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Surgery for 4 abdominal hernias in 2 weeks. Very worried and looking for advice.

Posted , 3 users are following.

muskan90473
muskan90473

Hi all,

I discovered this site recently and this is my first time posting here, sorry if this is in the wrong place!

My only history of surgery is a total abdominal hysterectomy surgery done two and half years ago, followed by a relaprotomy one day after to fix an artery in the rectus sheath muscles which had been cut during the original surgery leading to internal bleeding and hematomas formation.

In May 2015, an infraumbilical hernia was detected in an USG. Though at the time I wasn't feeling any discomfort except for a lump. In March 2016, I had an episode of severe spasmodic pain in my lower abdomen and had to go to the ER where I was given painkiller through IV after which the pain subsided. They ran a CT scan which showed 4 hernias, with small bowel loops herniating through 2 of them. Infraumbilical on the left side and one on the right lateral side. They told me that all are reducible and not the cause of pain. Several other tests were run which discovered nothing else and they couldn't tell me what had caused the pain. The pain came back several times in the past two months and on going to another doctor I was told two hernias have become irreducible, another CT scan was done which detected 6 hernia.

Now getting to the point of the matter, I have been advised surgery where they will put meshes over 4 of the hernias(umbilical, infraumbilical, right lateral wall and left lumber region) and then a "larger mesh covering all four". They said it will be a major surgery and I am very scared, reading about the complications possible with even single meshes and I will be getting 5. I want to ask about the experiences of people here who have had hernia repair done, especially if you have had multiple hernias repaired in one surgery then please post.

Sorry, this turned out longer than I wanted it to, just feeling a bit on edge; thanks for taking time to read my post.

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • ctrix1
    ctrix1 muskan90473

    Posted

    Iv'e only had two hernias. One was umbilical without mesh, and one was inguinal open with a mesh. I've had no problems with mesh, although it sounds like plenty of people do. Probably a lot of has to do with the skill of the surgeon. Size of the mesh, orientation of the mesh, etc. But if they call it a major surgery, there'll probably be more than one doctor, which is probably a good thing.  Good luck with it

    • muskan90473
      muskan90473 ctrix1

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply, ctrix1. Glad that you have had no problems with it. Twy are suggesting 5 meshes for me, so all the things you mentioned have only more significance. I will have to ask my surgeon about who else he will have in his team.
  • shirley133
    shirley133 muskan90473

    Posted

    Hi I have only had one mesh placed, but had abdominoplasty at the same time,so major surgery.  However this was my fifth abdominal surgery, I agree with ctrixt that you need to find the very best surgeon you can, but this alone does not prevent about 22% of patients with mesh repairs experiencing some problems from mild to severe,  A small number of surgeons will not use mesh in hernia repairs.  I am glad I had my hernia repaired, but it is fair to say that I dont feel this way every day as some days the mesh is problematic.  I wish I had done more research and found a surgeon to repair my hernia without the use of mesh.  There are doctors around who specialise in mesh removal, you do not have any easy decision as hernias do not heal themselves.    
    • muskan90473
      muskan90473 shirley133

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply, Shirley. Very sorry to hear that your mesh tends to be problematic. What kind of discomfort do you experience on those days? Have you got it checked to see if it not something that would require correction.
  • shirley133
    shirley133 muskan90473

    Posted

    Hi muskan once mesh is in it is in it cannot be removed easily and can only be removed by a surgeon with expertise in mesh removal not many in the UK most in the states.  It is like having a tight constrictive band in my abdomen, which is worse when I lie down, I cannot afford to over eat as my stomache bloats and makes the constriction feel worse.  It took months after the surgery for me to regain my mobility.  I do also make funny noises from my abdomen, not hiccoughs or burbs but like a gasping noise.I have not heard of this happening to anyone else with mesh repair.  It is embarassing if it happens in public, this is not very often but has happened on trains and car journeys, it is a loud noise.  Just to reiterate once it is in it is meant to stay in and very difficult to remove, however if the mesh becomes infected surgeons will remove it.  I am still glad I had the repair, but same as before wish I had looked at alternative methods of repair, hiwever I do reconise that this was my 5th abdominal op and I knew that it was not going to be easy peasy,  
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