[HoleintheWall]

I had a repair done in July (different type, umbilical without mesh) but started getting odd sensations and a tightness feeling at week three after surgery. It seemed to improve after my nightly 4 mile walk.

After my 4-week post op I got the all clear and started working out slowly, it persisted. Figuring it’s due to scar tissue, I started giving myself vigorous massages in the area with my knuckles and bumped up the intensity of my abdominal workouts. Five weeks later the sensations are pretty much gone.

I would try massaging the area three or four times a day and see if you have improvement. Maybe also try a collagen supplement (I started taking them a few months prior to surgery and have had good results with joint pain and muscle injury recovery in the past).

I am not a doctor. 🙂

https://www.verywellhealth.com/scar-tissue-massage-and-management-2696639

[HoleintheWall]

I debated this before having my surgery. I actually ended up going with the guy who seemed more “rushed” and not interested in getting into detailed questions. Why? He specialized in hernia repair with very good reviews, performs dozens of surgeries a week, head of trauma surgery at a local medical school, and had a lot of experience in complex mesh removal (not what I was having done, but at least I knew he was aware of the issues with bad hernia repairs).

At the end of the day they are going to do what they do, and I think what gives you the best odds of a good outcome is making sure you have someone competent with a lot of experience.

After verifying their competency and experience, I would ask about what methods are going to be used and what are the potential complications and options to resolve any complications.

[HoleintheWall]

I had a small umbilical hernia I waited on. It didn’t cause any issues at all when I was very overweight, but as I lost weight I started to have bowel incarcerations. I decided to have it repaired after I lost more weight, but the more weight I lost the more often I had incarcerations until I wound up in the ER with a strangulated bowel.

I think that scenario is more specific to abdominal wall hernias, but since having it repaired I realized how much time I actually spent thinking about it or adjusting my life around it.

I’m six weeks post-op, open non-mesh repair, and I’m glad it’s over. I’m having intermittent discomfort in the surgery area, but I’m not worrying about it as a potential issue until 3 months out and it seems to be improving.

I would say at least find the surgeon you are going to have do the surgery if you do decide to do it or if you do have issues and need it done asap. But, it sounds like you’re spending a lot of time on your hernia and adjusting around it like I was, so I would say just bite the bullet and get it done.

[HoleintheWall]

If you are still having issues an need care, then I would have formal correspondence sent by an attorney. You’ll be surprised at the care you can receive after a $250 letter.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  HoleintheWall.

[HoleintheWall]

I would reach out to surgeons in your area by calling. I was surprised to find dozens of surgeons in my area who do non-mesh repairs (both hernia specialists and general non-specific practice).

[HoleintheWall]

Here is another talk that followed. Apparently there is not only nothing wrong with mesh, there is nothing wrong with anything.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk7kF7oCRqk

[HoleintheWall]

Thanks for the comments.

I think I’ve decided to touch base with the local surgery group I have an appointment with in order to have a known place to go in the event of complications (strangulation etc.). I assume they will at least have my info and any diagnostics they perform on file in the hospital they work out of.

I’ll likely be heading to Shouldice later this year after some weight loss. I plan on sharing the experience results.

[HoleintheWall]

From everything I’ve read, the smaller the ventral hernia the more dangerous it is for potential incarceration.

In my case, as I lost weight the hernia sac began to fall completely behind my abdominal wall on occasion; I assume this was because there was less fat mass holding it outside of the defect. It would usually happen overnight and I would wake up with no visible signs of a hernia.

When it fell back inside, within the next 48 hours it would either find it’s way back out, or my intestine would slip into the defect. If I didn’t catch the intestine right away and keep massaging it back in until the hernia sac took it’s place back in the defect, it would swell and become incarcerated. I would also get some abdominal pain or an upset stomach feeling when the sac was behind my abdominal wall. I assume this was from the sac getting mixed up/twisted with my guts.

The incarcerations weren’t a huge deal for me as I learned how to resolve them myself, but for whatever reason the last time it wouldn’t budge. I didn’t have emergency surgery. At the ER they gave me a bunch of morphine, put an ice pack on me for 20 mins, then the doctor jumped in the air and rammed his thumb into my abdomen. That felt nice, lol. I had a scheduled surgery a few weeks later. The surgery report said the defect measured 1.5×2.5cm.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by  HoleintheWall.

[HoleintheWall]

Dr. Szotek has commented on here, he uses a product called Ovitex, stated to be 95% absorbable. I am not a doctor and do not know if this applies to your situation, but I think the claim is that after absorption the amount of remaining material is close to the amount left by traditional stitching.

I believe he does tele-health consultations. https://www.indianahernia.com/