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Hernia Mesh Failure 2 Weeks On

Posted , 3 users are following.

LaoDing
LaoDing

Sad to say but there's so few postings on these forums that I'm trying to a more active venue.

As I have a mesh inside me now that is not doing any good, I wondered if that could make the inguinal hernia worse. Remember that I just arrived in Central China and though I'm confident there are hospitals near me where I can get CT scan and the rest of it done, I still don't know the lay of the land or speak enough Chinese to make any sense of it yet.

By the way China has a terrible reputation regarding medicine but honestly I have just not found that to be the case. In my experiences everything has been clean and professional here. Some hospitals are horribly overcrowded though.

Anyway, I notice that during this 'relapse' the right side of my scrotum (where the viscera has descended) feels tighter and more uncomfortable while sitting than it did before. And it feel like some of the skin gets pressed between my thigh and the seat. The scrotum is normal to look at (sorry ladies, I know that sounds gross but it's very important) For a while I was freaking out that it was obstructed or something, but now I think that probably the mesh is putting extra pressure on it.

I called the surgeon who did the operation (we call this a repair but it IS surgery) and he said that I could watch and wait and leaving the patch in would cause no problems. He said I could wait a year or even more if it didn't bother me, but advised that it would be best to repair it again. He said that the likelihood of complications like strangulation is not higher in a failed procedure, but if I did have such complications I would have to have emergency surgery anyway no matter where I was at. 

I think strangulation occurrence is rare enough that living with the hernia may be better than getting opened up to remove it. I know one thing: if I do remove this mesh I'll find a good needleworker and suture the hernia rather than redoing the mesh, as the failure rates are comparable. If the sutures fail, I'll then just try to live with the hernia from here on out. Plus, there are a lot of complications and concerns with surgery so as to make me want to shy away from it at this point. If all there doing is eliminating the risk of strangulation but the tradeoff being even more risks in return, I might just risk emergency surgery in the case of strangulation. Everyone knows that in the case of strangulation you'll be howling in agony and will get to the hospital on way or another.

Now I'm doing yoga for my hernia and that is opening a whole new world for me. I'm actually enjoying getting old, lol.

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • candice68524
    candice68524 LaoDing

    Posted

    Hi LaoDing

    As someone who experienced strangulation and almost died from it I wouldn't advise you NOT try and just live with this issue. My advice is find a surgeon who specialises in this area and have it sorted out. I believe my surgeon is the only reason I made it through the surgery and the mesh repair he did is awesome. I'm 6 months post surgery and although I lost a large portion of my small intestine in the process my healing has been phenomenal. I did everything he asked of me (even though it frustrated the hell out of me at first) and 6 months on I'm not sorry. My scar is not pretty due to the fact that I had emergency surgery so keyhole surgery was not an option but the "inner" work is awesome. Month by month I get more confident carrying heavier items, but I listen to my body and when something feels uncomfortable I stay away from it. Research surgeons before going to see one and get this sorted. Best of luck to you!

    • LaoDing
      LaoDing candice68524

      Posted

      I'm so sorry you experienced strangulation. May I ask:

      -How long did you have your hernia before it happened?

      -What kind of hernia do you (or did you) have?

      -Had your hernia grown quite a bit before the emergency?

      -Had you had CT scans or anything other diagnostics before the event?

      -Before the event, were you trying to stablize (what people are calling 'naturally heal') your hernia with any exercises or lifestyle changes? Do you have any clue as to what might caused the complication?

      Thanks! Really curious.

      As I've said, I now live in China, and here is where I'll do the surgery, if I do it. And I will do it if the feedback I'm getting is not good. But as you say, you must have a surgeon you can trust, and who is good at this sort of thing. But for the time being I'm totally helpless in the manner.

      I've been reading all the folks who are trying to treat their hernias with exercise and I at least hope I can live with it for the time being. No, sorry, you're sure right- nobody including me wants to end up in the emergency room! In the old days I guess if that happened it was just your time. I'm so happy that despite the emergency the doctors helped you to be here today to share with us.

    • LaoDing
      LaoDing

      Posted

      I don't how that frowny face got in there- sorry...
    • LaoDing
      LaoDing

      Posted

      i mean smiley face lol! my eyes are bad. 
    • candice68524
      candice68524 LaoDing

      Posted

      I had a tiny hernia just above my belly button and I had it for 13 years (I got this during my labour when I had my daughter). It never EVER bothered me. No pain or discomfort or anything so my gynae and doctor advised that if it doesn't bother me I should leave it alone. I followed their advice and for 13 years I literally had no issues. One morning I woke up and while brushing my teeth I started get this crampy feeling in my lower abdomen (this was at like 6am) by 10 am the pain had escalated so badly I could hardly walk and the pain seemed to be all over my abdomen. My husband took my to our family doctor who suspected my appendix may have been rupturing and my husband rushed me to hospital. Luckily the hospital we went to had a surgeon based there who specialised in hernia repairs and after the doctor in the emergency room examined me and set up a morphine drip, he called the surgeon down who insisted on an immediate CT scan. Strangulation was detected on the CT scan and I was rushed into theatre (luckily there was a theatre available immediately). My husband was told based on the CT scan there was a big chance that I would not make it through the surgery. My small intestine had to be resected due to a large portion having died during the course of the day time and the hernia was repaired. I was in ICU for a week and then moved to a general ward for another week before being allowed to go home. The pain even after the operation was excruciating and for 6 weeks thereafter I was still in a lot of pain. It was honestly the worst thing I have ever experienced.

      I was told by the specialist surgeon that the smaller your hernia is the more dangerous it actually is because when a hernia is bigger the intestine can easily move in and out of the hernia. There was nothing I did any differently the days prior to this happening it was highly possible that this happened during me sleeping. I am a very slim woman, have always been healthy and fit. This just happened without any warning.

      It may be rare but what if you are one of the rare few? Is it worth losing your life? I have way too much to live for so now I take care of myself and listen to my body really carefully. I learnt the hard way that those scarey stories you read on the internet actually happen. Just something to consider...

    • LaoDing
      LaoDing candice68524

      Posted

      Thank you so much Candice and it's so wonderful that you had a  loving husband to take care of you. 

      I guess you would never suspect that all from such a small hernia and after 13 years you would not pay it any mind.

      I understand totally about being the one that does have strangulation, and believe me, it has scared me to tears. But I try to think I am not special in that regard and the risk is there. I would like to eliminate too, just in the right way. You're right- rare means people get and you were one of them.

      It is not the scary stories that really happened that bother me- it is the messages on the Internet that if you don't get surgery right away it's bound to happen to you. Well, it could happen to me tomorrow, or never, I don't know.

      But your posts have motivated me to at least get consult a doctor here who can have my record in case of an emergency. That's a start.

      You're an inspiration. Thanksl.

    • LaoDing
      LaoDing candice68524

      Posted

      By the way, I'm thin too (which I seem to hear a lot with hernia), 6'2  and in general have had bad posture all my life which I'm correcting now. I've lifted a lot with my torso and perform a lot of task hunched over- computer, washing dishes, etc. When I'm mindful, I've lifted correctly but most often use my torso in lifting. So I guess I had a hernia waiting to happen...
  • shirley133
    shirley133 LaoDing

    Posted

    Hello Lao firstly after everything I have been through over the past nearly 3 years I am beyond being embarassed by mens personal bits.  I have been through 5 ops the last one being hernia repair surgery, and although it is probably wrong to give advise, but if you can bear it wait the year and see how you get on and review it again, if you can live with it, if you cant back to your surgeon.  As you know hernia surgery is not a walk in the park and there are no guarantees of success.  Horrible disease kept quiet about in the press, not as appealing as cancer or heart disease. Bowel disease is the poor relation I am afraid.  As I said to you before dancing in a limited way is my salvation, pleased to hear you are enjoying yoga. 
    • LaoDing
      LaoDing shirley133

      Posted

      Yes, yoga is awesome. Well, you know, it's also teaching me to take life a day at a time and be grateful for the life I have.

      You know before I had a hernia, I had hardly ever heard of it. My daughter had it when she was only four, and I thought it was something jocks got or that you could get from trying to lift 200 pounds or something. I pretty much thought that for adults it was mostly a male problem. Now I know so much more. Thanks for your encouragement.

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