense that you couldn’t outwardly tell you’d had that large of a seroma/hematoma? Was the skin loose? All fine now?

I did come across another post here from someone with a Shouldice repair that developed a large seroma and it took a little over a month and they were very concerned (not surprising as it looks and sometimes feels like another hernia) but it went away and they totally healed. I’m only about 3 1/2 days out but obviously I catastrophize and overthink stuff. And I’ve had nothing but time to sit around and worry for several days. I also think the anesthesia gives me extra anxiety and depression for a while, and recovering from surgery in and of itself is stressful.

Thanks again for the feedback.

[ajm222]

Thank you so much for the great detail, Peter. I had no idea there was even such a thing as a non porous mesh. Interesting. And so sorry to hear about your car.

[ajm222]

I would also love to hear about how big the lump was after surgery. Mine is about the size of the hernia itself at the moment, a little less than 24 hours after surgery. I know swelling is normal, but how much?

[ajm222]

Also, I do think there is a real benefit in getting things repaired sooner rather than later while they are still on the smaller side. More healthy tissue for surgeon to work with. Dr Kang has suggested the same on here.

[ajm222]

I believe I read on here (from him) that he’s done some of it. I will have to try and find his posts. Obviously, we just learned about the book he published. Perhaps it’s only handed out at the hospital. But I do think he’s been meticulously keeping records, possibly for the purposes of soon publishing some sort of paper on his success.

[ajm222]

I have a cold pack I’m using but haven’t been using it enough. Started later today using it more. They said 20 off, 20 on as needed. But I haven’t been using it but once every hour or two. Need to do it more.

[ajm222]

Thanks. Taking something every 4 hours basically. Alternating between the two.

[ajm222]

That’s really interesting, thanks. I’ve had very little discomfort but lots of swelling. I sent pic to nurse and she’s sharing with surgeon to see if he thinks it’s fine.

[ajm222]

Hopefully in your case it may just mean a longer recovery, but ultimately the same positive outcome. I’d have to think they’re the experts, and so particular about patient selection, that they wouldn’t have taken you as a patient if they didn’t think you’d come out of this anything but 100%. Even in uncomplicated cases, some patients take months and months to fully feel back to normal. As long as there is slow and steady improvement.

[ajm222]

Oh, and there was no lipoma lol.