[Hiway40blues]

Thank you for this. When I was considering surgery after @3 years of living with the ‘bulge’, which rarely (almost never) gave me any pain, I was aware of the possibility of chronic pain, but the numbers were low so I wasn’t worried. Now, the only comment I would make on this study is that their totals are wrong: 16 % is too low, from all I’ve read and heard.
Also, it’s interesting that the cut-off time was one year. Let’s hope they aren’t assuming that the numbers will go down after a year-if so, they are being optimistic. I wish someone would do a similar study with dates of two, or three, or five years.

[Hiway40blues]

Thanks for all this information. For those of us (like me) whose main concern is the possibility of a recurrence, it’s reassuring that the mesh is extended beyond the actual site. On the other hand, of course, there is the thought that we have more mesh (maybe a lot more) inside than we realized. Something to think about.
Thanks again for sharing all this.

[Hiway40blues]

Thank you. I thought I had researched thoroughly before my surgery but I was unaware of all this. So two pieces of mesh are inserted in all mesh procedures? I am surprised-I was under the impression that a single piece of mesh was laid in, then the incision was sewn up. Thanks again.

[Hiway40blues]

Thank you again. Your reply is in reference to lap repairs- can we assume the same policy is used for open repairs?

[Hiway40blues]

Good Intentions: Thank you very much for this. six by six (!). Was your hernia unusually large? Mine seemed big to me, considering the bulge, but I don’t suppose it actually was (1/2-1 inch ?), I don’t know. Were you informed how large your I. H. actually was ? Thanks again.

[Hiway40blues]

I second Maxwaxer’s question-it would be great to have some good ground rules on this topic. I would especially like to know when is a reasonable post-surgery time to begin gentle exercises. One month, or two, or three?

[Hiway40blues]

Thank you everybody. I appreciate the input.

[Hiway40blues]

Thank you both for your response. I will post more later. I considered this type of repair for some time, and studied what both of you have said about it. The problem is: what alternative do most of us have? Mesh repair is not an ideal solution, but what is? I’m convinced that there aren’t any really good solutions to an inguinal hernia. They all have their drawbacks Thanks again..

[Hiway40blues]

I’ve been researching this myself. Haven’t found much. There are a couple of very brief pages about strengthening your core after IH surgery, so apparently people are prepared to help with it. My understanding is that once you have recuperated from surgery, yoga might be the safe way to start, then gradually ease into more strenuous exercises.

[Hiway40blues]

Thank you for that. My surgeon told me the same thing, but it was a while before I could ask him.

[Hiway40blues]

Dr. Brown: Thank you very much-that is very decent of you. I have confidence in my surgeon, but I wish I lived in your area. Regards.

[Hiway40blues]

Thank you. I appreciate all the information you share here. I’m in the pipeline for my repair- unwillingly.

[Hiway40blues]

Dr. Brown-Thank you. That’s what I wanted to know.

[Hiway40blues]

Thank you. I have the standard mesh repair, and it’s been @ 11 months-I was wondering if I can consider the repair complete, or if I should continue to be cautious.

[Hiway40blues]

After reading this, I’m wondering where does this leave us? If many surgeons would defer IH surgery themselves, for fear of complications, shouldn’t their patients do the same thing? I have had one IH repair (right side) done, and I’m pretty satisfied with it. Now I have to consider a left-side repair. I do not want to go through that again. On the other hand, I would like to get back to a normal life, without thinking about this subject every day. But surgeons (including mine) know more than we can about IH surgery-and the majority of them would wait (!) This information is upsetting-it makes it much harder for us to make a decision.

[Hiway40blues]

Thank you. I suspected that.

[Hiway40blues]

I should have added-Thank you all for your responses. This site is THE resource for those of us dealing with this condition.

[Hiway40blues]

Doctor: Yes, open with mesh. I am considering lap. this time. After research, I concluded that open was the simplest and easiest type of repair, and I wanted things to be simple. My surgeon does both so lap is an option. On the other hand, the more complex any procedure is, the more chance there is of something going wrong. That, anyway, is my attitude.

[Hiway40blues]

Don’t think so, from my research. It does motivate you to get it repaired though.

[Hiway40blues]

Thanks to both of you for the advice. That is certainly something to consider.