[kcm]

I am temporarily living in New Zealand.
I tried posting links to pelvic mesh and hernia mesh articles on a New Zealand news website, but my post was unapproved.
If you go to http://www.stuff.co.nz and do searches for pelvic mesh and hernia mesh there are several links to news stories.

[kcm]

I am temporarily living in Christchurch, NZ.
I looked for articles regarding pelvic mesh and found a recent article, dated April 18, 2019, on Stuff, a New Zealand news site.

April 18, 2019 / US Food and Drug Administration halts pelvic organ mesh sales

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/112106164/us-food-and-drug-administration-halts-pelvic-organ-mesh-sale [h=1]March 30, 2018 / Calls for NZ to follow Australian senate surgical mesh report, which says use it as ‘last resort’[/h] https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/102689722/calls-for-nz-to-follow-australian-senate-surgical-mesh-report-which-says-use-it-as-last-resort?rm=a

There are other articles about pelvic mesh.
Scroll down for news stories on the Stuff website.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/searchresults?cof=FORID%3A9&cx=006730714154542492986%3Aoh6vl0ybuqy&ie=UTF-8&q=pelvic+mesh&Search+Site=&siteurl=www.stuff.co.nz%2F&ref=&ss=2720j853090j11

Here is a link to several articles about hernia mesh also on stuff.co.nz

https://www.stuff.co.nz/searchresults?cof=FORID%3A9&cx=006730714154542492986%3Aoh6vl0ybuqy&ie=UTF-8&q=hernia+mesh&Search+Site=&siteurl=www.stuff.co.nz%2F&ref=&ss=2720j853090j11

[kcm]

Dr. Ramshaw stated that during this sabbatical he will “look for another opportunity to apply a continuous learning model in another academic center setting.”
“the date/location TBD”
Dr. Ramshaw also wrote that he “will look forward to providing care for hernia patients again in the future.

[kcm]

Hi WasInTn,

I received a letter from Dr. Bruce Ramshaw dated December 13, 2018. In this letter he explained:

” I experienced an unexpected personal emergency which lead to a difficult decision of having to take a clinical sabbatical (meaning I will not be seeing patients or doing surgery for a period of time) effective 1/13/2019. Additionally I have resigned from my position as Chair of Surgery and will be leaving the University of Tennessee Medical Center.”

His thoughtful letter continues with other information. I tried to download the letter, but it exceeded the amount allowed. If you need other details I could email it to you.

[kcm]

Thinking of you as the day of your surgery nears. Wishing you a successful hernia operation. I will look forward to good news posts about your recovery. Best of luck!

[kcm]

Thinking of you as the day of your surgery nears. Wishing you a successful hernia operation. I will look forward to good news posts about your recovery. Best of luck!

[kcm]

I am a female and had a no-mesh repair on September 7, 2018.
Although my open surgery was for a ventral hernia with an umbilical component
I hope my post-operative experience can be of help.

The day of my surgery and first few days afterwards my pain level was tolerable.
I took it easy and was careful with my movements.
I slept quite a bit the first 3 days.
My doctor had prescribed Motrin and Gabapentin for my pain management.
I believe the Gabapentin (600 mg 3x’s a day for first 5 days) contributed to my drowsiness.

This is from my doctor’s website / general Hernia FAQs section
“When Can I drive?
You can drive one week after surgery if you are off of narcotics and have minimal pain.”

Wishing you all the best and a speedy recovery!
Please let us know how you are doing post-operation.

[kcm]

Dr. Robert Tomas in Fort Meyers, Florida

[kcm]

I was told that Ethibond was used to close the defect and they were permanent. When I looked up Ethibond on the internet, I discovered that there are several different types of non-absorbable Ethibond sutures. I am not sure what type of Ethibond was used. The sutures used to close the incision were dissolvable. I do not know the brand name of these absorbable sutures.

[kcm]

In your post today you asked about Dr. Tomas’ patented suturing. I had surgery on September 7 with Dr. Tomas for a ventral hernia with an umbilical component. The defect was about the size of a dime. If I understood Dr. Tomas correctly, he used 3 layers of suturing. These run up and back creating a vertical mattress. This part of the suturing is not patentable. He has another component to his suturing and that part is what he hopes to patent. As a potential patient I would believe he would disclose this to you. The sutures he used are Ethibond. I was told by an assistant that the repair was tension free.

Wishing you a good recovery. All the best.

[kcm]

I considered surgery with Dr. Grischkan. If you fill out his online form he will call you personally.

[kcm]

I had ventral (with an umbilical component ) surgery with Dr. Tomas on September 7th.
My defect was about the size of a dime.
He used Ethibond sutures for my defect using 3 layered suturing, vertical mattress technique. For my incision he used absorbable sutures.
He states on his website that he has “a low recurrence rate, less than 4% for ventral hernias”.
I will give an update in the future.

[kcm]

Hi dog,

The information I posted in italics was quoted directly from Dr. Grischkan’s website.

this is the link to ventral surgery:

http://herniasurgeries.com/ventral-umbilical.htm

this is the link to his Non-Mesh Hernia Repair- The Updated Shouldice Technique:

http://herniasurgeries.com/non-mesh-updated-shouldice-technique.htm

HIs website has other links that are helpful to understand his approach to hernia repair.
Also there is an online form that you can fill out. Dr. Grischkan will respond by phone.

I had my surgery yesterday with Dr. Tomas. My operation went well. I am recovering and following the post operation protocol.

Thank you for all your posts dog they are informative.

Best, ~k

[kcm]

Thank you Good Intentions for answering my post.

I had my appointment with Dr. Tomas and was diagnosed with a ventral hernia (not incisional) with an umbilical component.

I was not diagnosed with an inguinal hernia.
If I understood correctly, it was suggested that my heavy right leg and right side discomfort / pain may be symptoms caused from the other hernias.

This is my original posting in case anyone is interested in my diagnostic progression.
https://www.herniatalk.com/5478-is-it-reasonable-to-believe-i-have-a-hidden-hernia

I had contacted Dr. Kang about no mesh umbilical repairs and Dr. Tomas’ umbilical suture repair and I was appreciative that he responded to me:

“Actually I am not sure what Dr. Tomas’ three layered closure, but as I posted the small umbilical hernia can be repaired safely without mesh at all.”

Dr. Tomas also uses this type of repair for ventral hernias:
“Utilizes a patent pending triple sutured repair for ventral hernias. Low recurrence rate, less than 4%.

Since I was also diagnosed with a ventral hernia I am researching this type of hernia and starting to form questions regarding this.

Thanks again.

[kcm]

I scheduled a consultation with Dr. Tomas this week. Does anyone have a comment on his repair technique? Or can anyone give me advice on what to ask him regarding his method of repair. Thank you!

[kcm]

When I first inquired on herniatalk Dr. Towfigh suggested doctors in my home state of Florida and also recommended this doctor in Virginia.
“The nearest surgeon to you who has a special interest in women’s hernias is Dr. Sharon Bachman in Virginia.”

This is her website
https://www.inova.org/Physician_Directory/Sharon-L-Bachman-MD/795043

Best, k

[kcm]

Thank you Dr. Procter for answering my last post. I truly appreciate this forum.

This is my update:
I had a consultation with a hernia center surgeon on December 5.

1.) NO DIAGNOSIS FOR THE RIGHT SIDE PAIN/DISCOMFORT

The doctor did not see a hernia on the imaging, but he saw that there was swelling in the groin area. He was not sure what was causing this swelling. He said with laparoscopic surgery there was a 70% chance that he would find what was going on and he would fix the problem with mesh. He also said there is a chance that the pain & symptoms may go away on their own. As of today, I still have the same symptoms that I listed in my first post, discomfort to the right of my belly button and in my groin plus my right leg feels odd and heavy.

2.) UMBILICAL HERNIA DIAGNOSIS

I was also informed that I had an umbilical hernia. The doctor’s notes stated that he would perform laparoscopic surgery if my right side symptoms persisted or worsened. The doctor wrote that he would repair my umbilical hernia, if needed; at the same time he was doing the laparoscopic exploratory surgery. The size of this hernia was not noted.

Lately, the discomfort in my mid abdomen is very noticeable and constant. I have a gnawing, but tolerable, discomfort midline from beneath the belly button downwards. Sometimes the pain intensifies. Most days I am more conscious of this discomfort than the original right side pain.

In early January, I examined my umbilical area and I observed that there is an indentation above my belly button and a slightly swollen oblong area above this crease. I am not sure if I failed to notice this over the past few months or if it is a new development.

I do not know the size of my umbilical hernia, but I am surmising and hoping that it is small so that it can be repaired without mesh. I would rather not put off surgery if there were a chance my defect will enlarge and then lessen the chance of a non-mesh repair.

I recently went back to yoga class. I scheduled with a pelvic floor therapist to help strengthen my abdominal core. I also came across the Tupler Technique. These exercises are supposed to prepare a patient before abdominal surgery. Is anyone familiar with this program?

I have two problems that I know are not good for hernia: a chronic cough and constipation. I am making changes to address these issues. What other activities should I avoid that would cause the defect to enlarge?

Dr. Towfigh and Dr. Earle your comments on this post concerning umbilical hernia were very informative.
https://www.herniatalk.com/51-small-umbilical-hernia-repair-advice

In regards to my right side symptoms could the umbilical hernia be causing the problems on my right side? I am wondering if the swelling shown on the imaging and the pain/discomfort could be referred pain from the umbilical hernia and not another hernia.

Although the surgeon was very reassuring during my consultation, I am considering making other appointments to explore my surgical options. I noticed that some of the patients on this forum have had more than one consultation and that the doctors can differ in their approach to repairing the hernia. Please let me know if you have any other advice regarding my diagnosis. I will post again when I have new information.

Thank you again. The Hernia Talk Forum has been a most helpful resource. I am indebted to all those who contribute their expertise and to the patients who share their stories.

[kcm]

Dear Dr. Towfigh,

Thank you for asking if I had any luck with a diagnosis.
I have not received an answer to what is causing my symptoms.

I had a CT Scan and a MRI (both with Valsalva)
Neither of these tests showed a hernia

My GP also ordered an MRI for my Lumbar Spine to check if my symptoms were referred pain.
I am not sure if any of the below findings can contribute to the pain /discomfort I am having.

EXAMINATION: MR LUMBAR SPINE WITHOUT CONTRAST CPT CODE(S): 72148
IMPRESSION:
1. Bilateral L5 pars defects result in grade I anterolisthesis at L5-S1.
Disc bulge contributes to right greater than left lateral recess and neural foraminal narrowing or stenosis without focal herniation or impingement.
2. Disc bulge at L4-5 without focal herniation or definite impingement. 

3. Mild osseous degenerative change and mild scoliosis without acute osseous abnormality.

I also know from reading the general surgery news article
that only 33% of occult hernias are detected by an MRI.

I was not sure if it is appropriate to attach the MRI imaging on this forum.
If it is, I could attach my results.

What would you advise me to do next? My symptoms continue.
Thank you for following up with me I truly appreciate this forum and the your expertise.

[kcm]

Dear Dr. Towfigh,

Thank you for responding to my post.

My gastroenterologist examined me while I was lying down on the table.

I have an appointment with a GP tomorrow.
Is there a specific protocol I should ask for during the physical examination?
I will also ask her if she would order a dynamic hernia ultrasound.

Thank you again for your advice. It is most appreciated.