Good intentions

In 2011 the method was probably very similar to what was done to me in 2014. A single procedure bilateral repair was probably laparoscopic TEP or TAPP. A large cavity is created between the peritoneum and the fascia and two large pieces of mesh are slipped in between. The top of the cavity would be below the navel but pretty close to it. So…[Read more]

Forever seems to be the answer. The research in to the absorbable/resorbable biologic materials is done in the hope that the FBR will destroy/replace the foreign biologic material and replace it with human tissue that is strong enough to function properly.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00423-011-0780-0

“Abstract
Mesh…[Read more]

I think that mesh is over-used. I think that for the common inguinal hernia a pure tissue repair should be used first. There is no way to undo the results of a mesh implantation, and problems with mesh are not uncommon.

The selling points used today by the surgeons that use mesh are that the results are “about” the same for mesh and pure…[Read more]

That’s a shame Jay. Hope you get through it indecent shape.

Can you share the details of the procedure that was attempted? A surgeon might have some ideas of what to expect.

@drbrown has done many open pure tissue repairs. There are a variety of open mesh repairs, involving different types and shapes of mesh, and different methods of…[Read more]

You should just read through the posts on the forum. There is nothing new today that wasn’t the same ten years ago. Your odds of having problems are the same. It will be tempting to think that the stories from many years ago are the past, and that “there’s no way they would not have solved these problems by now”. But that is not the case.…[Read more]

Wow, that is a scary story. What happened? Was it supposed to be a routine hernia repair? Was the orchiectomy part of the plan or the result of an error?

Normally, the function of the penis should not be affected by a hernia repair. The don’t get near any of the critical parts for erection. Your pain medication might be causing problems. If…[Read more]

Thanks for posting Colin. Parents with children would get great value out of your experience with the Shouldice repair. 20 years, and passage through puberty to adulthood, with no problems is a success. Even many of the mesh proponents in the community of surgeons recommend against mesh for adolescents, but there are probably thousands of kids…[Read more]

Any surgeon who tries to justify the use of mesh based on equivalent chronic pain rates needs to also consider the damage done in relieving the patient of the chronic pain. The damage from mesh removal as compared to whatever methods are used to cure non-mesh repair chronic pain.

Which hernia repair method gives the patient the best odds of a…[Read more]

Here is the abstract of the paper that seems to be the foundation for Dr. Orenstein’s conclusions. Dr. Orenstein is, apparently, a research scientist. This is a very shaky foundation for any conclusions. A single paper put together from databases which do not accurately define or quantify chronic pain.

The work in the paper seems to have…[Read more]

I was trying to make you aware of the potential problems with any mesh at all. I am saying “avoid mesh if you can”.

If you do choose a mesh repair, make sure that you know the details of the material and the method. It is more complex than just “open” or “robotic”. There is a very wide variety of mesh products that can be implanted, and…[Read more]

The internal conflict, possibly even fear, for Dr. Jacob must be incredible. Here is a video showing a TAPP removal of mesh by Dr. Jacob. The video ends at about 4:30 but the audio continues. There is no follow-up information about how the patient did in the long run. This might partially explain the watchful waiting.

I feel like I am…[Read more]

This would or will be a fascinating story, from a psychological perspective. Dr. Jacob is aware of the damage that mesh can do and the pain that it can cause, as a surgeon who removes mesh. He must also be aware of the general recommendation that watchful waiting is a waste of time, and could be life-threatening due to incarceration. He seems…[Read more]

Take your time and do lots of research. You’re worried about money but if you get a bad result money will be meaningless.

You should just spend time reading the posts on this web forum. Nothing has changed at all over the years since the first post on the site. The materials and methods are the same. There is no special method, or level of skill, that changes the way your body will react to mesh. People that are very physically active seem more susceptible to…[Read more]