Hernia with Mesh Repair

Posted , 7 users are following.

Hello,

I had a double hernia repaired last March. I had inguinal and umbilical. The inguinal hernia was repaired with mesh. Last week I started to experience pain and nausea again as I did last year so my doctor referred me to have a CT scan again. According to the results, it looks like the mesh may have at least partially failed. It shows a small hernia but not as big as last year.

My question is I am wondering if anyone else has experienced problems with mesh. I have heard about the lawsuits but I am wondering how common this is. Also, being that the hernia isn't as big as the last one is it possible that I could avoid surgery? I meet with the surgeon on June 7th to get his opinion but I wanted to find out if anyone here might know.

Thanks!

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Posted

    I wonder about the same thing. On this website there are a lot of horror stories about mesh failure. I have mesh on an inguinal hernia that was repaired 4.5 years ago, and I haven't experienced any problems with it. But I also think that for all of the failures I've heard about, there are many more success stories that I haven't heard about. If failures outnumbered successes, the use of mesh would cease, but appearently they don't. (I also had an umbilical hernia repair without mesh, 4.25 yrs ago. No problems there either)

  • Posted

    Of course, you doc will know, but it appears that you are headed for more surgery.  It may not be the meshes fault however.  There are many factors involved; doctor error, you didn't rest enough and bad mesh.  I think it is too early to blame on the mesh.  Mesh issues usually come along with time. 

    • Posted

      Thank you for the reply. My surgeon said I didn't have to rest I had Mesh put in. He said I could resume my normal activities as soon as I wanted based on pain but otherwise, there were no restrictions. I am now thinking that isn't true. I only took a week off work.

    • Posted

      I had 2 incesional hernia surgeries.  The first without mesh which didn't work but required 6 weeks of bed rest.  The second mesh surgery required 8 weeks of bed rest.  It would make sense that your surgery would require bed rest as well.  The mesh needs time to meld with your organs without your muscles pushing and shoving of your day to day work.  Ask your doc and see what he has to say.  I hope you recover soon.

    • Posted

      I asked my doctor too before the surgery last year and he said too that I wouldn't have any reatrictions after the surgery and I could go back to work as soon as I felt able. Thank you. I hope I recover soon too.

  • Posted

    It is possible that one of the internal stitches came off due to either surgeon error or not being careful during recovery. Only the surgeon will be able to tell for sure though.
  • Posted

    Hi Chad...I just had an umbilical mesh removal done on May 11th. I saw my doctor yesterday for my 2 week post op appointment. I had a small umbilical right above belly button hernia that was repaired in Dec. 2016 with mesh but I was allergic to it. Caused severe bloating and pain. I couldn't stand it as my abdomen was highly inflamed, which they saw upon removal 2 weeks ago. If your mesh has failed in any way and you are experiencing pain and especially nausea you want to be sure there is no strangulation going on. I would get this checked out ASAP, especially since you know there in now another hernia involved. June 7th is 2 weeks away. If your pain and nausea gets any worse I would head to the ER asap Chad. Too risky not to. Hope this helps a little and good luck to you. Linda

  • Posted

    Also about not resting. My doctor, who I just saw yesterday for my 2 week post op appointment, told me that I needed to rest at least a month and it would take up to a year to fully heal. He was upset that I hadn't rested that much in the last 2 weeks. So to be put back to work in a week and told not to rest and to just judge by your pain level does not seem right to me. Just my humble opinion.

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