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Incisional hernia

Posted , 17 users are following.

TheToad
TheToad

Hi. Has anyone out there had an incisional hernia using mesh? I have mine in 3 weeks. It will be open surgery. I'm not over worried about it, just wondering about other people's experiences. Would it help to lose some weight? I am about 93kg and 171 cm tall. (About 14 1/2 stone and 5'8" I think!) Male, aged 68. The hernia followed an infection in the wound after bowel Cancer surgery 11 months ago. Thanks. 

0 likes, 111 replies

111 Replies

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  • isobel60223
    isobel60223 TheToad

    Posted

    Hi John,  I am sorry you have a further pain,  I am glad you are going to see the doctor.  I seem to have small pain if I do too much,  Best you dont over do it until all is well.  Let us know how you get on.

    Isobel

    • TheToad
      TheToad isobel60223

      Posted

      Hi Isobel. Dr had a prod and said all seems to be ok. Might be nerve damage, scar tissue or a pulled muscle. I thought it might be a stitch irritating something but he didn't know whether they dissolve or not. From what I was told, the stitching for the mesh is quite intricate and takes a long time to do. I might ask Dr. Google, but have scared myself silly in the past by looking things up, especially after the bowel Cancer surgery 16 months ago which led to the hernia! I think I'll probably just have to put up with it. Going back to my part time job in two weeks after a 5 month break. Happy days...
  • shirley133
    shirley133 TheToad

    Posted

    I John it is now 7 months since my incisional hernia repair I am still in a lot of pain and regretting my actions.  My bowels perforated in 2013 and the hernia followed the op  to remove and repair part of my bowel.  The bowel perforation resulted from adhesions from 3 C sections.   I was 67 when the perforation occurred,  I had no idea how much people with bowel problems suffered until my stays in hospital. Hoping that you continue to make a good recovery, I am now researching if there is a viable way to get rid of my mesh.  Good luck with this one.  Lol
  • paul67078
    paul67078 TheToad

    Posted

    Hi there, hope everyone is well. I am in my 40's and 5 week ago I had an open mesh umbilical hernia repair.

    I am in the Uk and went through the NHS but they put me through a private hospital to get the surgery for some reason.

    I am trying to see how others went on because I have had no after care or follow up appointments at all and am still in discomfort mainly when sitting.

    I have a scar bellow my belly button, around 3 inches which didn't heal at first and left a small hole on the scar which wouldn't stop oozing for a while. I had antibiotics and a swab but everything came back OK and the oozing has now stopped and I have a small scab there now.

    As I have had no aftercare with the hospital I am not sure about things but on the day of the operation I was first on the table due to someone cancelling, the surgery took around an hour and 2 hours later I was kicked out and back home to fend for myself with them saying I didn't have to go back.

    Anyway I find I can now get up and move around OK and sleep well on my back but can't sleep on my side yet.

    I have started to drive short distances and that is fine.

    I get very uncomfortable sitting upright on a chair and my stomach feels quite hard but lying down is fine.

    It doesn't feel quite the same as when I had the hernia but still feels weird inside. Also when I have had something to eat it is worse but I presume that is from the pressure pushing down from my stomach.

    My bowel movements are fine now and I go regular but I wish I didn't have the pain killers after the operation I was given because the constepation was horrendous the first few days.

    I guess I am just after some reassurance from other people's experience but I thought by now the uncomfortable feeling sitting down would have gone by now as standing up and walking around is not bad at all.

    • TheToad
      TheToad paul67078

      Posted

      Hi Paul.I can share my experiences if they are any help. My hernia was an incisional type which meant reopening the wound from bowel cancer surgery Nov 2013. There was an infection which may have helped cause the hernia. That was repaired using mesh Nov 2014. The scar runs from just under my sternum to below my belly button. ( I don't have a b.b any more!) Another infection in a different place on the scar then cellulitus which meant antibiotics and hospital over new year. BUT, the after care was great, mostly District Nurses attending to the infection dressing. I had a 3 month routine visit to the surgeon who informed me that I was 'fixed' and I won't need any further checks. There was some pain from the surgery after I got home, mostly when trying to turn over in bed and sitting up etc. I found it easier to sleep on my back for a while. There were twinges on both sides of the scar but I was told they were muscular and would settle down. Which they did after about two months! There is a bulge which may be the bowel etc pushing on the mesh, or to quote my surgeon, 'it's what we surgeons call fat!' I certainly didn't lose my appetite. My bowel movements range from very good to loose, but that may be my diet or the fact that I lost a large part of my bowel during the original surgery. There is no sign of cancer recurrence at this stage, but here (NZ) you have to wait 5 years before you are hopefully given the all clear. 

      I hope that helps and try not to worry too much! 

  • paul67078
    paul67078 TheToad

    Posted

    Well John it sounds like you have had it rough, I think I am thinking the worse because nobody has said it is doing well or checked it to ease my mind.

    I am still thinking in my head, has this operation worked???

    Hope you are doing a lot better now.

    • isobel60223
      isobel60223 paul67078

      Posted

      Hi Paul.

      I had incisional hernia privately. I had no back up either. I asked about a check up and they told me 8 weeks was the check up time. I did get a appointment at 8 weeks then. I think the same consultants are the ones used in national health so maybe you could enquire at your doctors. I did not sleep on my side until I felt confident but it was lovely when I did!

      Hallo John by the way! Isobel

    • shirley133
      shirley133 isobel60223

      Posted

      Hi Isobel I had incisional hernia repair and abdominoplasty 8 months ago in Edinburgh on the NHS.  I too have had no follow up, I have had 5 abdominal ops 3 c sections and a laprotomy as my bowels perforated which left me with the incisional hernia.  It is taking me ages to get better but I am 69 and this is my 5th surgery.  the discomfort and pain is easing now, I had pneumonia in February just been given the all clear from the pneumonia, so glad the sun is shining in Yorkshire today, enjoying sitting in the sunshine. 
    • isobel60223
      isobel60223 shirley133

      Posted

      Hi Shirley,

      Hi Thanks for the reply,  My first hernia came from a hysterectomy (I hope I spelt it right!)  I had it repaired, but not long after I was in pain again.  I tried to carry on for years, then I could not stand it any longer, I went to the doctors who said it was a hernia,  and so did the hospital but said it should not have hurt that much,  anyway to cut a long story short I probably had that hernia all the while. because it was the drain hole!  which was very unusual also the first hernia opened (that they had all thought was the only one!) so I had two, but it was the drain hole one which was giving me jip!  I am very glad to have had it done.  The only thing I still have is a scab on the edge of one of the scars, which itches I may have that checked out.

      You seem to have had a lot of problems!  Lap up the sunshine,  its raining here now.

    • shirley133
      shirley133 isobel60223

      Posted

      Hi Isobel

      it sounds to me like we all have on here,  hope that your problems are resolving, and I am hoping and praying that, I am now on the road to recovery..  Went back to work very quickly after both of my ops as I am an RAD ballet teacher and can't get cover,  it was either that or retire, so glad I kept on working, as I think mental attitude is so important when you go through trauma, it would be too easy to get depressed.  please let me know of your progress and all the very best, from a fellow  hernia disease survivor.

  • sue38973
    sue38973 TheToad

    Posted

    Hi john how did you get on ? as I am waiting ti hear from the hospital about my incisional hernia
    • TheToad
      TheToad sue38973

      Posted

      Hi there! I'm ok still thanks. It's about 28 months since the hernia repair and I've had no trouble with the mesh etc. I still wear an elastic corset every day, mainly because I feel more comfortable and safer when I lift things or bend. Let us know how you get on at the hospital. 

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