[Mariel]

[USER=”2580″]DrBrown[/USER] Is CT better for seeing what’s going on with mesh?

[Mariel]

Thank you [USER=”2580″]DrBrown[/USER]
​
i have been physically checked by the surgeon and my PC. The surgeon said everything seems fine on the surgery end, but he did agree there’s still inflammation in the area and said a swollen lymph node there too. I
don’t think this feels right. Especially with symptoms and appearance. But I have an MRI to see, which hopefully shows something easy to address…

I also don’t have any way to communicate with them- other then emailing the office and eventually hearing back with email from staff. Which seems to be the protocol out here in WA with communicating with physicians/hospitals.

So, I apologise if I’m asking alot of questions. I get more of a response with info here.

[Mariel]

Thank you again for the helpful input [USER=”2580″]DrBrown[/USER] .

I have a pelvic MRI scheduled for next weekend. Hopefully that helps some.
Are adhesions something I should be looking into (is that even possible)? Or likely not the case?

On top of the symptoms I mentioned, and the bloating, also random quick abdominal pains, but they come and go and don’t last too long…mix in with the other symptoms of sharp pains and cramping where mesh /Inguinal hernia was and up a bit up and past into waist area of that same side.

I have also been trying to massage the scar tissue where the incisions were… Feels rubbery/hard a little underneath.

[Mariel]

[USER=”2580″]DrBrown[/USER] thanks. What in your experience is considered “normal pain” after laparoscopy/mesh?

I am having the exact pains for these past 3 months since repair. Had not diminished really. My hernia was also very painful before the repair, but also pretty small in size (no one could see it in any imaging, except [USER=”935″]drtowfigh[/USER]).

The pain happens at random times throughout the day, doing activity or no activity. I’ve only been able to walk or stretch , and just walking can trigger sharp jolts of pain, as well as literally just standing or sitting at home. Pain feels like the mesh is slicing into my skin or nerves basically. Can also fell dull, or like bad cramping. The pain area is where the inguinal hernia was, up alsoa bit from it like just above hip bone/waist, and down in the groin.

The little bumps that were present before the repair are still there, and also now feels harder/rigid like I can feel the mesh?
As well as leg pain down throughout that same leg.

​​​​​​And bloating every day. I hate to be negative, but it really feels like something isn’t right/ went wrong with repair. I hope not, but hard to not think so.

The surgeon isn’t exactly taking the concerns seriously yet, and just said it could be something else- and to wait a couple more months… butI know what I’m feeling is surgery/hernia/mesh/nerve related.
​​​​​​​Is this a normal part of recovery in smaller women? Could it be bad body response, or problem to the repair/mesh?

MRI is the best way to see what’s going on, correct?

[Mariel]

[USER=”2580″]DrBrown[/USER] Thank you. Yes, I’ve been back to the surgeon about a month ago and he just said to wait / I can have imaging later (said imaging I do now will only show inflammation?) .

Is waiting necessary/Or can I go ahead and see what’s happening with the repair? MRI?

[Mariel]

[USER=”2580″]DrBrown[/USER] is this type of consistent pain in the hernia/down mesh placement / abdomen that hasn’t decreased in these 3 months since surgery normal?? – can be sharp, like when you pour peroxide on a wound, or crampy waves / dull or sharp cramps.

Also, consistent cramp like / sore muscle, nerve like pain down that same side leg (varies from behind thigh, behind calf, front of thigh/hip) that can start about 5-10 min into walking…. Or just standing around. Also bloating every evening when without food.. and the stuff swelling as shown in picture above.

and pain on opposite side/ but no bilateral hernia was found in surgery…

I had my repair done by a specialist, but would like to know if something went wrong after? Or this can go away with time? I really hope I don’t need surgery/ or have permanent mesh/nerve pain…. what to do to find out/ treat?

[Mariel]

On top of the cramping and also sharp pain where hernia was/mesh is, there’s also rigid kinda stiff swelling.
also nerve like pain down leg.

Tenderness when surgeon or PT tries pressing into the area. And he says still inflammation and a swollen lymph node in area when he examined. And said to wait.

I know it’s still fairly early at 2.5 months… But hard to believe pain not decreasing at all and inflammation is normal. Hopefully I’m wrong and it gets better.
This is the swelling when i lie flat…
​​​​

[Mariel]

I’m still having consistent sharp cramping randomly throughout the days where the hernia was and also groin pain down through the area of the mesh strip

The sharp pain feels like a sting- similar to when you blow on or pour peroxide on a wound.
Happens at anytime/ doesn’t seem to be triggered by activity…. Can be just lying in bed, as soon as I wake up and walk through house, or sometimes with activity.

Also still have a rigid slight swelling where hernia was that shape looks almost exactly like pre Surgery.
When I feel the area, feels as if i can feel the lines of mesh?
Pelvis has remained with distension since after surgery and also bloating.
​​​​​​​And still similar crampy pain on opposite side (though surgeon said he did not find Bilateral hernias)
[USER=”935″]drtowfigh[/USER] any insights on what can be causing this pain to still not decrease over 11 weeks still (surgery was on May 20th) ??

Thank you!
​​​​​​​

[Mariel]

[USER=”935″]drtowfigh[/USER] Thanks. I am going to get another opinion from someone at the UW hernia center.
I did get the text results of the recent (no sign of hernia) Ultrasound, which also said “SHOTTY BILATERAL INGUINAL LYMPH NODES”. Any ideas on that? Would that be a sign or result of the hernias that were originally seen on prior ultrasound? This is nuts. Thank you for your help

[Mariel]

[USER=”935″]drtowfigh[/USER] Thanks. I received the results from my ( 3rd now) uktraultra and also an mri. The doctor said “there was no sign of hernia. The MRI also did not show any sign of ligament, muscular, or bone inflammation to suggest a “sports hernia” as the cause of your pain. ”
However, one of the ultrasounds I had (outside of network/on my own) said that 2 inguinal hernias were found. But based on the fact it wasn’t done by one of their techs they don’t believe it. Do you recommend another way to diagnose ? It’s insane that nobody can figure out what’s wrong with me.

[Mariel]

[USER=”935″]drtowfigh[/USER] Thanks. I am very interested in seeing someone at the UW Hernia center- however, am currently in the hands of the general surgeon my insurance provider allows in network…. Unless he decides to allow the referral to them.
Are you familiar with whether anyone at the UW does non mwsg repair OR lightweight mesh for certain patients?

I asked the the non UW surgeon whether he can use lightweight mesh based on my being small. He said they use the same Medium weight mesh with laparoscopy repair. And he said he does not do / believe non mesh is reliable. He also said he did not feel a hernia, so I have to get ANOTHER ultrasound and maybe MRI first .

Do you [USER=”935″]drtowfigh[/USER] know if a smaller framed female would do ok with a medium weight mesh (laparoscopy) / and not likely to have chronic pain? Thank you

[Mariel]

[USER=”935″]drtowfigh[/USER] if you could please take a look at my above post when you get a chance. Thank you

[Mariel]

I am in the same boat.

I am a 34 year old 118 lb female.
I have been in pain for over 4 months now in my lower right pelvis area /just over from hope bone between hip & pubic bone.
All doctors kept saying it was just a muscle strain ( even though I have a slight swelling like a rounded triangular shape). Sent me to CT scans and ultrasound. Both showed nothing.

It started as a warm almost like a hot compress over a consistent cramp feeling. Went away for a bit and I did believe then that it was a strain and was gone. But then it came back and the pain is worse then ever. I feel it all day, every day, sitting or standing. Sometimes dull, most of the time vwey sharp. Like a tight sharp cramp. I do also feel gurgling, popping sensation. That when I put my hand over it feels like an alien moving around.
The area also has bulgy veins across and around it. I get swelling in the pelvic area and it’s firm. On occasion, I’ve experienced stabbing like sharp stomach aches around my stomach sides and all over the abdomen or lower stomach.
i can now also see a slight swelling continued down from the bulge, almost like the U shape of an intestine or uterus. Does that mean my intestine is falling out or stuck? I was having harder to pass bowels, but that’s gotten better/ normal.

It wasn’t until I went to a private ultrasound place that they found what appears to be a ” right & also left bowel containing inguinal hernias”.
I am planning/hoping to get surgery by a hernia specialist here in Seattle, WA….. But currently am waiting in the hands of my terrible insurance for them to approve the out of network surgery.

I do not trust them to perform my surgery, since they kept disregarding mine as nothing. Especially since I’m female and have 2, would prefer an experienced surgeon.

Dr. Towfigh, do you have any advice on if waiting for the right surgeon can run the risk of incarcerated or strangulated?
Also any idea what the continued swelling going down pelvis is?? And based on my size, would mesh be safe?

I’ll attach photos (various days apart)
Thank you!!