Incisional hernia after open Cholecystectomy

anyone have any experience of mesh repair. i have a large incisional hernia following a open choly 18 months ago, the lump protruding through my muscle is the size of a grapefruit and the consaultant actually had the audacity to ask me if i wanted to bother with the op to repair it. he says it will be another open op as the same obsticals are still there and the lapro route is just not possible. as the incision is sub costal there is only one chance to repair it as there is limited tissue space to attatch the mesh to. i have been advised to loose weight (i am a size 14 in british sizing) as he considers me overweight at the moment and to go back for review in 3 months when they will reassess option of surgery. i woke up this morning feeling a freak - now i feel a fat freak!! i can understand losing a bit of weight can reduce the strain on the repair if it eventually done, but i dont class myself as being overwieght and certainally didn't expect to be told i wasn't a candidate for surgery at this time. anyway this is enough of my ranting - i really wanted to know if anyone had any experience of this type of proceedure -- when i had my choly i was booked in for a day case so by the time more major surgery had been performed i did not have time to worry about the proceedure, but going in for a open proceedure is beginning to worry me... will it be more painfull, will i have additional scars or will they open me along the origional site, how long will recovery take.... i had major wound healing problrms previously it took over 2 months for the incision to heal i dont want to spend as much time of sick as before.

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